5. Elijah

A fter my dad speaks, he heads back inside, leaving Rain and I still in the yard, alone again.

Her reaction to everything has confused me.

She wanted to help me.

I’ll never understand why, but it felt so fucking good cutting her leg. Her beautiful crimson red blood beading at the opening of the shallow cut. As the wound filled with more blood, it became heavy enough to slide down, decorating her pale skin.

Fucking intoxicating.

It hypnotized me.

I needed to touch it. Play with it. Mark her with it.

But how I was able to stop, I don’t understand.

Perhaps I do have some self-restraint when it comes to her, after all.

She didn’t know I had control over myself, but she still let me cut her. Just to get a fucking taste of what I’ve been craving.

Rain Sinclair is a better person than I could ever be.

This withdrawal is a new feeling. Building for months.

At first it was sporadic, momentary urges which quickly subsided.

It continued to build each time I thought about it, pictured slicing a person's throat, having warm blood coating my skin, and my mouth would water.

The thoughts became more frequent. To the point where we were yesterday, as she sucked me off.

It would have been a beautiful sight, Rain on her knees, my cock in her mouth, with blood gushing out of her mouth. My little bat.

Now that I am home, back in Vail, with my dad and this crazy society shit. I will never have to go without for months again.

My demons will become my friends again and not my enemies.

Elijah Sinclair is home.

“I will have more questions about everything. But not tonight,” her voice whispers as her breath evaporates into the cool mountain air.

I don’t respond. It’s not needed. Instead, I take the lead back and begin to walk us toward the house.

Entering through one of the back patio doors, we are immediately placed in my dad’s office.

Taking a deep breath in, everything is still so familiar. The brown leather couch is still where I saw it last, but before it is a new glass coffee table. His large, dark wooden desk is the same, with built-in shelves behind it lining the wall. The carpet is new, along with the light fixtures decorating the space. But the smell is the same.

The office door is open. I can hear my dad’s dress shoes echoing down the hall as he approaches.

My body is trying to react to this experience, my homecoming. It’s fucking uncomfortable and I want it to stop.

Letting go of Rain’s hand, my hands grip my hair, pulling it in order to focus me.

A low, intense growl leaves me.

What are these feelings? I fucking hate it.

My dad’s hand is on my shoulder, I can sense his presence before he speaks. “I know. It’s a lot at once and processing it is nearly impossible. Tonight. Just focus on that.”

Nodding my head, I release my hair and open my eyes.

My nostrils still flare as I take deep breaths in and out. My mouth opens as I yell into the room. Pounding against my chest is my heart. The same heart that is making this all so fucking hard. Everything is coming down at me—at once.

My eyes shift around the space—I need her.

My little bat is now on the brown leather couch, her face looks like she’s in pain. Her eyes are sad.

I don’t like it.

Walking over to her, I kneel down. “What’s wrong?” My eyes stare deep into hers.

Rain shakes her head. “Nothing. Everything is how it’s meant to be. I’m okay.”

I don’t understand, but I accept it, for now.

Bringing my hand to her face, my thumb rubs against her soft bottom lip. Leaning forward, our lips meet and my hand moves to grip her face. It’s a brief kiss but passionate. It sucks the air out of us both as our foreheads lean against each other’s. As we part, our warm breaths meet again.

Her lips brush once more against mine before leaning back.

My cock hardens against my pants.

This fucking girl.

My dad clears his throat behind me, like it will have some sort of magical effect on me.

She is my focus.

He’s been waiting ten years, what’s a few more minutes?

Rain smirks, then pushes my shoulder.

Letting go of her face, I stand up and turn toward my dad. “Do you have the masks?” I ask as I adjust myself.

His eyes roll. “You seem in better spirits today.”

My face remains unamused. At this point, the only thing I want to do is take my little bat home and fuck her until she forgets her fucking name.

“Your cousin, Francesca, has become a liability. We have placed a Pawn with her for the past couple weeks. He is acting like a boy with a crush, and she has fallen for it. Reports have been given nightly to his handler. Plans to expose us are in the works, primarily via social media. Our Pawn has a computer science background. He can easily handle that side for us.”

Stepping toward my dad, my arms cross over my chest. “Understood.”

Never liked the bitch anyway.

“Good.”

Dad looks toward Rain. “You, my dear, will go into this evening as a Disciple. You are a Sinclair. Never doubt that. You hold as much power as Elijah does when you step into a room. Own it. It’s yours.”

Tiny sniffles fill the room.

I don’t care if he is my dad, if he has made her sad, I will punch him in the fucking face.

Rain’s voice follows, “Thank you, sir—Nate, I mean. I’m sorry. But thank you.”

My dad smiles, pleased with himself.

“Now, I trust my son has explained everything to you?” He questions, side-eyeing me in the process. Which is completely unnecessary.

“Of course I fucking did.”

My little bat interrupts me, “E, be nice. But yes, he has told me. I understand what’s expected from this evening.”

Dad nods his head. “Excellent. Then all you need now are the masks.”

Rubbing his hands together, he walks behind his desk and opens the side drawer. Reaching in, he pulls out two identical black rabbit masks. “Pawn has plans to take her into the town center at nightfall. She is aware of what tonight is. She doesn’t think we know anything, therefore she is an unaware walking target.”

Rain rises and comes to stand next to me. My dad holds out our masks and we each grab one. The color of the masks also highlights the ranking: Elders wear gold, then the head of The Exodus—the Bishop—wears white.

I’d prefer staying a Disciple until I die, but eventually we will become Elders. But not a day in my life will I ever be a fucking Bishop. Someone else can have that responsibility.

“And if the Pawn has to go?” I ask.

My dad doesn’t miss a beat. “Then he goes.”

I grin—then he fucking goes.

“It’s still a few hours until nightfall. Go prepare. I’ll see you both later,” my dad dismisses us. As we walk toward the patio door, his voice fills the room once more, “Rain, you’ll do great. You both will.”

Rain smiles, looking back at him. “Thank you.”

Saying nothing, I reach for her hand, holding it in my free one. Pulling her with me, I lead us out.

Rain yawns. “I could use a nap before we get ready.”

Looking back at her, I say, “I’ll wake you when it’s time.”