CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

When Lanaya woke up, the room was completely pitch black. She found herself in the same room where she had awakened before, but the curtains were closed this time. The only illumination source was the bathroom, and even it wasn't sufficient to fully illuminate the bedroom.

The confusion overcame her as she heard the water running in the bathroom. Lanaya could make out a tall beautiful figure in a suit.

She swallowed nervously, then quickly laid her head back on the pillow as her neck started Exactly what was the man doing in her stall?

Her skin tingled, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on edge when she smelled cedar and pine in the air.

Lanaya had a hunch that the Devil was lurking in her toilet.

Why wasn't it enough that he tracked her down in her isolated state, melted her defenses with stories of eerily familiar times, and touched her flesh? Did he see her collapse and then have to physically move her to her bed? When she woke up, he treated her like a pebble in his shoe; why was he suddenly being so nice?

Lanaya wasn't naive; she anticipated returning to his devilish ways once he achieved his goal.

The faucet was turned off, and She could hear gentle footsteps entering the room. How could a man so... domineering walk so softly? The Devil l stepped out of the restroom and flicked the light, trapping them in darkness. She started hyperventilating in fear of being trapped in the dark with the Devil.

Lanaya heard his footsteps but she could not notice him coming around the bed. The bed shifts and a blinding flash near her head nearly blinded her. Lanaya's breath was like bombs in the peaceful chamber.

She felt chills run down her spine as he looked at her, gripped her chin with his fingers and thumb, and forced her mouth open. Saliva accumulated in her mouth; she tried to close her mouth so that she won't start drooling but in vain. His eyes morphed into snowy mountain peaks.

"Take it easy." She was finally able to get enough oxygen into her lungs because, for some reason, her breathing had slowed down. The Devil held hold to her chin for at least seven deep breaths before letting go. Lanaya sucked in the drool that had collected in her mouth and tried to forget how empty her chin felt without his grip.

That's strange. She asked, utterly shocked that she didn't stammer at her bluntness. The ice in his eyes began to soften, and he looked at her more warmly. Again, Lanaya got the odd feeling that she had irritated him, even though she had done nothing to deserve his wrath.

Too much stimulation causes you to pass out. His response was brief and straightforward. Did she just make up the man who told her about his childhood?

Input from the senses? Her expression soured. Input from the senses?

"Yes. You seem to have been touch starved to the point where you can no longer handle even a moderate amount of attention." He drew focus to his dark brown, almost black, eyes by lifting his brow. To finish her meal, she gulped it down.

In that case, why did you touch me?"

An order spoke that Lanaya doubted he'd picked it up. The expression on his face and the slight movement of his lips told her that he had heard her.

This is why: "I can't keep my hands off you." The response caught Lanaya off guard because she had not expected one. "I can't help but feel the urge to reach out and touch or gaze upon you whenever we're nearby. Then I can't even torment the cockroach who took all my guns today because I'm too busy fantasizing about you.

Simply put, I didn't want you to feel any more frightened than you already are."

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps she has a demonic allure?

Lanaya averted her eyes and chewed her lower lip. When will she learn? First, she had to deal with her terrible parents; now, she's in the Devil's mansion, where he's protecting her because he's attracted to her.

Her train of thought came crashing when she remembered what she had said.

To prostitute oneself for the underdogs.

A shake of her head indicated her disapproval. Who was she trying to fool?

No one would ever be able to love her the way she deserves to be loved. She was mentally sluggish, had terrible social skills, was on the verge of anorexia, and often misunderstood when people were trying to have conversations with her. Therefore, it's puzzling that Satan would have anything more than a passing fancy for her.

Inquiring, "What was that idea?" He groaned ominously.

After a moment, she looked up and noticed that his eyes had changed to an obsidian tone. Oh no, now she's pissed him off.

"What?"

"What was it that made you stare at me like that?"

Lanaya shook her head; she knew he would laugh at her if she told him. His eye color deepened.

If you don't tell me, I can't be held accountable for what I do.

She questioned me, her eyes widening. He was trying to get you to believe he would. Lanaya made another dismissive motion with her head. He would undoubtedly do something he would regret even if he didn't laugh when she told him. That individual, himself or her.

I'll do as you say. Before taking action, he said something.

She blinked, and he was already on top of her. While his face was within an inch of hers, his hands tightly gripped her wrists at her side. The closeness caused goose bumps to appear all over her body, and she began to shiver.

He avoided making eye contact with her.

Tell me, or I'll kiss you. Her lips, he muttered, staring at them like a starving man, were his only hope. It took a moment for his words to sink in, but once they did, Lanaya drew a deep breath, her upper body brushing up against his.

She masticated her lips to show her satisfaction.

"N-no." Her words stutteringly stumbled. A new gloom settled into his eyes, and he dipped his head. She believed he was about to kiss her, but then he put his mouth to her ear and breathed hotly against her neck and ear.

What was that? His voice was hardly audible.

There was a weird heat that clenched Lanaya's stomach. When everything hit her at once, she closed her eyes. His hands were on her wrists, and his body was against hers, so his breath was blowing on her ear and neck.

"I declined." She could speak louder and with more conviction and even managed a small smile as her confidence grew.

"Mmm." His rumbly voice vibrated through his chest and onto hers, the sensation pulls out that peculiar heat in her stomach again. We need to hear that directly from you.

"What!" The air in her lungs was evident in her croaky voice.

Without warning, he licked a line from her collarbone to just below her ear. Her tense muscles caused her back to arch and her thighs to clench. As he did so, he let out a hearty chuckle.

Lanaya, what did he say? Her name on his lips made her shudder. It sounded like the most delicious chocolate covered with strawberries.

Lanaya bit her bottom lip to keep her from answering. She would never tell him the truth. She hoped not to embarrass herself by appearing foolish for miscalculating her significance.

With a growl, he slammed his huge paw, a palm down on both of her wrists. When he wasn't holding her arm, his thumb dragged her bottom lip out between her teeth as he cupped the side of her throat.

"Lanaya, I couldn't tell if you answered me or not. Again, she felt the chill and shivered.

He bowed his head in shame. Was he planning to kiss her?

She was opposed to being kissed by him.

We'd like that very much.

He swiveled his head at the last minute and bit down softly on her earlobe. She heaved a sigh and thrust her hips forward. The Devil released his grip on her throat and reached for her hip.

Unusual emotions were triggered in her genitalia as a result of the stimulation. The girl squealed and whimpered.

What is it, you ask? As his tongue flicked out once more, his hand rose.

He could cup her bosom in his hand with just a little more reach. A part of her didn't want his touching her, but there was also a part of her that was virtually pleading for it. Despite Lanaya's lack of foresight, she could tell that whatever he was doing to her was significant because of how her body reacted to it.

As his hand rose another centimeter, icy air pierced her bra on her right side.

You're the type to pick the purple option, so I wasn't surprised. Heavy and growly, his accent made it difficult to distinguish his speech.

Her decision was decided in an instant, and she trembled.

Lanaya licked her lips and gulped to moisten her dry voice before saying, "He called me.

As she squeezed her eyes shut, the rest came tumbling out. He referred to me as a whore.

An instantaneous freeze.

So quickly, it made her dizzy. He had gotten away from her and was already across the room. Now that he was no longer touching her, the bed and Lanaya's skin seemed empty and frigid.

To dismiss the idea, she shook her head.

His gaze was gloomy and menacing. Once again, she managed to enrage him.

"He has no morals!" His anger rising, he slammed the door open, and it creaked open. "Remain in this spot."

Then he closed the door behind him and gave an order.

A split had already emerged in the redwood, and she was afraid that the door might just come crashing down if he did it again. Her throat ripped open, and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling.

She knew that her actions would irritate him and that she had misjudged her significance. Still, she secretly hoped she belonged there, and someone would defend her.

She left the room behind her, deciding that she would not allow herself to be paralyzed by dread.

And, as expected, Travis and the other man were waiting for her outside. She cast a curious glance at the other one.

How do I address you? Imitating a demanding tone, she spoke forward. Lanaya reasoned that no one would look at her pityingly if she pretended not to be afraid and insecure.

"Carter." He gave an upbeat response. What's that, you say? "Salvetti warned you not to leave, didn't he?"

That's when her brow furrowed. Is Salvetti the man from hell?

There was a strange symmetry between him and his name.

Lanaya tossed her head back in defiance as Carter's sly observation made her grin.

"What if I start to feel hungry? Should I just hole up in my room and pray that somebody, somewhere, realizes that I, too, am hungry?"

Lanaya couldn't place her confidence; perhaps it sprang from her desire to shed her skin.

Perhaps it was the suddenness with which Salvetti's mood shifted. Or maybe it was the way her temperature changed drastically when she was near him.

To her, the only thing that mattered was getting some food. Oh, and convincing everyone in this mansion that she wasn't a prostitute.

Carter leaned back and laughed with delight.

The response was, "Oh, I like you." She responded, "Yes," and Travis came up to stand next to her.

We tried to introduce you to the other students by taking you to the common area to eat and socialize, but it didn't go over so well. Accepting, Travis said so.

Lanaya scowled as she deliberated. Her skin itched at the prospect of returning to that chamber, but the idea of running made her throat tighten and her eyes water. She clenched her teeth and sucked her thumb.

As it turned out, pizza was just what she was craving.

I want to use the recreation room. It was in that direction that she issued the command and set off walking.

"Are you positive?" To which Travis responded with a query.

As the saying goes, "Lanaya, you have nothing to prove." Carter sad. And then she halted.

It's not like I'm trying to prove a point.

A mumble escaped Lanaya's lips. Simply put, "I'm done with being secretive."

Quiet.

Travis swallowed his cleared throat.

She's only been around Salvetti for a minute or two, but she's already showing signs of developing a backbone. Carter spoke softly to her from behind. She thought he was discussing her with Travis to make a joint decision.

But it would hurt her reputation if she went and decided to run again.

Then we must ensure that she is not frightened into fleeing.

"In what way? Murder everybody!"

Yes, if that's what it takes.

"That's a ridiculous concept, Travis, and coming from me, that's saying a lot." Carter's tone was a bit wary, and his whispers were getting louder by the second. "Not everyone can be eliminated. I guarantee that Salvetti will be furious with you because you didn't leave him any prisoners to torture."

Lanaya hid her eyes. This had been her new normal.

None of them made any sense at all.

But what does that matter, anyway? Replying with a hiss, Travis stayed true to form. When it comes to how men and women are expected to interact in this community, you are aware of the norms.

This piqued her interest, for sure. I mean, what exactly are the guidelines?

Just how do the guys there treat the ladies?

There was complete and total quiet.

I agree with you and what you say. Carter agreed and strolled over to Lanaya with a broad grin. She wouldn't learn anything at this pace even if they argued forever.

"Pizza?" She inquired, and his wrinkled nose signaled his amusement at her wit. Then he gave a knowing nod and took off walking, Carter.

She shook her head and continued to walk behind us.

Lanaya's self-assurance had completely eroded when they reached the recreation room's entrance. She was hesitating.

"I don't believe it's a good idea at all." She whispered.

In response, Carter gave her a knowing grin. You can relax; everything will be alright.

After taking a deep breath, she pushed through the lock and opened the door. Everything was as she had left it, with people shouting and takeout cartons stacked high. She saw that the night sky was visible through the open curtains.

In any case, how late is it?

After ten, obviously. Lanaya agreed and nodded. When she went out of her room at this hour, it was almost always due to the physical violence perpetrated against her. Lanaya took a deep breath and continued walking into the room, heading for the bar. She sat down on a stool and studied the various bottles of alcohol.

Red, white, brown, blue, pink, orange, or yellow? Purple?

A blink crossed her face. How many unique liquors were available?

As one of the men in suits walked in front of her line of sight, she glanced up to see that he was staring intently at her with his brown eyes. Who could blame Lanaya if her breath suddenly gave out on her? The guy looked like he ate puppies for breakfast and tanks for lunch; he had three scars on his face, battered knuckles, and a terrible tattoo that curled up his forearm.

There was a permanent painful line across his mouth from the scar that ran above his lip. He raised an eyebrow and reached behind him, where she had mistaken the microwave for the mini-bar, to retrieve a plate. Fries, more fries, and even more fries covered the dish.

Oh no, now her craving for pizza has been sated.

"Lanaya." Travis joined her on the couch. Don't be shy in expressing your wants and needs.

There was a definite shake in her head. It's all right.

Travis's eyebrows went up. In other words, he didn't believe her.

A person who goes by the name Parker. That's what the bartender had to say. Further, "I don't serve weaklings."

"But I -"

"Just say no if you don't want it."

Lanaya. Another man yelled at her, beaming. When asked, "What do you want?"

I think fries are fine. A few of the male listeners scoffed at what she had to say.

That's a complete fabrication; we can see through it. The man, grin wide, continued. The man at the pool table rolled his eyes as he rolled his eyes.

"Believe me. No one enjoys stale french fries.

The more so if they are really cold."

In response, his rival nodded. People will continue to walk over you if you don't learn to stand up for yourself.

Lanaya looked anxiously around the room. While he munched on his fries, Travis stared at her. Carter had a gleeful grin and a drink in his hand. Everyone else was laughing at her antics or watching her in rapt attention.

So much interest had been focused on her, and she had never experienced anything like it.

She gestured for Parker to come closer since she didn't want to disappoint anyone, and when he did, the room went completely silent.

The phrase "I really, really want pizza" is used.

She couldn't tell if he heard her because she whispered softly. He leaned back and glared menacingly at everyone present.

What dreadful roommates you have: "She wants pizza!"

This, he said. Men cheered as she entered, then began lobbing empty boxes at him. He dove to avoid a red plastic cup.

A hearty "Good job!" Travis hushed and resumed munching on his fries.

After a few minutes, the doorbell rang, and three men returned carrying what appeared to be a body in a huge duffel bag. The place was crammed with pizza boxes, emitting a delicious aroma.

Men began placing claims on particular flavors.

The time when they desired, Parker tossed a beer bottle into the floor. The loud noise of the impact drew everyone's eyes back to her.

Nobody spoke.

"Lanaya, what kind of taste would you like?" Carter asked. She looked at me with widening eyes. Due to her limited pizza experience (the leftovers from her foster parents' parties tasted like cardboard), she couldn't even guess which type she preferred.

"I don't... I -"

One of the guys began, "How about we take a large platter from the kitchen and -"

And pile on slices from each pizza," someone else added.

That way, she'll know which one of them is her favorite.

Now Travis is done. An expression of utter boredom crossed his face.

The men roared their approval again, and Parker, always one step ahead of the rest of the group, quickly set a sizable platter in front of her. I only managed to save this before the cook returned from the kitchen.

"Oh no."

He gave the chef the cold shoulder and made it out alive!

The men surged up to the bar and bowed with hands-on chests.

"Oh, great one, please teach us your methods." Parker gritted his teeth and pressed his index finger to the bridge of his nose.

The whole group of you are just little boys. He shook his head and looked at Lanaya's empty tray. The man's left eye flickered. Astonished: "Why is your plate still empty?" As his nostrils flared, he let out a growl.

Was she meant to eat while watching the show?

The pizza boxes piled up on the counter beside her almost as quickly as her plate did. Three slices from each package were placed on her plate by the men.

Lanaya was mesmerized by the mountain of slices before her. She was dubious if she could finish the meal.

With a look of seriousness, Travis brought her down to her level. "Eat."

Over the following hour, we all got to know each other better while sampling various pizza slices and hanging out in the rec room. Curiously, as she gorged herself, she felt her determination strengthen. The men spoke to her respectfully and treated her as an equal.

But then she bit into a super-hot pizza topped with jalapenos, and everything changed. The pizza burned a searing trail down her throat the instant she swallowed. When she realized she was choking, she opened her mouth to take a deep breath.

All around her, anarchy broke out. All the men questioned her at once. Where does she stand now? What's going on? Is she suffocating? She made a frantic hand gesture toward her mouth to indicate that it was on fire.

No one paid attention.

Everyone, that is, except Carter, Travis, and Parker, who stood by and watched quietly at her and the mayhem.

One of the males stepped forward and began hitting her behind.

Within the vicinity of her wounds.

She let out a scream of agony. The men stopped abruptly and shot the man (Darren, she assumes) with caustic stares.

I didn't mean to knock her out! He continued, but the men paid little attention. Lanaya cleared her throat and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Stop! Please blame me." Everyone turned their focus back to her. Parker laid out a glass of milk, and she gulped it down. Of course, the scorching sensation in her throat and chest was the sole clue that it wasn't milk. A cough arose in her throat.

Everyone around Parker turned to stare at him with disapproval. "Alcohol?

Really?"

The man gave a casual shoulder shrug.

"I should take the blame for that. As I didn't do it, "Lanaya shook her head and swallowed. She was worn out, and the wine made her feel warm and fuzzy. I didn't warn you of anything, so don't worry. She yawned.

Everyone turned their focus back to her. So, "What do you mean, Lanaya?" A question that Darren had to ask. She yawned and shrugged her shoulders.

I omitted to mention the bruising. Her eyes fluttered, and she cast a curious glance about the space. Nowhere to be seen was the man she needed to see. That expression on her face was a pout.

"Bruises?" They were asking questions. The anger in his tone sent chills down her spine. Everyone looked as if they were about to commit murder. It brought a grin to her face.

That's fine with me. Her tongue was malfunctioning.

The phrase "Sav Sat - Vetti -"

"Salvation?"

"Yes! So he took a gun to them and opened fire." Lanaya stretched out her yawn and rested her head on the counter. A wink could help you feel more grounded.

The recreation room door flew open, and in walked a beautiful young woman with raven hair who appeared to be only a year or two older than Lanaya. She walked in and pushed the large guys aside to get to the bar.

She turned her wrath on Travis, who stared at her with the same expressionless expression. Her eyes were like flames. Lanaya moaned, and the young lady sputtered in surprise.

"Could it be that she's here? Where did she come from, and why is she lying here? Where did she go? Do you think she's been drinking? Why isn't she sleeping so she can heal properly?

That's a very impressive bump on your head.

So many stitches! That's a first for me. Since my dad is the family doctor, I've decided to follow in his footsteps and become a medical professional. Thus, I become his assistant whenever we are near corpses or injured people."

It caused Lanaya to flinch. Has that young lady said all of that in one syllable?

"To cut a long story short, I'm taking you hostage in the ladies' room.

Those dudes are a bunch of jerks. Keeping you away from me while booze-drugging you. The women were ready to pull this building up and give the males a raw deal." She assisted Lanaya in standing and shot Travis another glare before they left the room.

Again, Lanaya blinked as she felt the room shrink around her. The girl smiled at her and led her into the room directly across from the common area.

The atmosphere was far classier than the typical game room. The walls were a pale brown, the curtains were white, and the couches were all a pale cream color. It was as big as the living room and looked out over the backyard. Its twin doors, which went all the way to the ceiling, could be opened completely.

Small bites and drinks were served on massive glass platters. Women in robes, shawls and light summer dresses filled the seats at the table.

Shoes of all kinds were stacked orderly on the wall at the entrance.

Suddenly, Lanaya became serious. She recognized these people as the friends of her foster mother.

Gorgeous on the outside but rotten at the core. To their core, they were the vilest of humanity. She took a few steps back and mumbled something about needing to leave. She'd rather be hungry and alone all day than be with these women.

"Can you believe it? The young lady next to her spoke up very distinctly. "The guys at the pub were hogging her. The poor girl had been drinking while she ate pizza."

The women let out a collective gasp and quickly surrounded Lanaya. She drew back, staggering toward the exit. She couldn't go through another tormenting experience. She couldn't

What a sad little darling. As I overheard someone say. "Consuming nothing but fast food will eventually kill you. In appearance, she could pass for anorexic."

Lanaya had no idea what was going on. Why were all these stunning women treating her so well? Do they intend to use her faith in them as a springboard to eventually murder her? She was no stranger to such occurrences.

Lanaya had been befriended by a girl who lived on the same street as her foster parents. She would visit Lanaya in her bedroom secretly while the latter was "grounded" by her friends.

The two hit it off immediately, and Lanaya soon began spilling her guts to her new best friend. She talked about her crush on the neighbor kid and her plans for the future if she made it out alive. Then the girl decided to have a tea party and dressed up for it. It was the first time in her life that Lanaya felt truly unique.

After that, she headed for the basement.

After the girl had tripped her, the other youngsters on the block had pelted her with mud. The neighbor kid spat on her and declared his inability to ever love someone as worthless as she was. The other girls, calling her a "debutante," tore her clothing to bits and sloppily hacked off her hair.

"No one as pitiful as you doesn't merit nice things or good looks."

That Lanaya's stunning blue-black hair glistened in the sunlight like a bird's wings was the one thing her foster mother detested. They slathered her head with bleach after they slashed her hair off to destroy what was left. The destruction lasted a whole year before one of the housekeepers offered assistance to Lanaya.

She was an elderly Black woman and had brought some of the unique hair ointment her grandmother used. The housekeeper's grandma had Shaman training and developed her remedies. Lanaya's hair had become smooth and shining again with the help of the maid's treatment.

The following day, the maid failed to appear.

What became of the kind maid and her family, who had helped Lanaya so much, was a mystery. However, she was aware that even if the maid hadn't helped her, she would have been able to provide for her family.

"Lanaya?" The young lady with the dark hair inquired.

"Would you like to have a seat?"

As she did so, Lanaya shook her head. She expressed a desire to depart.

For example: "Oh my gosh!" A shout from the woman in front of Lanaya startled her and the others nearby. "You have the most stunningly gorgeous green eyes I've ever seen. Can I draw them with your permission? Please, if you please."

Her brows arched in surprise.

A sense of excitement pervaded Lanaya's mind, and she knew that tonight would be memorable.