Page 53

“In the valley of the shadows, the lost lamb learns that darkness too can be a kind of belonging.” ~ Anonymous

My queen had been breathtaking during our wedding, and now I couldn’t wait to present her with my wedding gift in Washington state near the San Juan Islands.

“Where are we going?” she asked as the truck crept down the narrow dirt lane. The dense foliage of trees hid the road so well that I’d almost missed it myself. But it was perfect for what I needed.

“You’ll see.” I arched a brow at her, my gaze running up and down her gorgeous body.

I turned left, driving off the path and into a secluded area where we wouldn’t be found. Turning off the engine, I looked over at her, unbuckled our seat belts, and then opened my door, ignoring her questioning gaze. Reaching behind the seat, I retrieved a bag I’d hidden before our trip.

I flashed her a wicked grin as I set the bag on the floorboard near the brake and gas pedal.

“Face me and spread your legs, little lamb.”

Once Ella was situated, I tugged on her ankles and pulled her across the bench seat and towards me, sending a rush of desire through my entire being. With each pull, her dress rode higher and higher on her thighs, revealing more of her black satin thong that taunted me. My fingers hooked onto the sides of the material, and I slowly eased it down her legs.

I glanced up at her, then I buried my face in her pussy and ran my tongue along her clit.

Her moans of pleasure filled the car as I teased her nice and slow.

“You always know how to make me feel good.” She grabbed my hair and lifted her hips off the seat.

I nipped and licked until I brought her to the edge, then sat up and wiped her juices off my chin. Locating the bag, I opened it and removed the remote-control mini vibrator. I chuckled as I inserted it into her slick cunt, then I fumbled with the remote and turned it on.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened as I played with the speeds before deciding to leave it on low.

“You’ll keep that in until I tell you otherwise. Understand?”

“Yeah.” Her response was breathy, and her pupils dilated with desire.

I held my hand out to her as she climbed out of the car on my side.

As I knelt, her palm rested on my shoulder while I assisted her by putting her thong back on. After she was situated, I rose and gazed down at my stunning wife. “Are you ready for your wedding gift?”

She placed her palms on my chest and beamed up at me. “You are my wedding gift. I don’t need anything else.”

I ran my knuckles along her soft cheek. “I made a promise I was unable to keep, but I think this will make up for it.”

She tilted her head into my touch. “If you insist.” Ella flashed me a sweet smile.

“Follow me.” I grasped her hand firmly and guided us along the trail, the sun shining down and illuminating our path as we made our way deeper into the forest. The abandoned building was barely visible, hidden amongst the overgrown trees and bushes. Even when we were close to the entrance, it was hard to spot. I reached into my pocket and retrieved the key, swiftly unlocking the padlock.

“Watch your step.”

“Maybe I should have worn better shoes.” She carefully chose where to walk and entered.

“I have boots for you here.” A sinister grin eased across my face.

She giggled, and I could tell she had an idea about her present, but there was still something she didn’t know. That was the real surprise.

Holding hands, we strolled to the back of the building until we reached the room I had in mind. The creaking sound of the door opening was so loud it would have alerted anyone nearby that we had arrived.

I flicked on the light switch and waited for our eyes to adjust before closing the door behind us. Ella looked up at me with a quizzical expression. “Who is that?” She pointed to the man suspended on a hook from the ceiling.

Ropes wrapped around his torso, pinning his arms against his body, and a dirty gag was stuffed into his mouth. I walked over to a button and pushed it, and the hook lowered until his feet touched the floor.

“Can I get closer?” Ella asked with a hint of excitement in her tone.

My cock twitched with the idea that Ella wanted to dive into the dark waters with me. “Of course.”

She approached and circled him, looking him up and down. “You look familiar.” My little lamb removed the dirty rag from his mouth, and he licked his parched lips.

“Hello, Ella. It’s been a long time.” His voice was raspy and hoarse from lack of water.

I located the thermos and cup I kept in the corner and poured a little bit of water in a cup. “Here, little lamb. You’ll want his throat nice and wet so his screams will be heard.” I sneered at him as I gave it to her.

She placed the cup to his mouth and tipped it up, allowing him a few sips before she returned it to me.

“I don’t remember who you are. Should I?” She glanced at me and then at him.

“Tell her,” I growled.

He swallowed, his eyes shifting between us.

“Jameson. We knew each other when we were kids … we spent some time at John Bordeaux’s house after school.”

Ella’s mouth dropped in shock. “We were friends,” she whispered. She whirled on her heel. “Death, there’s been a mistake. He shouldn’t be here. Jameson helped me turn John in to the authorities.”

I placed a finger beneath her chin. “There’s no mistake, little lamb. He’s here just for you.” I slid my hand around her waist and to her back, placing a calming palm on her. She would need it in a moment.

“Jameson has been looking for his father.” I waited for that to sink in.

“Who’s his father? I don’t remember ever meeting his parents, but it was years ago, and I had John to deal with.”

Jameson cleared his throat. “I can’t believe after all of this time that you haven’t figured it out.” He laughed as if he didn’t have a care in the world, and wasn’t about to meet an incredibly unpleasant death.

Her gaze narrowed on him, and she approached him until she was almost in his face. “Tell me.”

“If I’m going to die, then I might as well have some fun first.” He gave her a big grin.

Jameson had no idea what he was doing, pissing off my little lamb was dangerous territory.

I walked across the room and retrieved one of the knives and a pair of boots I had laid out on the table.

“Ella.” I motioned for her to join me. “Put these on.”

She nodded and slipped off her black flats that complemented her black and white dress. Soon it would be stained in crimson, and the thought of her covered in blood made my cock painfully hard.

Once she changed her shoes, I reached in my pocket and turned up the vibrator. Her eyes closed and a soft moan escaped her full lips.

“That’s it. Feel the pleasure coursing through you as you think about taking his life, Ella.”

Her fingers bunched her dress at the waist, and I adjusted the speed to low once again. She took the knife from my hand, her gaze wild with lust and the darkness I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Her chin tipped up as she returned to Jameson. She placed the tip of the knife to his neck and pressed it into his skin, a bloom of blood marking him. “What have I not figured out?”

Jameson’s eyes bulged with a mixture of fear and adrenaline as the cold blade dug into him, ready to cut through flesh at any moment.

“Who I am,” he stammered, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed over my chest as I watched with a sick satisfaction.

“Tell her,” I commanded, my tone dripping with venom. A twisted smirk spread across my face as I anticipated the chaos that was about to unfold.

“I’m John’s son,” he confessed, his words trembling with both shame and defiance.

“What?” Her voice cut through the air, filled with shock and anger. “John never mentioned having a son or any children at all.”

“Keep going,” I growled, my patience wearing thin. My little lamb deserved to know.

“He had me,” Jameson continued, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. “I lived with my mother, which made it easier for me to help lure innocent kids to his home.” The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud, poisoning the room with their sickening truth.

“You were bait?” Ella staggered backward with the news. “I thought we were friends. You helped me turn him in. We made sure he was distracted so I could slip out of the house.”

“Kind of. If you recall, John was long gone by the time the cops came to arrest him.”

Ella’s expression fell, then morphed into one filled with rage.

“You lured all of us into his basement,” she said, venom lacing each of her words. “You pretended that he hurt you too, but now that I think about it, I never actually saw him touch or record you.” Her hand shook, the knife jabbing into his neck. “It was all a lie. Everything that came out of your mouth was a goddamn lie and you supported him.” With a loud roar, she ran the blade down his chest and cut through the ropes that bound him. They dropped to the cement floor with a heavy smack. Due to lack of blood flow and poor circulation, Jameson’s legs couldn’t hold him, and he collapsed.

“Little lamb, Jameson was looking for his father after we killed him. He got a bit too close for comfort, and once I learned the truth about him, I thought he would make up for Xavier.”

Ella flinched with his name.

“Thank you,” she said softly, never taking her attention from her prey.

“What are you going to do with him, little lamb?” I stroked the remote in my pocket, ready to turn it up as her fury escalated and the darkness consumed her.

With a quick move, Ella raised her foot and delivered a kick to Jameson’s chin, sending him sprawling backward. “That’s for the innocent kids that you lured into the devil’s den.” She circled him, her muscles tense and ready to pounce. “Do you know how good it felt to kill your father? His screams echoed through the warehouse as I plunged the knife into him over and over.” Her chest heaved as she recalled the experience and shared it blow by blow with Jameson.

The color drained from his cheeks as he realized he wasn’t dealing with the sweet little girl he used to know. The vulnerable, powerless girl. I suppressed my chuckle and continued to watch the show unfold.

Ella laughed as she knelt in front of him and unbuttoned his pants. She reached in and grabbed his limp dick and pulled on him.

“Gonna get me off one last time before you kill me? You always were a cock hungry whore.”

I chuckled, understanding exactly what she was about to do. My little lamb continued to impress me.

In one swift motion, she sliced off Jameson’s dick. His agonizing screams reverberated throughout the room, and she quickly shoved his severed dick into his mouth, silencing his cries of pain. I turned up the vibrator just a little, rewarding her with the ecstasy she craved.

Blood spurted from his open wound and Ella reached over and sliced off one of his ears and placed it on the floor next to him.

Snot and tears streamed down his face as he attempted to plead with her around his cock. As much as I wanted to jump in and assist, this was about Ella and allowing her the safety to embrace her darkness, lean into it, and feed the beast that she’d kept contained for so long. I couldn’t give her the Pied Piper and Xavier, but Jameson would help her heal a little more. It would empower her, so she never feared any man again. That was my gift to her. Power. Pleasure in the pain.

She stood and circled him slowly.

As I watched Ella stand before the man who had lured her to a pedophile, a delicious chill ran down my spine. Her eyes, usually filled with warmth and kindness, now burned with a fiery rage that made me smile.

Ella’s slender fingers curled around a knife, the blade glinting in the faint light as she stepped closer to Jameson. The room was heavy with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of her slow, deliberate footsteps on the cold concrete floor. I could see the raw determination in her expression, mingled with a hint of vulnerability.

With every step she took, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions within me—anger at the man, and a twisted sense of satisfaction at the thought of justice being served.

And then it began. Ella’s movements were swift and precise, each cut drawing forth a gush of crimson that splattered against the walls like macabre art. She didn’t flinch at the sight of the blood pooling on the floor or spurting onto her face and body, her gaze unwavering as she inflicted pain upon the man who had caused her so much suffering.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, unable to tear my attention away from the scene unfolding before me. The air was heavy with the metallic scent and the echoes of muffled screams. It was a dance of death and vengeance, with Ella as its ruthless conductor.

And yet, there was a strange sense of poignancy to it all. As Ella continued her slow, steady progress around the man, each cut more calculated than the last, I couldn’t help but feel as though I were witnessing not just a moment of reckoning, but a transformative act of self-discovery.

Her once soft, delicate fingers now bore the marks of deep scarlet stains, and yet they seemed to glow with a newfound strength and purpose. Her eyes, those warm pools of compassion that had always drawn me towards her, now burned with an intensity that held the very essence of life and death itself.

The room around us—cold, concrete, and unyielding—seemed almost alive with the energy of their struggle. Every movement, every breath, every flicker of emotion was magnified in that dreary space, as if some unseen force was using this moment to carve itself into our very souls.

And through it all, I found myself standing there in silent reverence. This wasn’t only about revenge or retribution. It was about two souls dancing on the razor’s edge.

In those moments, I saw not just a woman seeking vengeance or justice, but rather one who was attempting to reconcile her past with her present. To find solace in the knowledge that she could rise above her trauma and transform herself into something stronger, more resilient.

As the man’s screams finally faded into silence, Ella stood there, panting and drenched in blood, her once delicate features now etched with fierce intensity. She looked at me for what seemed like an eternity.

I tapped the remote control and turned up the vibrator.

“Death,” she said as she sank to her knees in Jameson’s blood. “Oh god.” She bunched her blood-soaked dress and pulled it up to her waist, exposing her thong to me. With a quick slice of her knife, the black satin material fell into the puddle beneath her.

“That’s it, scarlet lamb. Experience the adrenaline rush and exhilaration from the kill pulsing through your veins.”

Her mouth parted as her eyes closed and her free hand sneaked down her lower belly and between her legs. She rubbed her clit, her gaze connecting with mine again.

“That’s it. Play with that pussy while you’re covered in another man’s blood.”

Unable to stand it any longer, I unbuttoned and lowered my zipper, freeing my hard cock. Her attention locked onto my dick and her tongue darted across her lips.

Her eyes gleamed as she continued, taunting me with her disobedience. “Are you defying me?”

She bit her lip while she pleasured herself.

“There are consequences for disobeying me, Ella.” My voice was low and deadly as I approached her. Once I closed the gap between us, she reached up and tugged my jeans down to my knees and then she wrapped her hand around my cock. Staring down at her, bowing before me and covered in blood, nearly sent me over the edge of oblivion.

She gave me a sinister grin as she stroked me and then she brought her knife up to my thigh and pressed the tip into my skin. I stilled, wondering if she had sacrificed her fucking sanity when she’d killed Jameson.

Her tongue flicked across the head of my cock, and she sucked, slowly as she dragged the knife closer to my balls.

“You need to stop, little lamb. You’re playing with fire.”

She batted her long lashes at me, the sharp blade teasingly brushing against my sensitive skin. My pulse raced with fear and arousal as I watched her toy with the idea of cutting me. Ella laughed, enjoying the power she held over me, before dragging the weapon down my thigh, leaving a thin trail of blood in its wake. Her dilated eyes widened with desire as she licked off the crimson drops, savoring the metallic taste on her lips.

“Bleed for me, Death,” she demanded, her voice dripping with sadistic delight.

She continued to cut my legs, each one met with an eager lick from her blood-stained tongue. But I couldn’t deny how incredibly turned on I was by her reckless behavior. My scarlet lamb was meeting me on a new playing field, and I craved more of her dangerous games.

Ella’s attention shifted to my groin again, and with a grin, she ran the knife’s edge along my pulsing vein. I sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of my blood throbbing beneath the blade. She leaned closer, her attention fixated on the life that flowed from me, and I could see the hunger in her.

“You are mine,” she growled, her voice rough as she bit down on my thigh. I cried out in a mix of pain and pleasure as she marked me with her teeth, leaving a red imprint on my skin. My heart pounded as I felt her possessive claims on me. Her dominance over me was both frightening and exhilarating, and I found myself craving her touch more than ever.

The moment she moved the blade and pressed it to the underside of my dick, I grabbed a fist full of her hair and jerked her back.

“You’re flirting with the devil, scarlet lamb.”

She smiled up at me before she said, “I know.”

Respect and curiosity for her bravery swirled inside my chest, but she had to submit. I pried her mouth open and shoved my cock into it. “Choke on it, my little slut.” Shoving all the way into the back of her throat, I cut off her air supply. As the seconds ticked by, tears filled her eyes and snot dangled from her nostrils. Her nails clawed at my legs as her expression pleaded with me to let her breathe. Her face reddened as I held my ground, forcing her to remember who she bowed to. Her eyelids fluttered, then I pulled out. She coughed and gasped for air, glaring at me.

I reached out and smoothed her hair, comforting her. “You did well, scarlet lamb. I never expected you to push my limits.” I cupped her chin and forced her to look at me. “I am the only man allowed to break you. I am your god, and you will bow and worship me.”

Her gaze softened, and I suspected she was remembering the first time I said that to her.

“Do you want me to fuck you?”

She nodded, swallowing over her tears.

“That’s my good cum slut.” I helped her stand. My fingers danced along her inner thigh, and I turned off the vibrator with my free hand.

“I’m taking this out of your cunt.” I removed an anal vibrator from the pocket of my jeans as she held onto me for balance. “Turn around and bend over.”

She willingly obeyed. I wedged her legs apart, allowing me better access. I slipped the new toy into her soaking wet pussy and fucked her slowly with it. Once it was wet again, I placed it against her tight asshole and slid it in. After it was situated, I turned it on low.

“Oh. My. God.”

“My blood whore loves it in the ass, don’t you?”

“Y-yes.” She trembled as I ran my cock over her slick cunt before I grabbed her hips and held her in place as I forcefully shoved inside of her.

“Tell me what it was like plunging the knife into Jameson.” I continued to fuck her as she gave me details of how it felt to stab him over and over until the life drained from his eyes.

“Your tight pussy is even tighter with the toy in your ass.” I picked up my pace as I buried myself deep inside her.

“Will you kill again, little lamb? Will I fuck you next to another body and in their blood?”

“Yes!” she screamed, nearing the edge of her orgasm.

“Look at him, Ella. Look at the work of art laying on the floor next to you. His mouth slack and his eyes lifeless.”

She turned her head and looked at Jameson’s mutilated corpse while her cunt gripped my throbbing cock as I pounded into her.

“I—I can’t wait any longer,” she gasped.

I slipped my hand between her legs and located her swollen clit, rubbing it.

“Come for me. Come on my dick, little lamb.”

Her scream bounced off the walls, and with wild abandon, she writhed against me as if possessed, driving me deeper into her with each thrust. Her body convulsed, begging for release as I ravaged her mercilessly. Every nerve inside me ignited with desire as I plunged into her, feeling her tightness grip and pull at my throbbing shaft. In one final explosion of passion, my balls tightened, and I emptied myself inside of her eager cunt, filling her with every last drop of my hot cum.

Slowly, I pulled out of her, and I removed the toy before she straightened. She turned and as she reached for me, I saw the pain in her eyes, a reflection of the emotions that had driven her to kill. It was then that I realized that this was not just about vengeance. It was about survival, about finding a way to heal from her unspeakable trauma.

We remained silent as I reached out, enveloping her in my embrace, feeling every bit of fear and pain she had endured flow into me. We stood there for what felt like hours, clinging onto each other as if our lives depended on it. It was a moment of raw vulnerability, a testament to the strength of human connection amidst darkness and chaos.

Slowly, we disentangled ourselves, looking around at the aftermath of what had just transpired. It was as if time had slowed down, each tick and tock amplified by the weight of our actions. And yet, there was a sense of resolve that emanated from us both, a determination to move forward together despite everything that had happened.

I tipped her chin up and placed a kiss on her mouth. “I hope you liked your wedding gift.”

She laughed. “It was amazing. Thank you.”

We stood in the middle of the room, kissing. Her blood-soaked clothes, staining mine with a life that no longer deserved to exist.

Finally, we broke our embrace. “One last thing.”

She arched a brow at me as she followed me to the table that held the weapons and cleaners. To the right was a small container that I’d covered with a white towel and placed a gold bow on top of it. “For you.” I motioned for her to lift the cloth.

My little lamb lifted the covering and revealed a glass jar with two eyeballs floating in a clear solution. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, before she laughed and grinned up at me.

“The man that drove to your house and distracted you while another jabbed a needle in your neck … I give you his eyes. He will never be able to see you or hurt you again.”

Ella’s brows rose and then she giggled. “You plucked out his eyes for me?”

“I did. It will be a forever reminder of who holds the power, little lamb. We do. Always.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “Ya know, most girls like jewelry.”

“Not my girl.”

She threw her arms around my neck and pressed her eager mouth to mine.

“I love you, little lamb. You will always be my queen.”

“Always.”

I rubbed her back before I spoke. “Kip and Ryan will be here shortly. Let’s get cleaned up and leave.”

She nodded eagerly and I led her out of the room and to the small bathroom we used to clean up. After our shower, I toweled her dry and handed her a change of clothes. Ella laughed, realizing how prepared I was.

Forty-minutes later, I’d collected my tools and left the cleaning supplies for the guys.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.” She beamed at me as we made our way out of the building and into the remaining moments of sunlight.

“Where to next?” she asked as we walked to the truck.

The hair on the back of my neck rose as I spotted our vehicle. I slowed and placed my finger to my lips, silencing her. Her shoulders tensed as we both looked around, holding our breath as we surveyed our surroundings. No one had followed us here, but I was well aware that we were always being watched.

“I don’t see anyone,” she whispered. Ella squeezed my hand, and I understood what she was telling me. She didn’t see anyone, but she sensed them.

The sound of fresh twigs snapping caught our attention, and we waited on edge and ready to fight.

Clapping rang through the forest before we saw him appear.

“A beautiful show, Ella. Congratulations.” The Pied Piper appeared in front of us almost out of thin air.

I stepped ahead of my wife, my eyes narrowing on him. “What do you want?” I snarled.

“Relax, Death. I just wanted to see what this young lady is made of. Very impressive stuff I might add. Next time you should check your table for a hidden camera.”

I growled, knowing damn well I’d scanned every inch of that place before I brought Ella. The son of a bitch must have snuck in during my wedding.

Ella’s body stiffened against mine, and I reached behind me and kept my palm on her leg.

“We’re just leaving.” My fingers flexed, itching for my knife. If I needed it, I knew that Ella would remove it from the back of my jeans and place it in my palm. After all, I had promised not to kill the motherfucker the last time I saw him. I never promised about the next time.

“Don’t get all riled up. I just wanted to congratulate the happy couple on their nuptials.” He took a few steps forward. “And this.” The Pied Piper reached into the front pocket of his slacks and removed a white envelope, then handed it to me.

“What is it?” I asked, not trusting anything he did.

“Look inside.”

Ella peered around me as I opened it and lifted out a piece of paper.

“The deed to your house is now in yours and Ella’s name. Not your real names of course, but it’s yours. Tear it down, live in it, do whatever you need to do. Xavier won’t need it any longer.”

“Why?” Ella asked. “What motivated you to give us the rights to the replica of Sebastian’s childhood home?” Ella questioned.

The Pied Piper smiled. “Because to move forward into the people you’re meant to be, you have to destroy the past and create a new future. This house meant pain for both of you. Now you have the power to do with it as you wish.”

A car pulled up next to ours and the Pied Piper nodded. “That’s my ride. Again, congratulations on the wedding. I’ll be seeing you around.” He gave us a wolfish smile and a small wave goodbye.

We stood still as we watched him climb in the car, then drive off.

“Death?”

I stared at the paper in my hands. “That was unexpected.”

“It was … but.” She peered up at me, her idea evident in her eyes.

“Is that what you want?” I dragged my knuckles down her cheek.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Do you?”

“Definitely.” I gave her a wicked little grin and then we hurried to the car.

We’d taken an unplanned trip back to Minnesota and to the replica of my childhood home. My little lamb and I gathered what we needed, then went to work. At first, she was stressed, but the longer we worked, she began to smile. We kept the conversation light and began to plan our future for us and our children.

Hours later, we stood outside of the house, staring at it.

“I hope this gives you some closure, Death. All the pain, all the horrible memories for both you and Sebastian. Maybe this will set you free.”

“It’s not only my hell anymore, but also yours too, little lamb. Maybe we will both find peace.”

I grasped her hand tightly, our fingers intertwined as the final remnants of gold, blue, and pink painted the sky with the sinking sun.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a brand-new burner phone. There was one last thing I had to do before we left. Once it was done, I replaced the cell and took a deep breath.

“See you in hell, motherfuckers.” I sneered.

Ella and I dropped hands, and together, we circled the house like vengeful demons, unleashing streams of fire that devoured everything in their path. As the flames raged higher, I signaled for Ella to move away from the inferno and tossed the last gas can into the blaze.

Sirens cut through the night as they grew closer, signaling it was our time to leave. They had been my one call before we torched the place.

In that moment, nothing else mattered except watching our past crumble to ashes in front of our very eyes. As long as Ella and I were together, we could face anything—even if it meant that we were monsters ourselves.