The Salvation of Daniel (The Blue Butterfly Book 2) (9 page)

“You,
Master
. Are the very final prize.”

I STARED AT her. “You want me to hit you?”

She rolled her eyes and tutted. “I’m finding it surprising that you’re struggling with that request, Daniel. After all, isn’t that your forte, to inflict as much pain upon a woman as possible?”

She was unreal. My mind was battling with her, with the memory of Mae. Okay, there, I’d said it, the thought that was causing so much conflict. “I can’t.”

“What?” she asked when I turned around and walked away. Fury was striking my soul, squeezing at me until it was difficult to breathe. “Why? Daniel?”

I shook my head. What the fuck was wrong with me? Deep down I wanted to crucify her, show her what pain really was. I wanted to mark her, bruise her and scar her but Mae just wouldn’t stop her incessant fucking nag in my head.

“We need to do this. You need to hit me. We can’t very well walk in there, me looking like a regular woman without a scratch on me. That isn’t you, Daniel. Your father will expect you to hurt me.”

Why wouldn’t she shut up? She was driving me crazy. “You know, you’re nothing like Mae.”

The room seemed to shrink beneath me. I jolted when Connie suddenly appeared beside me, her face furious but her eyes were what seized my attention. A darkness had descended over the bright blue, leaving them grey and sinister. “No,” she hissed. “I’m nothing like Mae. I don’t own a heart or a conscience. I relish in destruction, thrive on it. It feeds me, gives me the fuel to live this sorry fucking life. But you know that, don’t you Daniel, cos’ you feel that too.”

I squeezed my eyes closed, the need for slaughter bubbling up until I had to tighten my fists to form some sort of control.

“Mae was easy prey for you, wasn’t she? Easy for you to control and destroy. Because let’s face it,
Master
. You destroyed her. Annihilated her until all that was left of her was dust that was carried away by your rancid soul.”

Her head snapped to the side when my knuckles connected with her cheekbone. Her nose cracked under the force of my next blow, causing her to stumble into the wall, the palms of her hand slapping on the ugly fucking wallpaper to support her.

“Good boy,” she goaded when she turned back to me and wiped at the blood trickling down her face. “You have any more for me?”

“Why are you doing this?” The relief that now ran through my veins calmed the storm inside me, quietened Mae’s ridicule.

She blinked, her brow creased in bewilderment. Her eyes suddenly widened and her jaw dropped. “Oh my God.”

I knew she’d sussed me. I shook my head and turned away from her, refusing to let her see beneath my skin anymore.

“I’m not Mae, Daniel. You need to get past that or this will fail.” Dropping my eyes to the floor, I tried to block her out, struggling with the many conflictions inside me.

“No,” I whispered. “You’re not.”

“Did you love her?” Her voice was quiet but it was as though she screamed the words at me, slapping me with the truth of them.

Choosing to ignore her, I picked up the small bag beside the door and eventually turned back to her. “Let’s go.”

She continued to stare at me, her eyes accusing but delving deep inside me. She relented and gave me a nod.

I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to do this again. History had the nasty habit of biting you on the arse. Well for me, I had a feeling history would more than bite; it would slaughter.

The door greeted me like the gates to the abyss, their looming structure almost suffocating me. Connie squirmed in my hold, my fingers curling tighter into her hair. Everything around me was surreal, as though I was dreaming.

A shadow passed through the window before the door swung open. Taking a deep breath, I smiled up at Pauline. Her face blanched and she took a step back, her palm on her chest as if that would stop her heart from breaking out.

“Daniel?” Her voice was low and raspy. “Daniel?” Her eyes then shifted to my gift. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened further. “Oh my God. Mae?”

“Connie,” I corrected as I pushed her forwards into the house. Connie stumbled and whimpered. I was silently impressed by her acting skills. “Mae’s sister.”

Pauline stared at us both, her head shaking from side to side as though the action would deny our presence. “Uhh, your father is in the study.”

I nodded briskly and directed Connie along with me. Her fingers curled around mine, as though trying to prise me off. “Stop fidgeting!” I hissed at her, aware we were already being watched.

“Fuck you!”

I pulled her nearer, bringing my palm across her mouth with a sharp slap. I refused to feel the euphoria that flowed through me. This house was like a vacuum, sucking out reality and once more plunging me into the depths of its depravity. There was an essence there, almost like it possessed you as soon as you entered, influenced your every thought and twisted you into what it wanted you to be – evil.

I caught the blink of approval in Connie’s eyes but I glared at her. “Control yourself.”

The study door opened just as I raised my hand to knock. He stood, proud and dominant, evil and immoral. The foulness of him once again seeped into me; vile, disgusting reactions shimmered in my head, feeding me with both despair and power.

“Father.”

His dark stare locked onto me, his cruel eyes reading me. I stood still letting him have his fill of me. A smile morphed his face into something quite sinister, his eyes glinting with an ominous delight. He reached out and palmed my shoulder. “Daniel. You have no idea how much concern I have held for you.”

I nodded, remembering to straighten my shoulders. “And you, Father. Forgive me, I have only just learnt of your release, or I would have arrived sooner.”

He shook his head. “No, no. It’s been quite an adventure, son.” His eyes then shifted to the prize in my hold.

“A gift, Father.”

His gaze on Connie turned my stomach. Delight poured over him, a menacing joy transforming his features until his smile twisted into a grin of utter jubilation. “Well, well. I do believe this is the reflection of the one who got away.”

My skin prickled, hatred curling deep. Connie twitched under me, her action a blatant order for me to keep it together.

“Connie,” I said. “Mae’s sister. Mae’s
twin
sister.”

Father chuckled, the sound depressing and disturbing. “Yes, I can see that.” He lifted his eyes to mine. “Come on. We must prepare her immediately.”

I followed him into the office, watching him with disgust as he immediately prepped the syringe. Connie struggled in my hold when she observed what he was doing.

“No, please,” she sobbed.

“Be still!” I barked at her, pulling her to me and clamping her arms behind her when Father walked across the room to her.

He regarded her with narrow eyes. “Do you have any clue as to how much trouble your pretty little sister caused?”

I was only just holding it together. I needed to sink inside myself to deal with this. My heart was bleeding as Mae’s cries and screams echoed around me. Damn this fucking house and its malevolent ghosts.

I flinched when Connie spat at him, her hatred transferring with her mucus when it slapped on my father’s cheek. He pulled her from me, his yank on her hair refusing me any chance to pull her back. She curled into a ball as he rained blow after blow on her.

It was only me who witnessed the clench of her fists, the tightening of her teeth in her bottom lip. It was only me who saw her go completely lax, letting him beat her into unconsciousness. And it was only me who saw Mae sob and hurt beneath his fury.

I SWALLOWED BACK the bile. All I could feel was Mae in the room, her spirit around me, her inspiration supporting me as her despair simultaneously saddened me. I envisaged her strung up like I was, her weak, frail body snapping under the torture these bastards drowned her in. I was surprised she had taken so much before death granted her peace.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been there, maybe a day or two. My stomach ached with hunger, my throat dry and sore from thirst. It struck me hours ago how merciless these bastards were. A smile curled my lips when I thought of how Isaac would react to seeing his finest Phantom hung like this before a small chuckle echoed in the room when I pictured his amusement. Yeah, fuck you, Isaac.

My legs ached but the strength I had in my arms gave the pain in my shoulders only a slight niggle. Shrugging, I sighed. I’d been through worse – much, much worse. It was the wait that was pissing me off but I channelled every ounce of inner calmness I could muster and refused the grievance to find its way to the surface.

Sweat trickled down my face, even though the room was bitter cold. I licked it from my lips and turned towards the door when it slowly creaked open.

Daniel stared at me. The darkness had already descended and overtook him. I hadn’t expected anything less. I knew how it worked. To feed your depravity you had to tempt the Devil.

Eventually he moved, his slow strides bringing him closer and closer. I struggled against the chain, already playing the part that was expected.

The nearer he drew, the more I saw the sheen over his eyes, the dark glaze of sin and corruption ruling him. I wondered if his father had drugged him, the difference in him from that morning shocking and intriguing.