Page 6 of Sons of Hellfire (Hellfire Society #1)

six

Arsen

I t’s the night before the Hellfire Trials begin, and I’m not looking forward to them.

Like the last time we had the games, five years ago, my father has a lavish dinner spread prepared.

I roll my eyes at it all as I enter the dining room.

“Ah, Son. So nice of you to join us.” I grunt in response before taking my seat next to my father.

Servers begin to drop off plates, and we all begin to eat in silence. I don’t bother with manners as I scarf down my plate quickly, wanting the fastest escape possible. Right as I’m taking my last bite, ready to make an excuse of wanting extra sleep for tomorrow, my father speaks.

“Arsen.” I sit up at his tone. It’s his usual bored, annoyed tone but with something else.

Excitement? “I need you to visit one of our guests.” I frown at that.

“The feral girl. Take her a plate and the outfit.” He nods to the end of the table where a simple black box sits.

“I’ve bought her as a proxy and need her at full strength for the games. ” A smirk tilts up his lips.

I narrow my eyes at him. The same feral girl that Riot has been obsessing over all week.

He even went as far as filling out a marriage certificate that only needs her name and signature.

The man is insane. He doesn’t know anything about her, not even her name, and he is already planning to marry her.

She hasn’t said a single word to anyone since she woke up.

My family may be the ones to find “volunteers,” but we aren’t fully monsters.

They get fed three times a day to keep up their strength.

Knowing that it would be pointless to deny him, I simply nod and turn for the door.

I swipe the box as I pass and head straight for the garage.

I think about messaging Riot or Cash but decide against it.

If Riot knew I was about to go see his wife, he would race over here for a glimpse of his own.

The asshole is already in a shit mood, complaining all week that he hasn’t been able to see his woman.

He’s had to resort to staring at the picture he took of her on his phone.

The cool late October air hits my face as I step outside.

The feeling makes my mind wander to tomorrow and the start of the three-day trials.

Honestly, Cash, Riot, and I think the trials are ridiculous.

It is basically a bloodbath of epic proportions.

Volunteers are promised a big payday if they can survive three days in an undisclosed location.

The only ones who know are the ones who run it, and this year it’s our fathers.

So, there is no telling what they could be planning.

The Hellfire Trials, to our families, are a test. The game is filled with killers or desperate enough people that will kill, along with weapons and minimal supplies.

So, it’s a fight to survive. You’re deemed worthy to carry the family name only if you can survive the trials.

I have no idea what our families were thinking, but the three of us think it’s outdated.

We plan to change the trails and the complete business dynamic entirely.

Move our families into a more legal means of business.

We aren’t greedy old fuckers who think a game of bloody hide-and-seek survival is a test of a man’s or woman’s worth.

I reach the back garage in no time. My mind still floats in thoughts of what the next few days might bring.

Entering the code, I make my way down the stairs to where volunteers are held.

I pass the on-duty guard as I move down the hall, noticing a few other people who seem to know the deal resting.

Boxes and empty plates line the floor outside of cage doors.

No doubt their costumes. Whoever thought to have the trials right before Halloween must have had a sense of humor.

Every trial, volunteers and everyone alike are forced to dress up.

One of the rules is if you remove your mask, you forfeit your right to a big payday.

It’s stupid, but it also makes it funnier for the audience to watch, since they usually have live camera feeds in the arena.

Just as I’m passing the guard, he speaks. The only reason we have a guard is so he can allow them to use the restroom. “She is still refusing to speak and is refusing tonight’s dinner.” I grunt in acknowledgment and head straight for her.

Just like the others, I haven’t seen the feral woman since she arrived.

So, I’m a bit curious about her. As I reach her cell, I spot her sitting against the wall, cross-legged, on her cot.

Her eyes are closed and her breathing is steady, making me think she might be sleeping.

I frown, ready to just set her box down like all the others, when her eyes slowly open, not looking surprised someone is watching her.

She cocks a brow in question, looking annoyed, and I have to force myself not to snort.

“Good evening.” I say, probably sounding like a prick and looking like one too, dressed in an expensive shirt and slacks from dinner.

“I’ve brought your outfit for tomorrow.” I add, holding up the box like it’s a present.

She tilts her head, a questioning look crossing her features.

I take a second to take her in. She has a fading bruise on the side of her face, and she looks like she’s rolled around in dirt a few times, but I know my father allows everyone a shower before the trial.

He wants everyone to look their best for his sick little show.

And clean skin shows fresh blood better.

When she continues to stare at me, I try a different approach .

“I can answer any questions you might have.” I say, setting the box down.

A part of me wants to peek inside, but another part couldn't care less.

It will be every man or woman for themselves once the game begins.

At my words, I see her vivid green eyes brighten before narrowing with suspicion.

Those eyes are going to bring Riot to his knees.

I almost want to taunt him with that, but pressing his buttons is a delicate process.

The bastard goes from zero to a hundred without warning, the lunatic.

“Wh-“ She clears her throat. “Why am I here?” She asks, and my dick twitches at her low, husky tone. Fuck. That’s not good.

“Well, the simple answer is you’ve been brought in to be a part of a game of sorts.

” Realizing there is no harm in telling her the truth since she has a 50/50 chance of surviving if she plays the game right, I continue.

“Tomorrow someone will come in, allow you to shower, and make sure you are dressed in whatever is in this box. You’ve been bet on as a proxy of sorts. ”

“So I was kidnapped to be a part of your guys’ sick, perverted ‘games’?” She hisses, and I chuckle. The sound humorless.

“Actually, yes. The game is one of life or death. You’ll be taken to somewhere where they will leave stashes of weapons and supplies for you.

But you won’t be the only one there. They want us to fight for our lives.

” I tell her. She watches me carefully, sizing me up or maybe trying to tell if I’m lying.

“Us?” she asks, and I smirk, happy she caught that.

“Yes, us. You might be the one in the physical cage, but that doesn’t mean others have a choice about joining.

” The smirk drops as I get serious. “Look, all you have to do is survive three days against these people.” I nod my head to the side to indicate the others in cages.

“And more that are hired to make the games more interesting. These will be men and women who kill for a living. So just find somewhere to hide until the end.” She sends me a glare full of disgust.

“I can take care of myself.” Her tone is fierce, and I almost believe her, but women don’t last long in the trials.

“What’s your name?” I ask, curious. She eyes me again, this time with a look filled with her own curiosity and distrust. Smart girl.

“What’s yours?” She counters, and I grin. I like her.

“Arsen.” She lets out a snort, but when I say nothing else, she sobers .

“Seriously?” She cocks a brow and then mumbles something that sounds like, I thought my parents hated me, but I can’t be sure with how low it was. I give her a nod in answer. “Ali.” She finally says after a long minute of silence.

“Ali.” I repeat, nodding. Her names sound sweet coming off my tongue, and a crazy thought surges through my head.

What if she wasn’t just Riot’s? What if we were to share a woman?

The thought doesn’t even seem crazy the longer I think about it.

We could all share her. We’ve joked about it before, one woman for us to spoil.

Then we wouldn’t have to worry about our girlfriends or wives getting along.

I can see a wildfire ablaze in her eyes, and I suddenly feel like a moth to her flame. I’ve always been attracted to fire, the beautiful flames in flickering colors of reds, oranges, and yellows drawing me into its warmth. The shining light within the pitch dark of my life.

Of course, you always have to worry about the fire burning you, but that’s all the fun. Creating, reveling in something that is so chaotic and free that it could consume you at any second.

She is fire personified. I can see it, the will to burn everything around her if given the chance. I stand from my kneeled position and nod to the still full plate. “Eat. There is a good chance you won’t have supplies for the next three days.” Her glare turns sharper.

“I’m not a fucking dog.” She snaps out. “I also don’t take commands very well.”

I grin but tilt my head down in acknowledgment.

“Sorry. I think you should eat. I can promise you, in the next three days, you are going to need every bit of strength you have to survive. The people who run them want a bloody show.” She doesn’t flinch at my words, which makes my lips tip up even higher.

“I like you, Ali. I hope we can be… allies in the coming days.” She scoffs at my words, but I simply give her a small nod in understanding and turn to make my leave.

“Arsen.” She calls after me, making me almost stumble at hearing my name coming from her sweet mouth and plump lips I tried not to focus on.

I don’t turn, but she obviously doesn’t care as she speaks again.

“Stay out of my way, and I won’t have to cut off your balls or kill you.

” My dick pops up at her words as if she were whispering dirty nothings to me and not threatening to castrate me.

I almost let out a laugh of excitement but manage to hold it back.

My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I’m doing just thinking about this girl now .

Oh, this poor girl has no idea what she is walking into tomorrow. Having Riot obsessed with her was one thing, but now… now she has my attention. I have no doubt Cash will feel the same the moment he meets Ali, too.

My new little flame.