Page 14

OPHELIA

L ights, camera…

Nightmare.

“Esteemed buyers.” Camden stands tall on the stage before me. His bandaged hand is curled around his sacrifice’s arm— gross . Around Baylor’s bicep. “I would like to present to you Baylor Marie Carpenter.”

The poor girl whimpers. It’s not the first time she’s done it during this long, creepy and fucked-up evening. Knowing it won’t be the last, my heart twists painfully for her.

Her body breaks out in shivers as silence ensues. As, I imagine, that bastard is allowing the pristine monsters to appraise her.

We’re not cattle , I want to scream from my place at the back of the stage.

As if sensing it, Topher’s grip on my arm tightens. His bandaged hand repulses me. I hope both men—no, not men, but motherfuckers—will pay for this. Pray that their tattoos and fresh cuts get infected, and they die.

I enjoyed watching the dagger slice through their palms. Was about to run over there, snatch the dagger from James, and pierce it through the men’s hearts. All four of them.

That wasn’t the right time, though.

Even if I managed to kill them somehow, I couldn’t make it out of this place alive. I don’t know the layout. Couldn’t see it on my way in, when I was carried inside hurled over a man’s shoulder with a black, opaque bag over my head.

Then there’s the matter of the guards. James had a few in his place. I guessed there must be more of them here, swarming the auction house. I was right.

Which is why I’m waiting patiently here to be sold off to some fucker. I like my chances better outside, where I can run and hide behind a house or a car. A tree, maybe.

I’ll never look back.

I’ll get help for Baylor once I’m freed. Try, at least. I’ll get out of this damn state, then file an anonymous complaint to the FBI. There must be someone out there who will go against James.

Until then, I let Topher’s slimy fingers stay where they are.

Acid burns the line of my stomach.

This ceremony. These men.

Me. I disgust myself. Because if James were the one holding me, the whole ordeal wouldn’t have been as awful. I hate him for this. For manipulating me. For this unhealthy attachment festering inside me.

It’s a lie. All of it. He won’t make anything better. The man standing at the back of the room, arms crossed over his chest, is a bastard.

A lonely bastard. Surprisingly, Oliver isn’t there beside him. The other monster is perched up against the wall closest to the first line of chairs.

Whatever. Oliver doesn’t interest me. I don’t hate him for leading me on. He hasn’t.

It’s James who’s earned my fury.

For the longest second, I hold his gaze. Send him a clear message of how badly I despise him. His eyes gleam at my anger, and fuck him. I won’t let him enjoy this.

I cut my gaze to Baylor, and my heart crumples as I watch her profile. Her chin wobbles. She’s barely hanging on.

“My sacrifice”— Camden, you sick fuck —“has turned eighteen this year.”

Baylor’s body shakes harder. Her long, blonde tresses vibrate. Her fists clench and unclench at her sides.

My toes tingle on the stage floor. I’m this close to ripping Topher’s eyes out and tearing myself from his grip. I wish so fucking hard to fold Baylor into my arms and save her. Tell her over and over that she’ll be all right.

I whispered it to her over and over while we were forced to watch the fuckers get inked. Told her not to cry, not to let them see they got to us.

With my hand clutching onto hers, she managed to swallow down the tears.

But this.

These people in tuxedos and gowns glaring at us. The security personnel, dressed in black suits and carrying guns on display.

The motherfucking doctor’s exam table positioned between me and her.

It’s horrible. Awful. Inhumane.

She’s breaking down and I can’t do a damn thing about it.

“A virgin, of course.” Camden twists his head to look down at her.

Her blue eyes catch his. A single word from her mouth. “Please.”

He doesn’t dignify her with a response. Doesn’t move a muscle.

Oh, I was wrong. He does move. She whimpers, her other hand covering his. The one that has a death grip on her.

He’s squeezing her. Hurting her.

“Motherfucker,” I hiss. Can’t help it.

“Shut up,” Topher hisses back at me. I keep my eyes on Baylor. “You pull a stunt like that when we’re up there, and you’ll pay for it. I’ll sell you to the cruelest, most sadistic prick out there. The highest bidder? Not for you, pretty girl. You’ll get the worst one.”

James probably wouldn’t approve. He made a big deal about going through with this monstrosity in just the right way. He isn’t on stage, though.

If he were, he might’ve gotten angry at Topher. Might have had enough of his son’s disrespect. He could’ve pulled the plug on the whole thing.

Out of the four men, he seems like the one who wields the most power.

I wish I could call out for him. Remind James that we shared a moment yesterday, as depraved as it was. Beg him to make this stop.

Except I can’t.

He doesn’t care about my well-being. About Baylor’s.

The only reason he didn’t let Topher hurt me wasn’t because he cares. It was because I’m his merchandise. I have to remember that.

“Fine.” My nails dig crescents into the inside of my palms. A spiteful grin splits my face in two. “I’ll shut up.”

A low growl reverberates from his chest. We’re close enough that I feel it. Then he huffs and smooths his thumb over my arm. Once. An affectionate touch.

Yeah, right.

I won’t throw up, no. Baylor needs me here, on the stage, behind her.

“Granted, you’ll need guarantees.” Camden’s smile can be heard over his words. Baylor’s sobs are just as loud. He gives her a subtle shake. “Though we won’t be the ones doing the examination this year. This year, we have a doctor who’ll perform it.”

My stomach dips. My palms go clammy.

When Topher brought me on stage, I suspected the exam table was some kind of a cruel joke. I thought James had lied the night before. That he touched and probed me and made me orgasm for his own sadistic pleasure.

Everyone here, other than Baylor and me, is fucking insane.

“No.” Her anguished cry bounces off the walls. A redheaded woman in an emerald gown and the man to her side share a look. Share a laugh. Jesus Christ. “Please, please. Somebody help me. I was kidnapped. I’m not—I said no. I swear I said no.”

Baylor’s begging gets a low applause from the buyers . The psychos.

They’re entertained.

My stomach roils. I’m going to be sick.

I’m too shocked to be sick.

Someone is actually coming to examine her. Us.

A doctor. An older bald man in a white lab coat brushes past Topher. He’s waited behind the scenes, and now he’s here, slamming his black leather bag onto the metal table next to the exam table.

“All set,” the brittle man announces, pushing his large glasses up onto his nose.

“Let’s go.” I watch, horrified, as Camden spins him and Baylor to us.

“No!” she screams. Tears stream down her cheeks. No black streaks here. Only the best mascara for us miserable sacrifices. “Please, don’t do this. I s-s-swear I’m a virgin. You believed me before, didn’t you? Camden. Camden. Please.”

My body goes numb. Last night, I basically said the exact same words to James. Cried and pleaded and demeaned myself. Everything I could to get him to stop.

Only difference is, deep down, I liked it. I refused him, but there was no hiding how much I enjoyed his attention. His touch. His sickness.

He could tell I did.

Prick.

“Please,” Baylor cries, and I can’t take it.

My rage is too hard to contain. Someone has to be on the receiving end of it.

And that someone is James. I lock eyes with him again, against my better judgment.

Darkness clouds his features. His jaw tics.

I really don’t think he likes what’s going on here, yet no part of him raises his voice to put an end to this.

Fuck you , I shout at him in my head. Fuck you for making me come. Fuck you for the hope you planted inside me. For making me hate you any less than I should. I’ll see you in hell, motherfucker .

He tilts his head like he might actually hear me. Like I amuse him.

“Please.” Baylor. She needs me. The only person on her side in this God-awful room.

In the world.

Earlier, she confided in me. Told me in a hushed, broken voice that no one would come to save her. There will be no search parties, either.

Her drunk dad, who beats her up for sport, would never even file a missing person’s report. Her mother, who almost died the last time her dad bashed her face into a wall, took off over a decade ago and never returned. She doesn’t have uncles or aunts. Her grandparents are long dead.

Camden had informed her that he’d texted her friends, letting them know that she’d run from her abusive dad. That, for her sake, they shouldn’t go looking for her.

She sure as fuck doesn’t have a boyfriend.

I have to be strong for her.

I have to suffer through this pain in my chest. For her.

Fuck, it’s a punch to the gut to look at her.

While I was hot for James, it’s obvious Baylor isn’t getting off on this. Her wide eyes are frantic. Snot runs down her nose. She doesn’t try to wipe it. Doesn’t seem to care as sheer terror and panic grip her.

It’s okay , I mouth to her as she trembles next to the exam table. It’ll be all right .

“Get up here.” Nothing is remotely all right when Camden hauls her off the floor bridal style and deposits her on the table.

The paper scrunches beneath her. She’s screaming and kicking, poor thing.

“Don’t fuck this up,” he whispers as he wipes the snot off her discreetly.

“Or I’ll have a man rape and slaughter your mother. ”

“What?” She and I both gasp. “How did you?—”

“We have people everywhere.” He lets out a low, repulsive chuckle. Raises his disgusting blue eyes to me in warning. Snaps them back to her. “Keep this up, Baylor, and I’ll send them to finish what your father couldn’t.”