R.I.P.

by Charity B.

  “Holy shit.”

  Mikkel laughs. “You’ll get your chance to play with them, don’t worry.”

  Thomas carries our bags, refusing my help when I offer. We climb up a staircase leading from the enormous garage to an elaborate sitting room.

  This all has a bit of a Twilight Zone feel. I’m not sure what to say, and I already miss Adriel. She never has a problem saying what she’s thinking.

  Mikkel leads me into a large living room that I have to step down into. The gray carpet looks soft against the two white, crescent shaped couches. An actual black bear skin rug lies in front of a stone fireplace. The black and white paintings on the wall are—I guess I would say tasteful—depictions of mutilated bodies.

  Mikkel walks to the bar in the corner of the room, taking out two glasses as Thomas moves behind me to climb a wide spiral staircase. The black iron railings are scrolled in the same swirled designs on the front gate. There are hallways leading from this room to at least three different destinations.

  “This place is insane.”

  Handing me my drink, he swallows down his own. “The family business is a lucrative one.”

  “What is that exactly?”

  “Be patient. As I said, I will answer all of your questions once Adriel has returned.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading me toward the stairs. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying.”

  The top of the staircase splits off into opposite directions. We take the one on the left which brings us to a wide hallway. Once we get to the third wooden door on the right, he opens it.

  “Whoa,” I whisper.

  Our bags are sitting on a black lounge at the foot of a giant four poster bed. A sheer black canopy surrounds it. The furnishings and the décor are all in a black, gray, and white color scheme. What really has me stunned, though, is the curved wall in front of me, made entirely of glass. Security lights show the palm trees swaying. I can only imagine the view in the daylight.

  The room is pristine, and I smile at the fact that it won’t stay like that for long. Soon it will be covered in Adriel’s creations, stickers, and whatever else she adds along the way.

  I really hope she gets back soon.

  Pointing to a white door, Mikkel finishes off his drink. “The bathroom is in there. It’s fully stocked with toiletries and towels. If you need anything else just let me know.”

  It makes me uncomfortable asking him for more. I also can’t take a shower just to put on dirty clothes. “Can I use your washing machine? We’re out of clean clothes.”

  “Certainly. And I may have a few things that you can wear until we can get you more.” He walks to an odd little cabinet above the baseboard of the wall. “Gather your soiled items and place them in here.” A laundry chute is revealed when he pulls open the little door.

  He leaves while I empty our bags on the floor and do as he says. Even though I took a shower just a few hours ago, I need another one badly. Sweat and blood coat my skin, plus, I need to clean my wounded leg.

  Lathering up my skin, my thoughts flip through images of Adriel pregnant. How would she look swollen with the life we created? Although I know it can’t happen, I fantasize about her holding a child made from the perfect concoction of us both. It’s unrealistic to think a baby would even be possible in our predicament. We already have a family history of hallucinations to deal with on top of the possibility that our incest might cause even worse issues. And that’s if we somehow get out of the mess we’re currently in.

  The mirrors are fogged with steam as I dry myself with an epically soft towel. A stack of clothes and a first aid kit sit on the lounge. There’s a black, spaghetti strap maxi dress and a pair of pink flip flops for Adriel that I set aside. Murmuring my gratefulness at the package of underwear, I tug on the black pants and gray, short-sleeved linen sweater before lacing up a pair of black oxford shoes. These are the nicest clothes I’ve ever seen, let alone worn.

  Leaving our room, I have no idea where I’m going in this ginormous place. I somehow manage to find Mikkel back in the living room.

  “Perfect timing. Eugéne is just finishing up.”

  As I follow him down the hall, I can’t help but imagine living here. This place is a labyrinth, I’d constantly be getting lost. The dining room isn’t any less breathtaking than the rest of the house. Three of the four walls are windows showing the reflection of the Gulf in the distance. There are three place settings at the end of a long table. Mikkel pulls out the seat at the head of the table, gesturing for me to take the one next to him.

  “I have many connections, Malakai. However, to do the best damage control possible, I need you to tell me everything that happened following the night that you were filmed. Can you do that?”

  Every second that passes with him eases my trepidation. I nod. “Yes.”

  “All right then.” He fills our glasses before holding his up. “To family reunions.”

  Adriel

  17 years old

  The pills rattle in my hand as Thomas pushes the wheelchair through this super big house. I already told him back at the clinic that I could walk, but he said Mikkel insisted, so I didn’t complain. The stuff Dr. Black gave me through the IV is definitely making me feel better. I’m barely in any pain at all. He told me to take the pills every day for two weeks in case I get an infection.

  Princess Sparkle still hasn’t come alive again which stinks because Dr. Black and the other guy in the white coat were really boring. Thomas pushes me down a hallway, and the moment I see Kai, I hug her to my chest. I don’t care if Mikkel gets mad, I leap from the wheelchair and run to hug him. He’s out of his seat before I reach him.

  “Adriel,” Mikkel chides. “Try to take it easy. I want you to heal as quickly as possible.”

  There’s something about our cousin. From the second he stood in front of me at the trailer, I knew he would protect us. I love how much he looks like Daddy and how safe he makes me feel. There’s an ominous force about him that excites something deep inside me.

  My smile is instantly returned when I say, “Sorry.”

  “Are you hungry?” Kai asks as he takes my hand.

  It’s weird that I’m not hungry at all since I was starving earlier. As I shake my head in response, Mikkel stands. “Both of you, come with me.” He gestures to Thomas, “Bring a chocolate milkshake to the study for Adriel.”

  Thomas smiles. “Of course.”

  Kai keeps giving me little kisses on the way down the hall, refusing to let go of me. I never realized before now that I’m glad Bridgett posted that video. Malakai might think this trip has been terrible, but aside from the man in Oklahoma and the last few hours, I’ve enjoyed it. He touches me without restraint or guilt. Being in his arms, even while on the run, is better than it ever was when he was fighting his feelings for me.

  Mikkel leads us into a sleek room with the same high ceiling as the rest of the house. A long, fuzzy, black couch sits opposite a big mahogany desk. The photographs on the walls are what truly catch my attention though. Onyx frames hold portraits of mutilated men and women, their flesh ripped apart. The details in each of them are stunning. In black and white, the visual beauty of the images overshadows the actual content.

  The one I’m staring at now has a very pretty lady in it. She’s wearing a dark gown that’s bunched up at her waist, exposing her pussy. Her long, light hair is curled, spread out around her head like a halo, bordering her tortured expression highlighted in make-up—A stolen scream frozen in time. I lightly trace my fingers over her legs that have been completely skinned, leaving only bone from thigh to ankle. Dark high heels adorn her still intact feet.

  I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until Mikkel places his hand on my back. “Exquisite, aren’t they? The photographer is a client of mine.”

  Malakai sits on the weirdest chair I’ve ever seen. It’s white and shaped like a half sphere, hiding his face when he asks, “What is it you do exactly?”

  Walking to the bar
in the corner, Mikkel asks, “Are you familiar with what System D means?”

  I’ve never heard of it. Kai’s head peeks out from behind the strange chair. “Like the black market?”

  “Exactly. The shadow economy has many names. In short, I supply people with items that are either difficult to come by or too expensive in the mainstream market.”

  Malakai scoffs, “So what? You sell livers to people doing back alley surgeries?”

  “Sometimes.”

  He was obviously just kidding, so Mikkel’s response makes his jaw drop. I can almost feel my ears perk up with interest. I run my fingers over Princess Sparkles horns as I ask, “What about the other times?”

  I’m starting to really like when he smiles at me. “While I have my fingers in a few pies, my biggest source of income is the buying and selling of human bodies, both dead and alive. For example, one of my wealthiest clients has developed a taste for…meat. The kind that can’t be bought at a butcher shop, so he pays me a heavy sum to acquire it for him. There’s of course the obvious run of the mill organ trade. Some of my more special clients, however, are…unique.”

  Kai’s hollow expression tethers me to him. I take Princess Sparkle to sit on his lap in the odd chair, cuddling up to his chest. His apprehension gushes out of him in pulses.

  I, on the other hand, am eager to hear more. “Did my daddy know you did this? Is that why he lied to us about you?”

  He leans against his desk, watching us in amusement as Kai’s hand rubs down my leg. “Yes, he was well aware of what our family does and he vehemently disapproved, apparently. I’ll admit, most of my knowledge has been obtained through hearsay. I was only three or four when he left for some kind of student ministry. He was sent to Iowa of all places. Once he met Azalea, I think he decided to never come back.” Listening to him talk about my daddy when he was my age is a puzzling feeling. Daddy never spoke of his life before divinity school. It makes me feel selfish that I never thought to ask. “My father used to joke that Micah was the ‘white sheep’ of our family. We Courtenays aren’t exactly religious, yet in spite of that, he was drawn to the church at a very young age. Back then, we were as deep into the drug trade as we were the flesh trade. According to our grandparents, Micah never hid the fact that he despised what our family did.” He throws back the rest of his drink before sitting on the fluffy couch. “The last time any of us saw him was at your parents’ wedding. When I was fifteen, he told us Azalea was pregnant.”

  Thomas taps on the door, walking over to hand me my milkshake. I take a big sip of the delicious drink. It cools my throat and makes my taste buds happy. Mikkel yanks Thomas onto his lap, stroking his hand across his leg.

  Kai and I look at each other. Daddy never preached against same sex relationships, however, they weren’t something we were really exposed to in Lettleton. I’ve never seen two men together in person. It gives me a warm, funny feeling in my tummy…at least I think it’s in my tummy.

  “Both my father and grandfather made many attempts to speak to Micah until he sent a letter demanding they never contact him or Azalea again. I was raised to believe that family is the most important thing. I’ll never forget the impact that letter had on my father and our grandparents.”

  It makes me a little angry that Daddy kept them from us. Why didn’t we get to choose? “Are both of our grandparents still alive?” Me and Malakai never had grandparents before.

  Mikkel nods as he trails his hand higher up Thomas’ leg, obviously arousing him with the erection straining his slacks. Watching them together is bewitching to me. I can’t tell how Malakai feels about it. His stare is blank, holding no emotion.

  “Now, tell me,” Mikkel says, “I’ve been curious since you mentioned it…how many people have you killed? In your lifetime, I mean?”

  Kai tenses under me, his hand squeezing my hip. I don’t understand what his uncertainty is about. We were just told our cousin is like us. Though he may not eliminate sinners, he provides a service to them that protects people. It may seem like a gray area, but if you really look at it, Mikkel keeps sinners off the streets and away from attacking innocent people by giving them what they need to pacify their desires. While I don’t necessarily believe they deserve it, at least he’s still saving people.

  I spread my fingers out and say, “Oodles of people. They were all evil though…like your clients.” Mikkel chuckles when I add, “Mommy had a special gift that helped us find them.”

  “Oh, really?” His eyes raise as he rubs the bulge in Thomas’ pants. My breath catches before I find myself touching Kai’s chest the same way. “Do either of you have that…gift?”

  Kai’s eyes widen with a slight shake of his head, so I try to comfort him with my smile. “Kind of. It’s just different. I don’t talk to corpses like she did. I talk to my creations.”

  Arching his eyebrow, Mikkel stops moving his hand to grip Thomas’ crotch. “Your creations?”

  My lips form an O before I lift up Princess Sparkle. “That’s what I call my toys. And sometimes I hear voices in my head. I also see strange things.”

  The zipper of Thomas’ jeans is loud in the silence of the office before Mikkel slowly reaches inside his pants to reveal his erection. “That’s intriguing. Did you enjoy it? Taking their lives?” His hand moves slowly up and down as Thomas rocks into his fist.

  In any other situation, this might make me feel uncomfortable. Right now, though, I’m mesmerized watching them. It makes my body feel hot in the nice way.

  Without thinking, I scoot back to press my bottom against Kai’s stomach. “Yes, very much.” Mikkel must have liked that answer because his eyes blaze before whispering something in Thomas’ ear.

  I reach between my legs to brush my fingers over Kai’s zipper, making him jump beneath me. Looking over my shoulder causes me to rip my hand away at the panic darkening his eyes.

  “What about you?” Mikkel asks Malakai.

  Thomas lowers to the floor, unfastening Mikkel’s trousers. His cock jumps out to meet Thomas’ mouth sliding over it. I grip tight onto Princess Sparkle as I feel myself getting wet watching his head bob down to the base. Mikkel pulls his hair, groaning with each thrust.

  “When they deserve it…” Malakai responds in a flat tone. I can’t rip my eyes away from my cousin fucking Thomas’ mouth when Kai pushes at my hips to get me off of his lap, so he can stand. “What the hell is this, Mikkel?” His hand gestures to Thomas, still giving it his all.

  “I told you in the car,” he moans, “I don’t want to fuck Adriel.” My skin tightens, and I freeze. I had no idea that was ever a discussion. Kai will always be the only one I want. His nervousness is making more sense now. “I don’t want to fuck you either.”

  Kai’s shoulders fall in frustration. “Then why are we watching you get your dick sucked?”

  “The video of you two…I’ve seen it many times. It’s gotten me so fucking hard, fantasizing about watching you together these past few days.”

  Mikkel’s thrusts get faster making Thomas gag. It’s really difficult not to touch myself over my panties. I just don’t want to upset Malakai who, at the moment, looks more confused than angry. He looks down at me as I stand to hold his hand.

  Kai tilts his head, narrowing his eyes. “Just watch? Nobody will touch either of us?”

  “You have my word. That isn’t what I want.” Mikkel squeezes Thomas’ skull as tears stream down his face, and still, he shoves harder into his mouth.

  Kai shakes his head as if a thought got stuck while processing. “We can’t have sex though.” He gestures to me. “She just got stitched up.”

  “You can still use your mouths.”

  Every sentence he says is coated in arousal. It’s a contagious feeling. While the thought of this is exhilarating, I only want to do what he’s suggesting if Malakai does too.

  Kai’s hand wraps around my wrist, yanking me against his chest to press our foreheads together. “Are you okay with this?” he whispers.

&nbs
p; I hold his face tight as my lips brush over his. “Yes, but only if you are.”

  The smirk that stretches his mouth sends tickles across my whole body. We look to our cousin who pats the seat next to him. Thomas pulls his head off, gasping for breath before Mikkel shoves it back down.

  “Did I tell you to stop sucking?” He grins.

  I giggle when Kai picks me up, carrying me to the couch. My legs spread automatically the moment he lifts my dress. Being openly watched by someone who sees our true beauty is so erotic. As soon as the air hits my exposed pussy, I thrust my hips.

  Gentle fingers slide up my thighs as he kisses the inside of my knees. “Tell me if it hurts, okay?”

  “Uh-huh,” I gasp, holding tight to Princess Sparkle.

  Mikkel’s gaze is on my cunt as my brother lowers to his knees. His husky voice grows deeper by the minute. “Fuck, your so wet you’re shimmering.”

  My eyes shift to Kai to gauge his reaction. While he looks at our cousin, the comment doesn’t stop his tongue from softly licking around my entrance. Without his fingers inside me, it’s almost agonizing. I rock against his mouth, trying to make him go faster.

  Mikkel’s fusion of aggression and passion with Thomas is intoxicating. He yanks his head away by his hair before slamming their mouths together. “I want that sexy, tight ass.”

  Thomas’ eyes are captivated by Mikkel removing his slacks, moaning when he sucks his erection between his lips. The moment Kai licks at my clitty, the hand not holding Princess Sparkle flies to the top of his head. Pain from me clenching takes my breath away, though the wet warmth of his mouth soothes me. The drugs I’m on help a lot, but coming is still going to hurt. His tongue flicks at my most sensitive spot over and over. Suddenly, I don’t care how painful it will be. Right now, this feels incredible. Pleasure and exhilaration consume every cell in my body.

  “Kai…yes,” I murmur, “lick it faster. I want Mikkel to watch you make me come.”