Twisted (Dark Book 1)

by Ashton Blackthorne

  I heard his footsteps moving away from me.

  “Oh, dear Amber, you and I are going to have such fun tonight. I’ve got something special planned. Tonight’s the night, you know.”

  I heard the heavy clanging sound of metal or iron. I couldn’t imagine what he was doing. Then, I noticed an odd aroma.

  Something was burning!

  “Ayden? What’s going on?” My legs began to tremble.

  Something was wrong, very wrong.

  “After tonight, you will be mine forever, Amber.”

  What????

  My heart thumped so hard I thought it would explode out of my chest. Sweat dripped down my arms pooling against the restraints.

  “What do you mean, Ayden?”

  His footsteps drew closer.

  “Mine in every way possible. You will wear me on you.”

  Suddenly, a sickening realization dawned on me.

  The heat….the fireplace….the heavy clanging of iron…

  Oh, my God….

  Fear exploded within me. Every fiber of my being stood on end. My mind raced trying to figure a way out of here. The basement was completely closed save for a few small windows and only one door.

  I began tugging against the restraints as hard as I could. He was coming closer with the branding iron and I could feel the intense heat emanating from it.

  “Shhh…Princess, it won’t be so bad. Daddy has lots of medicine to put on it so it won’t get infected. Let me give you a few quick slaps to toughen your flesh.”

  As he whipped at my flesh, I barely felt it. I was intent on getting out of the restraints!

  I stared in horror as Ayden slapped down a piece of raw meat next to me.

  “Daddy has to check if the iron is hot enough.” He pressed the branding iron into the raw meat making a nauseating sizzle. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room. As he removed the iron, I saw a large ‘AD’ for Ayden Donovan on the meat in smeared letters.

  “Oh shit, Princess, the iron isn’t quite hot enough. Let me fix that.”

  Desperately, I squirmed against the restraints. All of a sudden, one wrist slipped from the cuff and I quickly undid the other.

  Ayden was slipping the iron into the fire as I bent down to unlock the ankle cuffs. I undid them quietly as I crept over to the stairs.

  Suddenly, Ayden spun around.

  “Amber! Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “The FUCK away from you!” I screamed. I raced up the stairs. Ayden charged at me catching my ankle and pulling me down. I kicked him in the face as hard as I could.

  I bolted from the house and ran screaming all the way down the street. As soon as I got to the gas station down the road, I called 911.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  For six months, Ayden followed me around. He sent me flowers at first begging for my forgiveness. He even contacted all my friends telling them how much he regretted his actions. Of course, he failed to mention how he’d tried to brand me. He called me constantly up to fifty times a day until I had to change my number. He stood outside my apartment every morning trying to get me to reconcile with him.

  I held firm and refused him. I wouldn’t even consider a reconciliation. He was twisted and I wanted nothing more to do with him.

  Then, he started to become more menacing.

  As I walked out to my car one morning, I gave a cautionary glance all around me. Expecting to see Ayden, I braced myself as I did every morning.

  For the first time in four months, he wasn’t there.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I pulled my keys out and walked to my car. As I moved around to open the door, I dropped my purse.

  There was a package sitting on my windshield wrapped in brown paper. Picking it up, a

  There was something on my windshield.

  With my hands shaking, I reached forward to pick up the brown paper wrapped package.huge, dead, black rat fell out right on top of my footfell out onto my feet.

  Screamingcreaming, I backed away looking all around me. There was a white piece of paper underneath the windshield wiper.

  Slowly, I unfolded the paper and I choked back the vomit rising in my throat.

  Princess,

  Like my present? Since you don’t care forcare for the flowers, I thought this might be more to your liking.

  You need to talk to me.

  Now.

  You’re not being a very good girl, Princess.

  Daddy is NOT happy with you.

  And you know what that means.

  Forever your loving Daddy

  As I read the words, uncontrollable screams escaped me. Several people came running and I called the police.

  The same scene was repeated several times over the next few months. Ayden would leave terrible and menacing notes on my car. Many times he left black roses or white roses covered with blood.

  I contemplated moving away from New York. Ash convinced me to stay giving me an armed bodyguard posted outside my apartment.

  After a few months passed, I found myself feeling more at ease. Ayden hadn’t bothered me in a few weeks and I felt perhaps he was moving on.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Ash had asked me to accompany him to the wedding of a distinguished colleague. So happy to be going out again after months of leaving in terror, I slipped out of my clothes as I turned the shower on.

  The hot water streamed out of the shower head filling the bathroom with steam. I stepped inside allowing the hot water to pour over me. It felt so good dripping over my aching shoulders. Pouring the shampoo into my hands, I delighted in how good it was to finally use a heavily scented shampoo. Ayden had never allowed me to use anything with a strong fragrance.

  As I finished showering, I thought I heard a noise like a door shut. Shrugging it off as being my noisy upstairs neighbor, I finished rinsing my hair.

  Again, I heard another noise. It sounded like…..

  The glass door to the shower swung open.

  “Surprise, Princess. Daddy’s home.” Ayden stood there grinning like a madman. He was wearing all black and his hair was hidden beneath a black ball cap.

  Screaming, I backed up to the corner of the shower.

  “So, Princess is getting clean for Daddy? How nice. But you’re using the wrong shampoo. You know I don’t like that kind.” Ayden reached out to shut the shower off.

  “Ayden! What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?” My breath came in short gasps.

  “Had a friend distract your bodyguard. Remember sexy Sloan? She’s keeping your friend company.”

  Feeling faint, I cowered in the corner away from him.

  “Ayden, please leave. I won’t call the police if you just leave now.” Shaking, I looked about me for anything I could use to defend myself. Apart from the shampoo bottle, there was nothing.

  Ayden grabbed a fluffy towel holding it out for me.

  “Come, princess, dry yourself off.”

  I hesitated standing there nude and shivering.

  “Stop acting so scared of me! I’m not here to hurt you.” Ayden shook the towel at me.

  Taking it from him, I welcomed the warm towel to shield my nudity.

  “Now, come here, princess.” His voice now a low growl. He sat on my bed and patted it.

  Accepting there was nowhere to run, I sat down on the bed several inches away from him.

  “Princess, we need to talk. Daddy loves you. I never meant to scare you.” He reached to stroke my wet hair. I cringed and pulled away.

  “Ayden—“ I began.

  “Daddy,” he corrected.

  “Daddy, please leave me alone. I just want to get on with my life.”

  Ayden shook his head. He still looked as handsome as ever, but his eyes which once reflected love now reflected something else…

  Evil.

  “No, Princess, Daddy will be with you forever.” He pulled me to him. I tried to squirm away, but he held me tightly in his arms.

  “Now, let Dad
dy see your beautiful body, Princess. I want to see if anyone else has touched you.” He tugged on the towel and it fell away from my body.

  Ayden pushed me back on the bed straddling me. Helpless, I began to cry.

  “Oh, princess, you’re making me so fucking hard.” I felt his hard cock through his pants pressing into my thigh. His hands squeezed my tits.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he moaned running his hands all over me. I recoiled as I desperately looked for a way out.

  “Princess has been a bad girl. Daddy needs to correct you.” He said standing up slipping off his t shirt revealing an even more muscular frame.

  My eyes darted to the open bedroom door. Then I noticed the heavy vase on the nightstand next to us. Perhaps if I could get my hands around that…

  “Daddy, Princess has been naughty. Maybe you need to spank me.” I began to speak in the little girl voice he adored.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Do you think you could use the big belt? The one in Princess’ closet?” I leaned forward slowly readying my body for action.

  “Oh yes, the black studded one? You still have that?” Ayden looked surprised. Actually, I had gotten rid of everything of his a long time ago. I just needed him to turn away from me for a minute. The closet was across the room.

  And away from the door.

  “Yes, I do, Daddy. It’s in the closet on the right hand side.”

  Ayden beamed stepping away from the bed. Quickly, I wrapped the towel tightly about my body. As Ayden walked to the closet, I tightened my grip on the vase. Slipping off the bed, I crept up behind him.

  “Amber! What the hell?”

  With that, I smashed the vase down onto his head. The glass shattered and he collapsed to the ground. I raced out of my apartment screaming clutching the towel around my nude body.

  Immediately, I called Ash and the police. Charges were finally filed against Ayden for breaking and entering and stalking. The police ransacked his car. Later, they informed me of the items they found inside his car that day.

  A huge hunting knife.

  Handcuffs and leg shackles.

  Several plastic bags and duct tape.

  And his passport with a plane ticket to Argentina.

  Just one ticket.

  Thankfully, the court found him guilty and he was sentenced to three years in prison.

  With Ayden safely gone for three years, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Ash helped me move into a new apartment.

  Twelve

  Ash

  One late night at the office Amber and I were working feverishly side by side. I could hardly keep my mind on business as Amber was wearing a tight cotton top that strained to cover her breasts. Perspiration broke out across my back beneath my dress shirt.

  I strolled over to the window in my office sliding it open.

  “Ash, it’s freezing out! What the hell are you doing?” Amber reached to grab her sweater.

  Dammit! I’d only wanted to cool off, not make Amber bundle up!

  “It’s stuffy in here, don’t you think?” I removed my tie thinking of how much I wanted to bind Amber’s wrists with it.

  “Not really.” She gave me a quizzical look as she wrapped herself in a blue cashmere sweater.

  “If you’re cold, I can shut the window.” I moved to close it.

  “I’m fine, Ash, really. The sweater will keep me warm.”

  “I’ll shut it.”

  Slamming the window shut, I walked over to the bar. Pouring two glasses of Macallan, I handed her one.

  Removing her sweater, Amber took the glass and sipped.

  “If we start drinking, Ash, I don’t know exactly how much work we will get done.”

  I shrugged. I finished my glass and quickly poured a second. Work was the last thing on my mind right now. My cock throbbed in my pants as I gazed at her beautiful body.

  “It’s a beautiful night out, Ash, even if it is freezing.” She walked over to gaze out the window.

  I nodded licking my lips.

  “Yes, if you enjoy cold nights alone that is.”

  She stood pressing her forehead to the window for several minutes. I wondered if I’d said the wrong thing.

  Sitting my drink aside, I stood up and walked over to her. Instead of admiring the New York skyline, she was staring down at a dark haired man dressed in a black leather jacket standing across from our building.

  “Amber, are you okay?” I touched her arm.

  She jumped and looked up at me her eyes wide.

  “Oh yes, I’m fine.”

  “Who is that down there? Your new boyfriend?” I snickered.

  She shook her head moving away from the window.

  “Of course not. You know I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

  As she walked over to the desk, I noticed her hands trembling. Her face had gone pale.

  Who the hell was that guy? And why did he upset Amber so?

  Before I could inquire, Amber abruptly started getting her things together.

  “Ash, it’s after ten. I think it’s time to call it quits for the day. I’m going to come in after nine tomorrow, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Of course. Look, what I just said…I was joking. Your personal life is none of my business.”

  She nodded stiffly seemingly anxious to leave.

  “Ash, would you mind walking me down to the lobby and making sure I get to my car safely? It’s late and--”

  I waved my hand.

  “No need to explain. Of course, I will.”

  Taking the elevator to the main floor, I walked Amber to the front door. I watched as she hurried to her car parked in the VIP section of the parking garage. The mysterious man in the black coat stood there watching her, but he never moved toward her or acknowledged her.

  Strange, so strange.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The next day, I decided I needed to confront Amber. Something was going on. I hoped she was okay. I wondered if I had anything to do with her family. I myself needed a distraction from the painful encounter with my own mother months earlier.

  “Amber, what do you say we go to Le Bernardin for dinner? I think we should celebrate our new business.”

  “Ash, are you serious? It will be impossible to get reservations there! People wait weeks or more to get in there.”

  I cocked my eyebrow at her.

  “I know a guy who knows a guy. I can get in, don’t you worry about that. How about you leave work now and go get dressed in something fabulous. I will be there to pick you up around 7:00 PM. Dinner will be at 8:00.”

  Amber flushed and glanced at her phone.

  “It’s only 2:00 now, Ash. I can stay and help you out for a few more hours.” Amber stood up and began collecting documents.

  Reaching out, I took her hand.

  “No, Amber, I want you to take the afternoon off. Call Silvio at this number. Tell him you’re my special guest. I’ll have the car take you over to his salon. He’s the best in all of Manhattan. Get your hair done, manicure, massage, everything. I want you to be well rested for our dinner tonight.”

  Amber looked at me quizzically.

  “Are you sure, Ash?”

  I nodded. Amber had been so distracted and sad lately. Maybe this dinner would cheer her up.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  I had dined at this restaurant multiple times, but I couldn’t recall it ever being this loud. It was unusually crowded for a Thursday evening.

  “A little loud in here, don’t you think, Ash?” Amber noticed I was wincing as the couple behind us were arguing over who should have to take the children to their lacrosse practice after school.

  I nodded rolling my eyes.

  “I think Mr. and Mrs. Smith behind us here are about to start stabbing each other with their forks!”

  Amber snickered noting the heated exchange at the next table.

  “Thank God, I don’t have kids! I can’t imagine dealing with that and working.”


  “Oh, I’m a slave driver now? Anytime you need time off just ask me.” I finished my scotch.

  Amber smiled shaking her head.

  “Of course not, Ash. You just like it a little rough, don’t you?”

  I raised my right eyebrow at her.

  “Have you been following me home at night?”

  Amber laughed throwing her head back.

  “Oh, Ash, you’re too much. It was just an educated guess.”

  I pondered what she said. Could she read me that easily? Maybe she, too, enjoyed such games.

  I admired how beautiful she looked tonight. The cobalt blue dress she wore highlighted the deep blue of her eyes. Her honey blonde hair was swept up atop her head with ringlets cascading down to brush her shoulders. Her delectable cleavage was evident in the low cut dress. I nearly salivated looking at it.

  Pulling myself together, I willed my cock to unstiffen. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

  Or was it?

  As we glanced at the menu, I sat back in my chair contemplating how happy I was whenever I was with Amber. Maybe everything I wanted was sitting right in front of me. As if she read my mind, she spoke as she finished her wine.

  “Ash, I want to thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight. I’ve been kind of down lately. You may have noticed I haven’t been as on top of things as I usually am. I apologize for that.”

  I waved my hand at her.

  “No, it’s my pleasure to have you here with me. I know I’ve been distant myself. Things have been hard since Veronica…” I trailed off not sure where I wanted this conversation to lead.

  Amber leaned forward her cleavage spilling out of her dress. I swallowed hard trying to keep my mind on the conversation. She rested her hand on mine.

  “I know it’s been hard, Ash. I’m so sorry. I really thought the two of you would make things work this time.” Amber shook her head sadly.

  I nodded.

  “I thought so, too, Amber, but I guess it wasn’t to be. Look, I really don’t want to discuss Veronica tonight.” I finished the last of my scotch.

  “I understand. Your love life is in much better shape than mine I’m afraid.” Amber sighed deeply.