Illusions of Evil (Illusions Series Book 1)

by Lily White

  Another choked sob was her response. Waiting for her to speak was my own personal Hell, waiting to hear how her heart had been torn open by an evil within the world that had used her to get to me. She was innocent despite the choice she'd made - despite the lies she'd believed.

  "I knew it was wrong, Father Hayle," she whispered just loud enough for me to hear. "I knew that I should have resisted. But I've had these feelings for you for a long time. I ruined you...and myself...and all I want, all I think about, is doing it again."

  My teeth clenched so tightly that pain shot across my jaw.

  Through her sniffling, she kept talking, kept telling me what she believed I'd done to her. "I need to unload this, from beginning to end and I'm sorry if it hurts you. I'm the devil. I used my femininity to lure you into temptation. I should never have told you how I felt."

  That son of a bitch.

  Suspicion filtered through me, cold ice meeting scorching flame. Jericho, in what little time he’d had with her, must have convinced her that she was the one to blame.

  I knew it would kill me to hear the details, but I wanted to know exactly what he'd done. "Tell me from the beginning, Annabelle. Speak all of it so that God will hear you and offer forgiveness."

  Another sob. Another sniffle.

  "I can't live with myself. Not knowing what I've done and what I'd do it again if you let me. When I turned and saw you following me on the street, I thought you had something else to say about my confession. But when you touched me instead, when you pulled me behind those bushes so that we wouldn't be seen, I melted inside to feel your mouth on mine. I died inside when you moved my hand to feel how your body reacted to being near me. I knew it was wrong, Father, but that only made me want it more."

  She paused, a keening sound crawling up her throat. "Oh, God, I still want it. I touch myself at night thinking about you, remembering what it felt like when you touched me for the first time."

  Silence fell, only broken by the sound of her crying. "I'm touching myself now," she finally said.

  Opening my eyes, I leaned sideways, my skin hot against the wood partition between us. "You must stop, Annabelle. You can't do that in God's house."

  "Why does he make us this way?" she asked, her voice growing in strength. "Why does he design us so that it feels so good? Not initially, not when you first-"

  Her voice cut off, only to return much softer. "Not when you first stuck it inside, but when you touched between us, when you showed me what my body could do. I learned from you, and now I touch that secret place just to feel it again and again. To remember. To pretend like it's your hand. Your finger. Your tongue."

  A sharp inhalation of air sounded just before she said, "My finger is inside me now, but I wish it was you."

  "Annabelle, stop. Right this second," I demanded.

  "I'm sorry," she said, pleading with me to understand. "I can't help it. I've been opened, Father Hayle. And now it's all I want. What's wrong with me?"

  I couldn't answer what was wrong with her because I was too busy wondering what was wrong with me. I had no interest in this girl. No desire to touch her in the ways she believed I had, but still, my body responded. The predator in me opened its eyes, begging to devour her innocence, hopeful that its will would be stronger than mine.

  "What happened," I repeated, "will never happen again. You must resist those thoughts. You must stop defiling God's house by touching yourself now. You must remember what God wants from his children."

  "I can't," she cried, "what don't you understand about that? I've tried, Father, but there is something inside me that wants you, will always want you. Please, Father Hayle. Tell me how to resist this."

  The taste of bile crawled up my throat, the recognition that in every person there was a particular poison they found hard to resist. For some, it was sex. For others it was stealing. And for the rare few it was the desire to hurt and kill.

  I'd often wondered if it wasn't some basic instinct we carried from a time long ago, a part of our nature that couldn't be corralled by religion, morality or the expectations of a controlled society.

  "You must stop, Annabelle. You must remember that you have a scholarship, a future beyond this-"

  "Why did you do this to me?" she screamed.

  My heart was tearing into shreds, my hands clenching so hard over my thighs that I knew there would be bruises left behind.

  The sobs came harder before I heard her shuffling around, her elbows and knees knocking against the wood.

  "Annabelle, please, talk to me."

  "I'm done talking," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Father Hayle. I already know I'm damned."

  A metallic click drew my attention, but before I could react, before I could push up from my seat, throw my door open to get to hers, a gun blast burst through the sanctuary, the sound of a body slumping down as the weight of the gun hit the floor of the confessional.

  ELIJAH

  In reality, hope is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs man’s suffering. – Friedrich Nietzsche

  Run, little rabbit, run.

  Soft laughter shook my shoulders as I strolled through the woods. The sun had set over an hour ago and the little scared woman I was chasing down was disoriented and tired.

  Like the others, she'd chosen the well traveled path rather than wading through the areas of underbrush and bushes that prevented easy passage. Sadly, if she had chosen the road less traveled, she could have escaped my grasp, made it to the edges of the woods that spilled out onto the lonesome roads that would have led her back to town.

  I shook my head at the humor of it. Too afraid of what could be crawling in those bushes, my prey always ran the direction I wanted them to go, always fell for the trap I had cleared out and set months before.

  In the distance, I could hear the night animals scurrying about, their bellies empty and their mouths drooling in thought of what smaller creature they could overpower for their meal. I knew the feeling, my mouth was watering just the same.

  I found Eunice crouching beneath a tree within walking distance of the cabin I kept specially prepared for ceremonies such as this. I liked to think of it as a transfer of power from the weak to the strong, as a transformation that pushed my mission forward as I laid each individual trap.

  I was so close to ending this particular game, beginning a new one, that the anticipation was a fevered pulse just beneath the skin.

  A twig snapped beneath my shoe and Eunice glanced up, fear and exhaustion battling for superiority behind her eyes.

  "Are you done running?"

  Her chest heaved with labored breath, her dress dirty where she'd fallen down several times after tripping over a random root or other obstacle. The relief she felt for no longer being alone in the woods was palpable.

  "Y-you followed me?"

  Squatting down, I grinned. "Did you think I'd leave you alone? I just wanted to see how strong your faith was. Considering how far you ran, I would say it's as strong as ever. Most people give up long before this point."

  "Can we go back now?" she asked, a tremor in her words. "I don't like it out here."

  I ran the tip of my finger down her jawline. "I have something a little more private in mind. It's closer, too. I know you must be tired."

  She nodded her head and I nodded mine with her, smiling to see a spark of wary trust light her gaze. She hadn't eaten in days and now she'd just been run to ground. Her exhausted mind was a beautiful thing.

  Offering her a hand, I helped her to her feet as I stood to my full height. We'd barely traveled a few steps before I slipped my arm around her waist to assist her over the rough terrain.

  "Can I ask you something, Eunice?"

  Her voice was as quiet as a mouse. "Yes."

  "What made you decide to become a nun?"

  She turned to look at me, almost tripping over a root in the process. I caught her weight easily before she fell.

  "I don't know. I think because I wanted my life to have a higher purpos
e."

  "You felt a calling?"

  "Yeah. I did."

  "And based on the calling you felt, you ended up here?" I paused, letting that thought sink in. "I guess the Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?"

  The cabin came in to view, the candles inside flickering through the windows. Richard was always quick when I sent him ahead to prepare the inside. "Here we are. A respite from the dark woods."

  "I don't like this place," she insisted. "I just want to go home. Please," she begged, "please let me go home."

  My hand locked over her hip, my mouth watering at the fear evident in her voice. "I'm sorry, Eunice. But you have a higher purpose. One I'll enjoy much more than you."

  With one quick move, I opened the door to shove her inside, slamming it closed behind me as she ran to the other side of the cabin in an attempt to place distance between us.

  Exhaustion overtook her before long.

  "We can make this easy or difficult, Eunice," my lips pulled into a grin, "and since I prefer difficult to easy, I'm fine with either choice."

  I stepped closer, she stepped back. The dance began.

  "Stay away from me," she screamed, her eyes darting between the religious ornaments strewn throughout the room and me. It didn't take a genius to figure out what I intended, but still there was surprise in her eyes.

  Canting my head to the side, I laughed softly. "Who will stop me? Who is powerful enough to keep you safe now that I have you here?"

  Another step. "Will your God help you, Eunice? Will he come down from his mighty perch to rescue a woman bound to him alone?" My laughter grew louder. "You people really need to learn that there is nothing between you and the predators who take advantage of your delusions."

  "I thought you were a devout man. I thought - what you said -" Her thoughts were scattering, her tongue unable to squeak out a full sentence as truth dawned on her in all its glorious light.

  Eunice's back hit a wall as I moved closer, her body sliding down to its knees as I came within reach.

  "Now isn't that a pretty sight? Did you want to wrap those gorgeous lips around my cock before I force it in your body?" A slight shrug of my shoulder. "Again, I'm fine either way."

  Tears slipped from her eyes as I squatted down in front of her. I would say I pitied the poor creature, but then I'd just be lying. The fucking whore deserved what she was going to get. They all did.

  "You know," I said, conversationally and without concern for what I divulged. Eunice, here, wouldn't have the ability to run and tell. "It amazes me to see how easily you all fall for the fairy tales and pretty lies told by generations. You deny yourselves the pleasures of this world because you believe, you actually believe, there is something waiting on the other side."

  My hand struck out, locking her jaw in its grip. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

  Her gaze returned to mine.

  "Thank you. Don't you know it's rude not to pay attention?"

  "Please..."

  Rolling my eyes, I released her face. "Please, please, please," I mocked with a dry, remorseless voice. "Stop your begging. It's pathetic."

  "Let me explain this in a manner you might understand, Sister. You are a whore for the Almighty God, and my dear creature, in this house, I am that God. So you will do as you're told, or so help you, I'll show you my irrefutable power."

  "Please," she wailed.

  "You're boring me. Let's find another word to use, shall we?"

  Her mouth opened and closed, her eyes working quickly to blink away her tears. Reaching out, I caught one on my finger and brought it to my mouth.

  Her expression was horrified.

  "Tastes sweet," I said on a laugh. "Make me another."

  Oh, and how she did. So many tears were pouring and all I could do was wait out the storm, enjoy the terror and anticipate the enjoyment to come.

  I tapped my palm against her cheek when it became obvious this woman wouldn't stop her crying. "That was a warning tap," I explained when she finally lifted her red rimmed eyes to mine. "The next one might sting a little."

  Eunice froze. She opened her mouth to beg again, but I placed a finger over her lips and shook my head. "I'd be real careful what you say next. If I hear please, or stop, or any of those ridiculous words that waste our time, I'll make sure this hurts. The only thing I want to know is whether this will be difficult or easy. It's one word, Eunice. So pick one."

  Slowly, I pulled my hand back, locking her stare with mine as she made up that pretty little scrambled mind of hers.

  "Choose," I reminded her.

  Her lip quivered. Her eyes blinked away a few more tears. Her body trembled where it kneeled on the floor. And finally - fucking finally - she opened her mouth to say, "Easy."

  I sneered, but shrugged the disappointment away. "If you insist."

  Pushing up to my feet, I offered my hand because I was nothing if not a gentleman. She was hesitant to take it, but eventually fell in line.

  Giving her distance, I stepped back and jut my chin in her direction. "I think you know what to do with that dress."

  More tears. More whimpering. But finally, she reached for the buttons that ran the length from her neck to her waist. One by one they slipped open, each one revealing more of the pale skin beneath, the side swells of her breasts and the smooth plane of her abdomen. How this woman had decided to give that body up to God was beyond me. It was much too succulent to hide away beneath the tent of her habit.

  Once the buttons were unclasped, she stopped, unsure what to do. I arched a brow in question. "I don't really need to explain what should happen now, do I?"

  Those beautiful eyes narrowed in hatred. A low whistle blew from my mouth. "Now, that's an expression after my own heart." A grin stretched my lips. "Why don't you show me some teeth, too?"

  Her expression fell.

  "I'm waiting." I crooned. "The suspense is killing me."

  If she wasn't careful, she'd die of dehydration with the amount of tears still spilling from her eyes. It wasn't that bad. I wasn't beating her or tearing into her flesh. I wasn't even screaming at her or anything of the sort. I’d given her a choice, hadn't I?

  The dress slipped from her shoulders and I sat silently praising whatever God she wanted to believe existed.

  "You, my lovely creature, are divine."

  Pale skin stretched across, so pure and white, she resembled a porcelain doll. Her breasts were a decent handful, not too small, not to large. And even for a woman who had sworn herself off of sex, she kept her hair well trimmed, and her legs shaved as smooth as they were long.

  "On the platform. Lie on your back and spread those beautiful legs apart."

  "I - please -"

  Cupping my ear with my hand, I teased, "What was that? I can't be sure, but it sounded like you just used a word I already told you was off limits."

  My head angled to the platform where it sat in front of the fire. "I'll make it good, Eunice. I can promise you I have plenty of experience."

  "You're a monster!"

  "And you're a spoiled little brat who didn't think to check under her bed before tucking in at night, so do what the fuck I told you to do before I stop believing you really want this to be easy."

  I had to hand it to her, when she got mad, she showed a level of strength I thought impossible for her.

  Eunice didn't just walk to the table, she marched to it, her hands clenched at her sides and that perfectly round ass moving in ways that made me sway where I stood. Hopping up onto the platform, she leveled me with one more angry glare before lying back, lifting her feet to the edge of the platform and spreading her legs apart.

  Halle-fucking-lujah.

  Curious, I strode over and ran the tip of my finger between her legs. My brow arched again, my eyes studying the resolute expression on her face before I asked, "What's with the change, Eunice? Have you decided that you want this after all?"

  "My God will see to your destruction. Do your worst, demon!"

 
A bark of laughter escaped my lips. "Oh, sweetheart, this is only the fun part. The worst comes later."

  I dropped down before she could answer, my fingers parting the pink flesh between her legs before my tongue flicked out for a taste. Her legs trembled at the sides of my head, but she didn't kick out or cry, didn't do anything at all until I suckled on that sweet spot. The moan that crawled up her throat was music to my ears.

  Dragging my tongue lower, I pushed it inside and kept a slow rhythm until the trembling in her legs became more pronounced. A wet musk blossomed against my lips, her body's reaction surprising considering how little I'd actually done. I knew this wouldn't push her to that edge so easily, and curious whether she was truly chaste or just pretending, I pulled my tongue away to slip a finger inside. My eyes closed to feel how tight she was.

  "Oh, my dear girl, you are the real thing, aren't you? Truly a whore for the Almighty."

  Standing to my full height I continued exploring that tight hole as I watched her face, studied the expression that flirted across her features as she closed her eyes.

  "You may not have fucked a man in your life, but I suspect you let some little boy play with you before. Tell me the truth, Eunice. I'll keep your secrets."

  Her hips bucked as my hand pulled away, her breasts swollen and large; the tips tight peaks just begging to be licked and bit, squeezed and nibbled.

  Leaning over her, I brushed her breasts with my chest as I barely touched my lips to hers. Speaking against her mouth, I whispered, "Here, baby girl, taste how sweet you are." My mouth took control of hers, my brows rising up my forehead when she bit my tongue in response.

  I always liked a woman who played rough.

  Pulling away, I unbuckled my pants and ordered, "Get down off the platform, turn the fuck around, and bend over. You just turned me on."

  Her expression still stern with rebellion, she did as she was told, her mouth moving to whisper a quiet prayer to a God I knew wouldn’t help her.

  Once my cock was free, I slipped it between her legs. Sliding the length along the dampened skin as I reached to play with her clit. Another moan escaped her lips, a remarkable sound that told me she was human beneath the veneer of the devout. They all were once they had to face their own bodily functions.