Page 5

Samuel

She’s been gone for too long.

I had my men looking through the woods, in every small town that bordered our community and nothing.

Someone took her, someone took my Eden.

I’ve been a mess since my men informed me that she wasn't in her room when they went to retrieve her. I looked like a fucking fool standing at the altar, waiting for her. I was so close to having everything I ever wanted. So close to having what was rightfully mine.

I haven't been able to think of anything but the way she squeezed around me when I entered her, her walls forming the perfect piece of Heaven.

She was addicting and she knew it too, that's why she didn't fight it.

She let me have her, she let me take what was mine and she knew who she belonged to. Me . She wouldn't have left willingly.

Was she mad that I took her purity? Of course.

Was she in shock? Most definitely. But she would move past it, she would realize she was always meant to be mine.

She knew better than to run away from me.

She loved me and I loved her, so whoever took her will pay with their fucking life.

I will have my Eden back where she belongs, right by my fucking side.

I slam my fist into the wall repeatedly when I hear a knock on my office door.

"Mr. Donovan, I have Mrs. Wellington, as you requested." Joshua announces through the crack of the door.

I straighten up, smoothing my hair back into place as I go to my desk. Grabbing my handkerchief from my chest pocket and wiping my now bloody knuckles clean. "Let her in." I state flatly.

He lets the door swing all the way open and steps aside as Lianne enters and closes the door behind her.

Lianne flinches at the sound, I know she’s scared to be alone with me.

She has been, ever since I became the Vessel of the Divine.

It wasn't like this when we were growing up. No, she was always drooling over me, taunting me with her body and words. I knew she had a crush on me, but when I took the role as the Vessel, something in her shifted. I didn’t see the lustful, teenage eyes that watched me when she came over.

No, now she looked at me like she was the prey and I would pounce at any second.

I didn't want her, never did, but it was fun to toy with her in front of Eden.

The way Eden would cringe at my flirty words, it only let me know she was jealous, that she wished it was her receiving those words.

Little did she know that I felt the exact same way and that I was just waiting to claim her as mine.

I need Lianne. She was the key to all of this, I just know it.

Lianne and Eden have been friends since the day she arrived in Everton, the only other one close to Eden. She had to know something.

"Lianne, why don't you take a seat. We need to talk." I gesture with my hand to the seat in front of my desk and she does as I say.

"Have you found her?" Her head is bowed, staring at her hands with her voice low but there is a small tremble laced in her words.

"No, that’s why I called you in today." I lean my elbows forward, clasping my hands together. "I want to know what you know."

"Wh-what I know? I don't know anything. I—"

"Remember that lying is a sin in the eyes of the Divine, Lianne."

Her throat bobs as she swallows, "I-I don't know where she is, Samuel. I really don't. I am just as worried as y-you are. She’s my best friend."

"Exactly and as her best friend I know you aren't telling me the whole story. What are you hiding from me?"

"N-nothing." She straightens her posture as she looks at me more firmly. Is that defiance in her eyes? "I wish I knew where she was but I don't."

She is lying .

"Thou shall not sin, for sin tarnishes the soul." I let the quote of the Divine Prayer linger in the air.

"I'm not lying or sinning, sir. " She was visibly trembling as she continued spewing her lies, but she was putting on a brave face.

Lianne is trouble in this community, always has been.

Rebelling and taking my Eden along with her.

Mr. Wellington never got a good handle on his Chosen bride, I would have to talk to him about how to keep her in line.

My father let it go on for too long and I didn't address it, with all the other plans I had for Everton’s future.

"I see." I lean back in my chair, eyes still locked on her. "So you don't have anything that might help me find Eden?"

"No."

I nod slowly as I stand and round my desk, leaning against it and bringing my face closer to hers. "I really hope for your sake that you aren't lying."

"I'm not. I have no clue where she is!" She hisses at me.

I grab her face with one hand, "If I find out you are fucking lying to me," I spit the words at her with a growl, "or withheld any information from me, as your Vessel, I will make sure your sins are known and that your punishment is executed accordingly.

" Her eyes shut at my harsh tone but I yanked her face closer, "Do you understand? "

"Y-yessir."

I push her face away from me as I release my hand and she slams to the back of the chair, "Good.

You may go." I say, standing so she has to brush against me to get up from her seat.

She scurries to the door, opening it with urgency.

"Oh, and Lianne?" She stops and looks at me over her shoulder, "We will be talking again. "

She walks out of the doorway, disappearing from view as Joshua comes into my office. "Have one of my men follow her. Wherever she goes, I want to know. If she so much as sneezes, I want to fucking know about it."

"Yessir." He nods.

"She fucking knows something. I know she fucking does."