Royal by A M Snead

Author:A M Snead
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2019-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

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“Did Pratt say what the Master’s name was?” Mickey huddled at the head of the bed, his back to the wall, knees hugged to his chest.

Pratt was one of the monsters.

All this time…a monster had been living in the house with them and they didn’t even know it.

Not even Scotty? But if they had the same Master…

“No,” Royal replied. “He only refers to him as the Master. This…relationship…had been going on a long time—long before Scotty came into it.” He paced back and forth past the end of the bed. “I got the impression that maybe they’d known each other under other circumstances before they became Master and slave.”

“What kind of circumstances?” Mickey whispered. His stomach quivered with nerves, making him feel sick.

Royal sighed. “I’m not sure. But they were probably young, like mid-to-late teens when it started.”

Loosening his grip on his legs, Mickey asked shakily, “Can…can I read the journal?”

A haunted—horrified—look passed over Royal’s face. “No, baby. I don’t ever want you to see what’s all in that journal.” He swallowed hard and tears formed. “There are horrors in those pages about Scotty that will haunt me to the grave…and beyond.” He shook his head, eyes shimmering. “I won’t let them haunt you, too.” His chin trembled. “I don’t know how Scotty survived…or why he didn’t take his own life long ago when he was caught in that nightmare.”

Mickey sniffed and blinked back his own tears. “Is…is that the real reason he tried to kill himself last year? I know he was hurt over the breakup…but was that just like…the final straw?”

Royal came to a stand-still and stared at Mickey. A single tear escaped and careened down his face. “Scotty didn’t try to kill himself…” he whispered, “…Pratt did that to him.”

“What?” Mickey choked then broke down. “He…he cut Scotty’s wrists?” Sobs clogged his throat. “Why?”

Royal ducked his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes clamped shut as he struggled with his emotions. “He wanted Scotty to feel weak and vulnerable…so he could manipulate him into believing he was the only one who cared about him or…loved him.” He trembled. “He had his reasons for wanting to dominate Scotty.”

Mickey curled his arms around himself, suddenly feeling very cold. “What…reasons?”

Releasing a shaky breath, Royal sank onto the end of the bed, his back to Mickey. He seemed to wilt forward as his head dropped into his hands. He didn’t answer Mickey’s question.

Mickey stared at him silently, then asked quietly, “If Scotty and Pratt had the same Master before…why didn’t Scotty recognize Pratt when he came to work for Gideon?”

Royal remained still for a moment then slowly raised his head, started to speak, then aborted his answer when someone knocked on the door.

“Mickey?” Marcus’ soft voice pressed weakly through into the bedroom. “Are…are you okay? Is Royal with you?” The doorknob rattled. “Why is the door locked?” Concern thickened his voice. “Is something wrong? Mickey?”

“What do I tell him?” Mickey whispered, struggling to pull back his tears. “He knows I’m keeping something from him, and it hurts him that I won’t talk to him about it.

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