Page 4

3

ELIJAH

I lean back in the chair at the back of the room, feeling the smooth leather against my back, a glass of scotch in my hand.

Tonight has been too much for all of us.

I typically steer clear of my mum’s place, but her recent insistence has compelled me to reconsider.

Bringing my attention back, I observe their synchronised movements with fascination.

I always loved watching them, but this one is too… vocal.

“Fuck, Archer baby, yes. Just. Like. That.”

Her voice is fucking annoying.

Downing my glass in one gulp, I get up and make my way towards the bed. My hand gently grazes Kai’s T-shirt, who is positioned in front of her, before I slide it beyond his shoulder, firmly seizing a fistful of her hair as she kneels on the bed. Her arms are bound tightly behind her back while Arch is standing behind her.

“Tsk. You’re nowhere near being in a position to give any orders.” I pull with more force, wrenching her hair and forcing her head to tilt back. “Now, Melanie ,” I emphasise her name with deliberate intention, “be the whore we all know you are and take Kai in your throat as deep as you can while Archer is taking your ass.”

As she opens her mouth to speak, the intensity in my eyes causes her to quickly change her mind and close it. “I knew you would be… compliant. Now!” I order.

I retreat to my spot as she opens her mouth wide, causing Kai to groan when his cock, already covered with a condom, reaches the back of her throat.

It’s nothing new for us. We’ve always shared.

Or at least they share, and I watch.

I know the guys are looking for some relaxation, and I’m satisfied knowing that I can offer that to them.

The past few weeks have left us exhausted, but now it’s time to let loose and enjoy ourselves.

Leaning back, I notice Kai tilting his head backwards, his scars stretching as he closes his eyes and grips her hair tightly, causing his T-shirt to ride up, revealing a glimpse of his dark skin. Archer’s cock thrusts forcefully into her tight hole, his muscles flexing with each powerful movement. I observe his hands constricting around her hips, foreshadowing the marks that will inevitably appear on her body by tomorrow.

The fucker will probably be happy about it.

The way they move together is absolutely captivating.

I catch the exact moment when Kai is about to climax, and I immediately interrupt him.

“No. You’ll come in her pussy,” I command.

That’s not entirely true. We don’t come inside a woman, and they’re aware of the rule.

With an audible groan, he reluctantly thrust one last time before pulling out.

Archer pulls out to give him some space. As Kai lies on the bed, Melanie confidently straddles him, but I interrupt them once again.

“Slide on his dick, slowly. I want to see your pussy swallowing him inch by inch.”

Doing exactly as I ask, her actions elicit even louder groans from Kai. Once he’s completely inside her, I continue.

“Arch, take her ass,” I pause, my lips curling into a sly grin. “No need to be nice or gentle.”

He firmly clasps the rope around her wrist, ensuring she cannot reach Kai. Without hesitation, he forcefully thrusts himself into her with a powerful motion.

Little fucker. He likes that.

Archer’s hand makes contact with her ass with force while Kai’s grip tightens around her neck, and fuck if I’m not hard.

As I undo my jeans, I expose my erection and softly stroke it, savouring the sensations that ripple through my body. The faster they pound into her, the more my hand quickens its movement. Fuck. I’m gonna come faster than I intend to.

“Elijah, baby,” she whines.

“Keep her quiet,” I grunt, the sound of my hand moving faster and faster, echoing through the room with their moans.

I never laid a hand on her, and I have no plans to do so.

“Don’t speak unless you’re given permission.” Kai’s grip tightens around her throat, his fingers turning white as he forcefully spits out his words.

“Fuck me. This ass is going to make me come so hard,” says Arch through gritted teeth.

Melanie lets out a scream and trembles as Kai and Archer hit their peak.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” growls Kai. “Eli?”

“Yes. Fuck. Yes, you can.” I’m right there with them. My cock is aching in my hand as I stroke faster and faster.

With perfect timing, they both pull out, causing her body to bounce on the bed. Their condoms off and cocks in hands, they jerk off side by side and shoot their cum all over her body.

“Fuuuck,” screams Kai. “Fucking whore, look at you covered with our cum.”

Arch urges, “Make sure not a single drop goes to waste,” as his climax persists.

As I join them, my breath comes out in ragged bursts, and my hand is coated in cum.

After taking a deep breath for a second, I stand and lean close to them.

“Hmm. He’s right. Aren’t you a whore?” I exert pressure on her mouth, using my clean hand to pry it open before unveiling the other one. “Clean me up.”

She sticks out her tongue as I give her the cum dripping from my fingers. I make sure she doesn’t lose any drops before swiftly zipping up my jeans.

“I knew you’d be a good slut for us.”

Her eyes are glassy, her body bearing the red marks left by the guys.

Kai catches my nod, understanding that it’s his responsibility to get her out of here.

It’s not the first time Melanie has joined us to play. She got what she came for, just like us.

The sound of my phone ringing echoes in the distance, momentarily interrupting my focus. It’s 3 a.m., who’s calling me at this time of the night?

I reach for my phone and retreat into my office.

Unknown number.

Fucking hell.

“Crimson Ghost?”

My back straightens. “This is him.”

“You’ve got quite the reputation,” the man says, chuckling.

“What if we started by your name?” With a cigarette in hand, I fumble for my lighter in my back pocket before finally finding it and igniting the flame.

“Apologies. I’m Madden. I need The Order’s services.”

“I’m listening.” I sit on my chair, feeling the smooth leather against my skin, and power on my laptop.

“I’m afraid I have little information about his whereabouts,” he says with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “He?—”

I interrupt him before he can delve into the specifics. It doesn’t matter to me why he wants this person dead. That’s our job. We don’t do sentiment.

Weapons - Shadows - Killers.

That’s who we are.

We’re the best in our field. Or I should say we were until Raven made their entrance into the game. I have no idea if it’s a solitary entity or a group, but one thing is certain—we’ve been tightly packed together in the bustling market.

“The motivation behind your wish to eliminate him is irrelevant to me. Send me everything via email.” I take a long drag of the cigarette, feeling the smoke fill my lungs.

“Alright,” he breathes. “This needs to be done quickly, but make him suffer.”

“You got it.” I take another drag of my cigarette, the smoke curling and dissipating into the office. “I’ll let you know once it’s done.”

We hang up without further exchange. As I crush my cigarette in the ashtray, I open my email and hear the familiar ding of new messages.

A photo. A single fucking photo.

He wasn’t joking when he said ‘little information.’

I carefully dissect the picture, meticulously studying each element in search of any potential clues that could expose him.

I’m used to it.

This job has been our focus for more than a decade now. Ever since we decided to create The Order.

Thirteen years ago, during a boozy evening in London, I crossed paths with Kai, Arch, and Theo. Through thick and thin, the guys have remained steadfast by my side.

Each of us carries our own scars from past experiences, and for me, it involved killing my father, which forced me to seek refuge in another country. I’m not a good man, and neither was he. I had to save my mother from the relentless blows she endured daily from him.

I was younger. I felt powerless and unable to take action. However, as I matured, I became determined to liberate my family from his control.

While I don’t know what this man has done to have a target on his head, I’m not here to make judgement or sentiment. I have a mission, and I execute it.

“What’s taking you so long?”

I tear my eyes away from my screen and glance up to see Kai entering the office with Bellatrix, her white skin contrasting with his.

“I think we talked about it. I don’t want her here.”

“Don’t pay attention to him, girl,” he coos. “It’s just his way of showing his love.”

I can’t help but shake my head at his ridicule. “I don’t love her. Get her and her fangs out of here.”

“You found her once in your bed. Just a tiny time.”

“Nobody enjoys waking up with a snake in their bed,” I groan.

My eyes are fixed on Bella as she wraps herself around his neck, her smooth scales gliding along his skin until she reaches his arm.

Only a select few are able to lay their hands on him, yet he has no qualms about his pet snake slithering across his skin.

Fucking masochist.

“Did Melanie leave?”

“Of course,” he says sarcastically, his eye roll igniting a strong desire to spank him until his ass is crimson. I don’t even know why I asked; the thought of disturbing his peace would likely have driven him to kill her. “So, who was on the phone?” He settles into the chair in front of me, meticulously arranging the scattered papers on my desk in a neat, orderly row.

“A man called Madden. We have a mission but almost no information.”

“No information or no information?”

What’s the fucking difference?

I turn my laptop to show him, the screen illuminating his face with a soft glow.

“Oh, no information.”

“That’s what I said.” I grump.

“You should’ve got fucked. You’re moody.”

“Are you guys planning on staying awake?” asks Arch entering the office.

“Got a mission,” announces Kai. “With no information.”

“No information or no information?” Arch asks word-for-word.

“What the fuck is with you?” I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling the pressure and tension building up.

Kai turns the laptop, allowing Archer to get a closer look at the screen.

“Oh, no information.”

I swear I can’t with them. No one gets them except for them .

Arch shoots me a disapproving look, his brows furrowed in a frown.

“Daddy is grumpy tonight,” he playfully remarks as he strokes Bella.

“Call me daddy once more, and I swear?—”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” The wanker winks. “Well, I’m going to bed, so have fun!”

“Well,” starts Kai. “Let us know once you do your thing.”

“I can handle this one myself. Go get some sleep.”

He nods before standing up and follows Arch, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty hallway.

I lean closer to analyse the photo.

Hmm. Interesting.

After a few hours of searching, I was able to track him down. The background in the photo gave him away.

That’s why I’m hiding outside of a strip club at 5 in the morning.

If I’m not wrong, he will make his way out of there shortly.

From the data I collected, it appears that he is consistently present at the club until its closure, which could be imminent.

At least he got to enjoy the view, and maybe some pussy before his end comes.

Bingo .

He stumbles out of the club, his body swaying from side to side, clearly intoxicated. He has an average-sized body, but his jeans seem to be a bit snug, or his stomach stands out prominently. Either way, it won’t matter once I’m done with him.

My gaze follows him from a distance as he ventures into the foreboding depths of the dark alley.

What’s the problem with people?

Didn’t he watch movies or criminal shows? Never go to a dark alley.

As I finish my cigarette, I double-check that my hood is firmly in place, my mask covers my face, and my gloves are snug on my hands. Then, I crush the cigarette beneath my foot.

Ensuring my presence goes unnoticed, I follow him discreetly, my head down and my steps light, as if I am just a mere shadow in his surroundings. It’s not like he would notice my presence, anyway. From here, it feels like I can practically smell the alcohol emanating from him.

The impact of his body hitting the wall sent him sprawling to the ground.

Fucking pathetic. Easiest kill I’ve had.

My steps become slower and more deliberate as I fish out the syringe from my pocket. It’s not enough to kill him, but enough to knock him off.

Madden wanted him to suffer, and I’m determined to make that happen, even though a clean kill was what I needed tonight. I have other places to be.

Squatting down to his level, I notice his eyes are unfocused and hazy.

“W-who,” he hiccups, “who are you?”

“You shouldn’t worry about who I am.” I tilt my head to the side, catching the reflection of my mask in his eyes. “Because,” I murmur, “you won’t be alive much longer.”

His eyes are fighting to stay open.

As I lift the syringe, I carefully insert it into his neck, watching as the liquid takes effect and his eyes close abruptly, his body going limp.

Lethal is the potion of God for killers like us and is usually my go-to, but tonight, I needed something less… definitive.

Making sure the alley is empty, I grab the body and carry him over my shoulder.

Fuck, he’s heavy. I’m not exactly a small guy, standing well over 6’6” and weighing 17 stone. I’m used to lifting heavy loads, but this man is on a whole different level of heaviness.

Walking a few steps, I stand in front of what I was looking for.

The city is surrounded by these metallic doors, and it amazes me how thousands of people pass by them every day, oblivious to what lies behind them.

Carefully balancing the unconscious body on my shoulder, I quietly open the door and slip inside. The first thing that greets me as I make my way deeper into the tunnel is darkness until the soft glow of light comes into view, leading me to the room I’m looking for.

They didn’t see me yet, but as I observe from the corner, I notice five men huddled together in the middle of the room. The scent of rust lingers in the air, enveloping the space.

“Well, well, well,” I say, dropping the body on the ground without care. “Not really protected this place, is it?”

Their collective focus abruptly shifts to me, and I find myself staring down the barrels of multiple guns.

“You sneaky bastard, how the fuck did you come in?” the smaller guy spits out, his voice filled with frustration.

“Who the fuck are you?” snaps another person, his voice seething with rage, his eyes flickering back and forth between me and the motionless figure on the ground.

I can’t help but let out a laugh as my eyes fixate on the guy sitting on a chair at the back of the room.

“Now, now,” he tempers. “That’s not a way to treat our guests. Crimson Ghost,” he nods. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“This is Crimson Ghost?” exclaims the taller one, his eyes widening in surprise.

“You recognised me,” I say, a mischievous grin spreading beneath my mask.

“Whether it’s your painted face, mask, or hoodie, there’s no mistaking why you’ve earned the name Crimson Ghost. You...” he pauses, “are the only ones to be able to pass my tunnel without making a sound, Ghost.”

“True,” I shrug.

I like to alter my appearance. It brings more… suspense.

Usually, I’d bring my target home. Our place is incredibly spacious, providing us with ample room to work on our ‘kill,’ but tonight, the house is too distant to be bothered.

When I say spacious, I mean spacious. Our house boasts six large bedrooms, three luxurious bathrooms, and two en-suite bathrooms for added convenience. Additionally, we have a jacuzzi, an indoor pool, a hammam, and two saunas for ultimate relaxation. We also have a cinema room and several emergency rooms for any unforeseen circumstances. All of this is nestled amidst miles of picturesque woodlands surrounding the house with a graveyard.

Nobody is around, which is really convenient. If any of our prey dares to flee, they will soon discover that they have stumbled into the labyrinth of the woods… And we do love a good hunt.

“I suppose you require some personal space to attend to whatever matter you have?”

I nod. “I do.”

“I’m Sal,” he introduces himself.

“I know who you are, Sal.”

It would be a reckless move on my part to walk into a space teeming with armed individuals with no knowledge of the circumstances, despite my certainty that I could overpower them effortlessly. I’m a hitman, after all. I do my research thoroughly.

“Of course you do,” Sal chuckles. “It appears that The Order knows a lot of things. Petit,” he gestures to the smallest guy. I forgot about them. “Show him the room.”

The guys are all staring at me in awe, so I tilt my head and pick up the body off the ground to put it back on my shoulder before adding. “Do not idolise someone you don’t know. They might end up killing you.”

With my last words hanging in the air, I follow Petit until we arrive in a small, dimly lit room. The walls are coated in a gruesome display of blood, while the flickering ceiling lamp adds an unsettling rhythm to the scene.

This will do for tonight. Comfort is not really what I’m looking for.

I drop the body on the chair, which is settled in the middle of the room, and let my fist land forcefully on his jaw, jolting him awake.

“Baron,” I whisper his name for the first time. “It would be nice of you to join the party.” I hit his jaw again, which makes him fall to the concrete with a groan. “Oh, did it hurt?” I crouch down, bringing myself to his eye level. “I apologise. I should have mentioned earlier that my gloves are made with a metal lining.”

I tilt my head to the side, trying to catch Petit’s gaze from the back of the room.

“If your plan is to stay here, perhaps make yourself useful,” I suggest, my voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

Petit stays silent but leans forward and clutches Baron’s arm, guiding him back onto the chair.

“Open his shirt,” I ask him.

Once again, he remains quiet, obediently following my instructions.

“Shall we cut it short?” I say to Baron, his eyelids drooping, barely conscious. “Not that I don’t enjoy the moment. I have other plans for tonight.”

Instead of a bullet between his eyes, which would be quick and painless, I opt for a more agonising method. Retrieving my knife from its holster, I drag it slowly across his torso, relishing in his screams of agony. Finally, I plunge it into the crook of his throat and drag it down to his belly button.

“Don’t scream like that.” I watch as the blood drools from his body. “It makes me hard as a rock.”

“Driven by blood,” Petit inquires with genuine curiosity rather than judgement.

“You have no idea,” I respond, my attention fixated on Baron, refusing to be distracted.

Some might describe me as deranged, and perhaps they are right. However, there is something strangely fascinating about the sight of blood dripping from a body.

I continue along my path, tightening my grip on the knife as I carve a circle in the centre of his chest, connecting it to the previous mark I made.

Our brand. I could try to include a slithering snake in the midst of it, but I don’t have time for that.

With each passing moment, Baron’s screams intensify, his eyes rolling back in sheer pain, and blood spewing from his mouth with every cough.

“Beautiful,” I whisper.

His hazy gaze fixated on me as if attempting to discern my features through the veil of my mask. I know my hazel eyes can be seen if you stare at it for a while. If this is the last thing he wants to see before dying, then he will take in every vivid detail.

I carefully arrange my hood and then lift my mask slightly, allowing only Baron to catch a glimpse of my eyes.

Inhaling deeply, I leaned closer to his face, my eyes never leaving his, as the scent of his blood overwhelmed my senses.

“I would have loved to hear the echoes of your scream throughout the night... No joke intended. However, as mentioned before, I have another destination to reach.”

The sound of a whoosh fills the air as I drive the knife into his heart, causing his body to convulse violently in my grasp until his breathing comes to a halt. I release his body, letting it go limp as it falls onto the ground, before carefully putting my mask back on.

Nobody needs to know my true identity. It would be bad for businesses.

“Do you have a place to burn the body?” I tilt my head to face Petit, who remains steadfast in his position.

I can understand why Sal would want someone to monitor me.

“We do,” he answers.

I know they have. These tunnels are infamous for the haunting echoes of the crematorium.

Without uttering a single word, he tilts his head in a silent gesture, signalling me to follow him.

I grab Baron’s lifeless body and usher him into a smaller room, immediately feeling the wave of heat as we enter.

“Man of few words,” I say to Petit.

“I would rather observe.”

“I see.”

As he opens the cremator, the acrid smell of burning fills the air, making him take a step back.

Okay then.

After placing Baron’s body into what seems like a coffin, we double-check to ensure it’s securely closed before pushing it into the engulfing flames.

I lean against the back of the room, watching the flame flicker and dance before me until it finally reduces to nothing but a pile of ashes.

Satisfying.

I pass by Petit and nod before going into the main space of the tunnel.

“Sal,” I call. In the midst of his men, he is seated, engaged in an animated discussion. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Anytime Crimson. It was my pleasure.”

In our world, nothing comes without a price, and deep down, I know that I’ll have to repay him someday—and strangely, I’m content with that.

With a last glance, I leave this place and move to my next place to be.

Stepping out of the tunnel, I inhale deeply, feeling the clean air replace the smell of smoke and burnt flesh that has permeated my clothes.

Reaching the destination that I’ve been visiting every night for years doesn’t require much of my time.

The street is immersed in darkness, broken only by the occasional passing cars. Their headlights slice through the eerie morning gloom.

With my hood and mask still on, I lean against the tree, my gaze unwavering on the first floor.

The open window creates a soft, rhythmic rustling of the thin curtains as if they were gracefully moving to an invisible melody. Just like every night, she reveals herself at the window as if she senses my eyes upon her. The translucent fabric partially veils her body, while her lustrous hair forms a captivating frame around her face. She seems completely oblivious to my presence.

Concealed in the darkness, I remain unnoticed as I maintain unwavering eye contact with her, sensing her gaze gradually turning towards me.

Hello, little Sirène .? 1

1 ? Siren