Page 6

CHAPTER FIVE

Jamie, the woman at the front desk, assigned me to a couple who looked like they came out of a J. Crew catalogue.

“Straighten your shoulders and fix your face!” Jamie said aggressively, and I instantly straightened my spine and plastered a smile on.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Rothschild. I am Demi, and I’ll be your personal guide to the resort. Welcome to La Gabbia, where your dreams become your reality.” I clasped my fingers together as the beautiful couple in front of me looked toward each other.

“It’s nice to meet you, Demi. I’m Sage, and this is my husband, Declan.” Declan just stared at me without any hint of emotion. He was easily over six-feet-tall with light brown hair that was meticulously gelled and combed to the side. Sage Rothschild had a Louis Vuitton purse slung over her shoulder and was stunning. Her long, blonde hair was tousled over her shoulders, and her icy, light green eyes had an eager sparkle to them. She was wearing a blush-pink sheath dress and cream-colored heels.

“Mr. and Mrs. Rothschild, I am here to take your bags to your designated spaces.” I was startled by the voice behind me and turned around.

My jaw dropped. “Bradley,” I rasped as I stumbled back into Sage and Declan.

The man in front of me had short blonde hair and pale skin. But he was the man I thought I had loved. The man I thought would save me.

Bradley Ivory was Ian Ivory’s son—and had never let me in on that little secret until we were on a boat in the middle of the ocean together.

“I’m sorry, you must have me mistaken with someone else,” he said as he pulled me away from the couple.

“Brad…”

Declan cleared his throat behind me, but my body was trembling with fear. Should I scream? Run? What…

“Demi, we can have a chat later, but I must get our valued guests, Mr. and Mrs. Rothschild’s, luggage to their room.”

My head was light, and I could see little specks in my vision as my hands went cold.

Bradley smirked at me before rolling the designer luggage away.

“Demi, I hope you aren’t making our wonderful guests linger in the front of the resort?” Alister Ivory appeared in a three-piece suit, his eyes low and dark as he looked at me.

He brushed his hand across my face before using his index finger to tilt my chin upward. “Demi?” His voice shifted from threatening to concerned.

“Bradley,” I whispered and lifted my eyes to meet Alister’s. His dark brows knitted together as he looked at me with an expression I had hardly seen someone show toward me.

Worry. Alister Ivory was worried about me.

“Mr. and Mrs. Rothschild, I’ll have another one of my precious doves assist you. My Demi is a bit new to the job and will be right back to serving you as soon as she takes a moment to recuperate.” Alister laced his fingers with mine and led me away just before snapping his fingers three times toward Jamie, who immediately lifted a phone to call whom I assumed was my replacement.

I felt as if I were walking through a tunnel. As soon as we turned down a few hallways, Alister led me into an elevator that was painted all black, except for the gold trimming and buttons.

Looking up at the ceiling, I saw it was mirrored and Alister’s eyes caught mine.

“Bradley,” I repeated, as if it were the only word I knew.

“That was not my nephew, Bradley Ivory, Demi.” Alister adjusted the gold rings that he always wore. I didn’t think I’d ever paid attention to the many tattoos that covered his hands.

He was such a stark contrast to Dr. Ian Ivory, who was obsessed with the color white. Here I was, already seeing black and white splattered throughout. It had to mean something…

“Yes, it was.” I stared down at the white-padded shoes I had on my feet. Why did Alister want some of the girls in white when, clearly, he favored black and dark tones?

“Bradley Ivory was my brother’s bastard. He died with you in the middle of the ocean.”

My head turned to Alister as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. I tilted my head in confusion. “Died…with me?”

Alister took my hand and tugged me out of the elevator.

Cornering me against the wall, he stared at my lips. Brushing his thumb against them, he leaned in close, and I pushed my head further into the wall.

His minty breath blew against my mouth. “My brother’s precious little bird died there in the ocean, but was reincarnated as my perfect raven.” My breathing stilled as he leaned in close enough for our lips to almost touch, but he didn’t kiss me.

“Don’t you dare think about touching me,” I murmured, looking straight into his dark eyes.

A devious smile grew on his face as he lifted his hand and wrapped it around my neck. Instantly, I grabbed his hand and tried to pry it off, to no avail. Choking, I tried to plead with him as the smile stayed on his face and he tightened his grip.

Digging my nails into his hands, tears streamed down my face.

“Don’t you dare think about speaking to me like that, Demi. I will cut you up into pieces, fry you, and serve you as an appetizer to our guests. Do you understand me, my beautiful little raven? They do love a good piece of brown meat.”

Nodding, he released his grip and cracked his neck from side to side as I doubled over and gasped for air.

Drool dribbled out of my mouth as my eyes burned, but I didn’t dare look up at him.

“When you’re ready, you can join me in the library.” His shiny black dress shoes clicked against the all-black marble flooring as my back slid against the wall and I sank downward. Sucking in breaths of air, I lifted my head when I knew he’d turned away. This was a penthouse in the resort. Breathtaking panoramic views of the crystal-clear ocean was all around me, but the rest of the house was decorated in nothing but black with gold accents.

“Demi…don’t keep me waiting,” Alister crooned out. Pressing my palms against the cold floors, I forced myself up and began walking.

It was the most beautiful home I’d ever seen. The Ivory estate back in Charlotte was sterile, but this…this was evil. This was living in the shadows. Part of me felt safer in the dark than in the light.

Passing a gold-encrusted mirror, I caught a glimpse of the girl in the reflection. I stood out against the décor with my bright blonde hair and white sheath dress.

I missed my long black hair that was tucked under this itchy wig, I missed wearing anything but white, but I didn’t miss myself. I didn’t know who I even was. I’d always been an idea or a thought of what someone else wanted me to be. Perhaps that’s why I was called to the darkness so much more. I could hide the various versions of myself I was forced to be.

“Turn right,” Alister’s voice called out. I froze in my spot, knowing that he was watching me. Glancing around, I could see cameras, in each corner, and I knew there were hidden ones everywhere.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I made my way into another hallway with small lanterns lighting the way.

My eyes widened as I walked into the library space. But it wasn’t a library filled with classic novels; it was a room filled with black-and-white paintings of naked women and leather-bound books, all with tiny lettering I couldn’t make out.

Alister was sitting in an oversized chair by a fireplace. The fire crackled as he lit a cigar and looked at me carefully. Waving his hand to the empty chair across from him, he motioned for me to sit down.

“Demi, do you know what the most underrated, yet lucrative, business in the world is?”

I was staring at an image of a woman who had the same short bob-styled hair cut I had, and I could tell by the light contrast, she was blonde. Her eyes were smudged with makeup as she looked over her shoulder. Her spine and thin waist protruded while her body was bare.

“No,” I answered while crossing my legs and staring at Alister, who had now spread his legs apart with his elbows resting on his knees.

“Fantasies.” He leaned back into his chair and snapped his fingers.

Not even a moment later, Kandi, the woman who did my hair, showed up in a white gown, pushing in a clothing rack. Her lips were in a tight line as she looked at me with concern.

“Smile, baby. Smile .” Alister chuckled before standing. I sat there frozen as I stared at the rack of dresses. They weren’t white…they were all black.

Kandi’s lips quivered as Alister approached her. “Turn around.” Alister leaned into the side of her face, brushing his cheek against her hair.

“Please, Mr. Ivory, I’m begging you.” A small tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at me pleadingly.

Alister sighed loudly before snapping his fingers again. Within seconds, another young woman appeared in an identical gown to Kandi’s. “Turn around, Megan.” Biting her bottom lip, she glanced at Kandi with envy.

“Unzip her,” Alister barked at Kandi as Megan winced and slowly rotated.

“Please, I can bring you an ashtray,” Kandi pleaded.

“Demi, stand up,” Alister ordered as my stomach flipped.

“Stand up!” he shouted at me. I gripped the armrests and pushed myself up.

This is it. This is the moment, the pivotal moment when I’m about to be sunken into Alister Ivory’s sick and twisted games.

I stood next to Alister as he towered over me. Running his hand through his shiny black hair, he grinned at me before taking another puff of his cigar and then pulled my lips apart with his thumb. Blowing the cigar smoke into my mouth, I immediately started to cough at the repulsive taste.

Kandi and Megan were trembling as they watched.

“I’m going to save kissing you for the day I spread your legs apart and feel you everywhere.” He smirked as he took my hand and placed his cigar in it.

“I need you to put this out for me, my beautiful raven.” Tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, Alister whispered, “Put the cigar out on the ashtray.”

Looking around, I didn’t see an ashtray. Kandi began unzipping Megan’s dress and allowed the material to fall outward on both sides.

“Oh my God,” I gasped as I saw Megan’s shriveled and bruised skin, with hundreds of burn marks all over her back.

“She’s one of our nightingales. It’s strange seeing her in white, but she was promoted when too many doves turned up dead…”

“Now put out the cigar, Demi,” Alister snapped at me as I stood there.

“I won’t do it.” My voice cracked as I shook my head.

“You’ll do it, or I’ll kill her.” He grabbed my wrist and shoved it closer to her skin.

“No!” I shoved his hand from mine and stumbled backward.

Alister laughed before he walked over to one of his shelves. “Why didn’t you do as you were told?” Megan peered at me over her shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

Alister walked back with a sharp machete in his hand.

“Alister, you cannot be serious!” I ran in between the girls and Alister.

“On your knees.” Alister pushed me to the side and tapped the machete blade on Megan’s shoulder.

The cigar was burning in between my fingers.

“Okay! Alister, please!” I screamed as I lifted the cigar. Megan was already on her knees, sobbing as Alister lifted the blade into the air.

“Alister! I’m begging you!” I shrieked as memories of the girls I couldn’t save back in Charlotte flooded my mind.

Alister turned to me and squinted. “Put the cigar out, Demi. This is your one and only second-chance. I promise you that, my raven.”

“One…two…burn.” Alister sang out while swinging the machete. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. I wanted to take the cigar and burn Alister’s eyes, but I couldn’t. I knew the only outcome for disobedience with an Ivory was death.

“I’m so sorry,” I whimpered as I lifted the cigar and smashed it into Megan’s flesh. The cry that left her lips seared through my heart as the flesh around the cigar melted.

Alister wrapped his hand around mine and pressed it harder as I realized that, in some sick way, I was happy it wasn’t me.

Alister pulled my hand away from her back and dropped the cigar to the ground. “Clean it up, Megan, and then get the hell out of my space. Both of you leave.” He bellowed while wrapping his hand around my waist and tugging me away. Grabbing a dress from the clothing rack, Alister guided me down a hall with flickering lanterns hung.

“That was absolutely beautiful, my raven. I knew there was evil inside of you.”

Looking up at him, I hated myself for what I did next.

I smiled proudly.