A Web of Lust and Sorrow: A Dark Monster Romance Short Story (Darkly Depraved Monsters) by Violet Taylor

Author:Violet Taylor [Taylor, Violet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-09T16:00:00+00:00

5

RIKA

I know you can find a way. Everett’s words drape across my shoulders like a death shawl. How can he have so much faith in me? Our journey back to his sleeping quarters is spent in quiet contemplation. No matter how many scenarios I conjure in my thoughts, they all end with us getting caught. The Jorōgumo do not allow anyone to leave this place for good. I only know of one instance when a local young woman tried to make a run for it. The elders hunted her down in the night, breaching the surface in their yōkai forms and risking everything to bring her back. She was strung up, tortured, and kept on the brink of death for two weeks before they finally allowed her to die. A shudder runs through me at the memory of her pleas for help. None came to her aid. Not me, not Atree, nor any of the other pleasure pets or elders. Fear is an invisible shackle, more powerful than any physical chains.

My mind swirls with long-repressed memories. There have been so many horrible things done within these stone walls. So many times the weak have become prey. Such horrific injustices have taken place again and again. And I did nothing to stop any of them. What would my parents think of the monster I’ve become? My limbs move on auto-pilot as I chain Everett to his usual spot.

“No goodnight kiss?” he taunts, keeping his voice low. I think we’re both still paranoid after Sibbie snuck up on us. I’m not looking to spend any more time strung up. But being intimate with a feeder isn’t a crime. Talking about escape is one thing. I’ve always known that’s not allowed. But not kissing the men outside of the feeding chamber isn’t strictly a rule. He grins as I drop low, dipping my face toward his. Before I can reach him, he gasps, doubling over.

“Everett?” My fingers dig into the meat of his shoulders as he heaves. His muscles twitch beneath my touch, and a strangled whimper leaves his gasping throat. Horror splits through every other concern currently filling my mind as I realize what’s happening.

Signs of the sickness have begun.

I pull him into my body, holding him tightly as his body calms. When he looks up at me there’s true fear in his sea-blue eyes. He knows. Without me having to say it, he knows. The sickness won’t take him right away, but it means he only has a few feedings left. It varies so often. Two, maybe four at most.

An unrivaled urgency sets a harsh pace within my chest. If I’m going to save him, it has to happen now. His eyes are pleading. I need time that I don’t have. I wrap my arms around him, bringing my mouth to his ear. “I will get you out of here.” It’s spoken with the barest whisper but he nods. I take his strong, terrified face in mine and press my mouth to his, pouring my promise into the kiss.

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