Chapter Nine

Maureen

T here are moments in life where you have to ask yourself, what did I do to deserve this? Oh, yeah, I murdered someone once. My karma is pretty fucked. But I've never been a liar. The fact that I'm being punished for something I didn't even do, makes it sting so much more.

But as I lay here in the mud with my panties ripped open, it doesn't feel like punishment. It's dark and dirty and Valentin is certifiably unhinged, but my traitorous pussy is loving every fucking minute of it. The fact that he knows it, pisses me off more.

He balls my panties into his fist and shoves them in his pocket. "They say the soil here can wash away one's sins. It seeps with bone dust and the tears of angels."

Fuck, he's crazy . I shiver in the cold mud as we lock eyes. "It feels just like regular old mud to me," I hiss. And it's currently making its way up my ass as I sink farther into it.

Valentin rocks back on his heels. "Let's find out, shall we? I want you to paint yourself with it."

I snicker. "Fuck, no. I'm not rubbing dirt all over my body." I start to get up, but he shoves me back down.

"Do it or there will be consequences."

Fuck.

I sigh and scoop some up in my hand. "You really need therapy."

He leans forward, baring his teeth. " This is my fucking therapy . Start with your pretty pink nipples."

My hands shake as I pull my top down, the cold air instantly pebbling my nipples. I drop a glop of mud on my chest and begin smearing it around my breasts.

"Yeah, there you go. Get nice and dirty for me."

Something about the ache in his voice and the feral look in his eyes makes my pussy clench, sending a tingle to my core. Fuck. Why is this turning me on?

"You like that don't you?" He presses his palms against my thighs and spreads me wider. "Mmm, so wet. Fucking glistening. But still too clean. I like my pussy filthy ."

Oh, fuck. A rush of spasms flutters through my belly as I watch him devour me with his eyes. Do I really care what these people think of me? Maybe I should just call it quits now and leave.

He arches an eyebrow at me. "Having second thoughts, Firecracker? Shall I drive you out of town so you can go back to your whore mom and alcoholic father?"

Rage billows inside me, hotter than fire. I scoop up another heap of mud and smash it against my belly. "You're disgusting."

His fingers start to burn my skin as he digs deeper into my thighs. That's not normal, right? It's like they're on fire. "And you like it," he sneers. "But you're close to severely pissing me off. Now fucking do it."

"Yes, sir," I hiss. I smear the mud down my slick pussy and thighs, rubbing it lightly so as not to actually get it inside me.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Valentin barks.

I squeal as he flips me over onto my stomach and smacks me hard on the ass. As I try to push up, he digs a knee into my lower back. "Don't fucking move."

Oh shit.

He presses the side of my face into the mud. "I'm going to show you what happens to bad girls who don't do as they're told."

Fuck, I can't breathe. There's mud in my nose and my mouth. I hear what sounds like him sliding his belt off and panic rumbles in my chest. I try to cough out a plea but that just puts more mud in my mouth.

He yanks my arms behind my back and wraps his belt tightly around them. With his knee digging into my lower back, my anger starts to climb again. But it's mixed with something else. A carnal ache that's festering in my middle. Fuck. I feel fucking rabid .

Valentin slaps my ass hard, and it sends a tingle all the way down to my core. "I will leave a fucking permanent handprint on this ass as a reminder of our fucking deal." He slaps me again, even harder. And my pussy spasms through the pain. With each sting from his hand, my body sinks lower into the mud. I'm fucking covered now.

He yanks my head up and growls in my ear, "I fucking own you now. When I tell you I want my pussy filthy, then it better fucking be."

I nod as he flips me back over. Pain shoots up my arms as I land on them, still bound behind my back. His eyes glaze with hunger as they roam every inch of me. He swirls his fingers through the mud on my stomach, playing with it like he's painting a canvas. I guess I'm his fucking canvas now.

What the hell have I done?

His breath is shaky. He looks possessed. "You like the pain. I can feel it. You like it just as much as I do."

I swallow hard as he drags his fingers down, dangerously close to my clit. "Pain can make you feel more alive, I guess…"

He slaps the inside of my thigh, and I almost cum. My hips involuntarily arch, betraying me. His eyes light up at my reaction. "I'm going to use you up, Firecracker. And when I'm done, you will wish you'd never set foot in Raven's Gate."

I flinch as he slaps my thigh again. "You can certainly try," I snarl. He has another thing coming if he thinks I can be easily broken. "But I'm a lot stronger than I look."

Valentin smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "We'll see about that. Remember, I'm not the only one you'll have to deal with this year."

Fuck. Riot and Atlas. The three of them are determined to ruin my fucking life, and I've only known them for two days. Fuck me.

Valentin unhooks his belt and slides it back through his pants. He then snatches my phone and begins typing into it. "From now on, when I call, you answer. Rest up, Firecracker. You're going to need it."

I sit up and wiggle my skirt back down. I resist the urge to rub my sore wrists. I can't let him see any weakness. "Are we done for tonight, then?" I ask, annoyed. My ass and thighs are still tingling from his hand, along with my fully erect nipples. I'm exhausted and can't wait to crawl into bed.

He nods. "Don't even think about showering tonight. I want you to sleep in your filth so you can remember what happens when you defy me. And trust me, I'll know. Your punishment will be even worse if you disobey me twice."

Is this a fucking joke? "Fuck you! I can't crawl into my clean bed like this. Are you insane?"

He flashes me a look so deadly it makes my insides coil. "Try it and find out. I fucking dare you."

Fucking bastard. And this is just the beginning. I can't even fathom what other twisted fucked up things he has planned for me. Not to mention the sick way that a part of me is excited by it.

I roll my eyes and stand up. "Yes, sir." I don't even remotely try to hide the sarcasm and disdain in my voice.

"You can shower in the morning. But tonight you'll pay your penance. And if you even think about breaking our deal, I'll show you who Nocturnus really is."

A shiver crawls up my spine and Libra's words from earlier echo in my mind. If they mark you, they own you. Forever.

I'm half-tempted to ignore Valentin's warning and jump in the shower, but an eerie feeling of being watched plagues me. He could have installed cameras in my room for all I know. I'm still picking leaves out of my hair when the elevator doors open to my floor, and I'm pretty sure I have twigs in my ass.

I was hoping to avoid my overbearing roommate, so when I see her perched on the kitchen counter, eating a tub of ice cream, I let out a frustrated sigh.

She takes one look at me and wrinkles her nose. "What the fuck happened to you?"

I feel my cheeks flame under her scrutiny. "I don't want to talk about it."

Her eyes darken. "They've claimed you, haven't they?"

I stare at her for what seems like an eternity, and I'm filled with envy. She's a slave to her money and her status but she's free to do what she wants. I will never have that here. "I'm not a piece of property, Libra."

She hops off the counter and puts the tub back in the freezer, licking her spoon one last time. "You don't get it, Blackwell. This town, this school… it all belongs to them. They'll never let you leave."

A raven squawks at our window. I flinch as it pecks the glass. Fuck. "We'll see about that. I'm going to bed."

Her eyes bulge out. "You're not going to shower first?"

I look down at the floor as the shame threatens to swallow me whole. "I'm… too tired."

"Fuck," she quips. "They won't let you. You're in so fucking deep."

"Goodnight, Libra."

I slam my bedroom door behind me and collapse against it. I need to find a way to get the upper hand. I can almost guarantee those psychos have some skeletons of their own hidden away. I refuse to be the broken girl they want me to be.

But for tonight, I'll play along. So, I peel off my dirty clothes and slide into bed, utterly disgusted that I'm sleeping in this filth.

As soon as I turn off my bedside lamp, my phone lights up. I groan when I see Valentin's name flash across the screen.

My stomach flips when I read his text. Good girl .

Fuck.

Can he see me? Or is he just so arrogant that he assumes I've obeyed him?

I hate myself so much right now.

I have to find a way to get out of this mess before I lose every ounce of self-respect I have left.

My phone lights up again, and I think I'm going to be sick. It's from an unknown number but I know exactly who it is.

If you had watched your back, Firecracker, you'd still be wearing clean panties.

Sweat beads down my back and it carries the scent of the woods in it. My fingers fly across the keyboard as I text back: Fuck off, Riot .

He texts back as soon as I hit send.

Meet me in the library tomorrow night if you want me to keep your dirty little secret.

What the actual fuck? Valentin said he wouldn't tell him anything.

I'll pass, thanks. I hit send and instantly regret it. I'm just winding him up even more.

The typing bubbles on the screen make me shudder as I wait for his response.

When two boys go missing on Halloween night

And a pretty little Firecracker is the last to see them alive,

On raven's wings, she takes a hurried flight.

And disappears by morning light.

Oh, that fucking secret.

Fuck.

It feels like the room is spinning out from under me. I clench the sheets, squeezing them until my fingers ache. How could he possibly know anything about that night?

I start to text and then erase it. Fuck. I don't even know how to respond. He could be bluffing.

Your silence is all the response I need. See you tomorrow night, Firecracker…

Fuck. I want to scream.