KristoffI stand rooted in the hallway, gritting my teeth when Ernest tells me that Harvey is around and is waiting to speak to me in the lobby. Great. My irredeemable idiot of a brother is the last person in the world I want to see right now. Titania still hasn't left her room. After a while, her sobs had died down. But I know she's still falling apart. I'm guilty and confused about anything and everything for the first time in my life, trying to figure out the best way to approach this situation, and Harvey chooses this critical moment to show up.“Seems like he hasn't learned a good lesson at the club,” I growl into the phone, rubbing my forehead warily. “Anyways, send him up. I'll be out shortly.”In the meantime, I text Pete as I hurry toward my room to pick up a shirt. He beeped me this morning, informing me that he had landed safely in Tennessee, but I haven't heard from him since then.“Man, any updates? What have you found so far?” I text.“Nothing yet, Sir. I followed a tail
KristoffWe get to the rundown shack a little after dawn upon Titania's insistence. She's been restless and excited ever since I agreed to let her take some stuff from her place last night. I guess she just misses the place. She misses home. I park my SUV in front of the building, and we both got out, Titania walking hurriedly ahead. I follow her up the dusty stairs to the first floor. When she reaches her door, she freezes, whirling around to face me, her face white with panic. “Oh, my God.”“What?”“I think I lost my key. The last time you and your goons came — ”I roll my eyes, pulling out the key from my breast pocket and holding it out. “Here.”She takes it with a huff. “Ugh. Of course, you'll have it.” She inserts it into the lock and turns it. “Hope my wallet is safe, as well as my passport, lipstick, and other essentials?”“Yup. Everything is as you left it with me. Intact.”She snorts, shakes her head, and gives the door a sharp kick. It cackles, the hinges rusted, a mouse ru
KristoffThe Latino nurse pulls open the door and ushers us in, slamming it shut behind her. Patrick is lying on the bed with his face to the wall, looking smallish and pale in his blue patient uniform. His hair is overgrown, sticking out everywhere like a maniac's, and generally, he looks worse than the last time I came to see him.He turns his head when we enter, then sits up, his movements slow and his hands trembling. “Titania,” he calls, his voice hoarse.“Uncle!” she shrieks in delight, running to him, pulling him in for a hug, clinging. It doesn't take long for her shoulders to start shaking violently, and I know she's crying. Patrick strokes her hair idly for a few moments, muttering something in her ear before he looks up at me, his eyes widening in surprise. Titania must've felt the shift in mood for she steps back, and turns to glance at me briefly. “I didn't think you'd follow me in,” she pouts, folding her arms over her chest like a boss. “I'd like my ten minutes with him
TitaniaThe warm rays of the sunlight streaming in through the window slants stir me awake. But my legs feel numb. Dead, like I've walked a million kilometers and can't just feel them no more. The cotton sheets are soaked with my sweat, despite the fact that the air conditioner is on. Fear lodges itself in my throat, choking, making it impossible for me to breathe. Fear of the past. Fear of ruin. A fear I've spent years trying to escape from. It's back, and this time, it's here to stay and throw down damn thing I've worked for.It's here to destroy me.Uncle Patrick wasn't at peace. He wasn't happy with me. I'd kept this secret with me. Carried this burden handed to me by that monstrous Adrian for nine solid years, only to have Kristoff throw a single stone, causing everything to tumble down. Now, Uncle Patrick is suspicious. And I hate lying to his face. I hate the tight corner this situation is trapping me in. My uncle and I never keep secrets from each other. We tell each other eve
Titania“You're wet,” the corners of his lips ride up, morphing into a cruel smirk. He dips his head once more and traps my earlobe in between his teeth, tugging. “You're always wet for me. Always.”“No,” I try to push him away, to escape his harsh, yet comforting arms but I'm weak. He retrieves his hand from my panties, not taking his eyes off mine as he brings it up to his face and sucks his wet fingers clean. The gesture is so erotic, so hot that I shudder in delight.Fuck.“M-hm,” he closes his eyes, his jaw moving as he savors my taste. “Tastes...good. Like honey.”I twist my face in disgust, pretending to be sickened, then turn on. “You're even more sickening than I imagined.”“I'm only sickening for you, princess,” he chuckles, thrusting the fingers he sucked off into my face. I turn away.“Stop.”He laughs, grabbing my hips once more, firmly. “I've been thinking through a lot of things, Titania. Soul searching for answers. The answers I need, the ones you refuse to give me.I
KristoffWhat Pete found out in Tennessee is astonishing.I did assume that Adrian Hart had abused Titania. I'd guessed correctly that he'd fucked her while she was still a minor. I thought that was all to it. I thought that was as much evil as a man could do. And with the way Titania guarded the secret against her uncle, the way she was broken, yet betrayed their bond by not telling him about this, I thought she was simply blaming herself for everything that wasn't her fault.Oh, how wrong I was.Just like he'd done back in California, Adrian Hart settled back into his old, disgusting life in Tennessee. The old man who'd thrown Pete out at the mention of his name later opened up after Pete lied that he was from the FBI, and wanted to bring Adrian to book. His only daughter has been one of Adrian's victims. He told Pete the full story; how he'd found Adrian lying by his doorstep late at night, shivering in the cold, how he'd taken Adrian in and treated him like a son he never had. How
TitaniaKristoff stays away in Tennessee for one week. Against my wishes. To make amendments, he lets his thug, Ernest, drive me wherever I want. But I mostly visit the healthcare center to see Uncle Patrick. And this time I get to stay till nightfall if I wish. It's a tempting peace offering, but I don't accept it. He's all shades of wrong for this.Contrary to what the nurse told us the other day, Uncle Patrick is not getting better, and Kristoff's confirmation of his fears doesn't make it any easier for the both of us. I knew this would happen. He trusted me so much. Asked me calmly if Adrian was abusing me while it was all going down, and I lied right to his face. Keeping such a huge secret to myself, despite the close bond we share, has to be the most selfish decision I've ever made in my entire life. But it's not really my fault. I don't want him to feel aggrieved or blame himself. What happened between Adrian and me was sickening. It's disgusting. It's wrong. It's maniacal.Wha
TitaniaOn Saturday morning, Ally knocks on my door and when I open it, hands me a blue, knee-length glitter dress. “Wear this tonight for the event. Ernest will come to take you by eight PM sharp.” Then, without waiting for my response, walks back down the corridor from where she came from.I close the door, haul the dress to the other side of the room and plop down on my back, so many stray thoughts running through my mind. Apart from visiting Uncle Patrick most mornings this past week, I always have Ernest drive me down lonely streets, with the windows down while I look about and breathe in the fresh chilly air, no particular destination in mind. But today, I'm not just in the mood for a ride. I can't stop being worried about my uncle's health, and his strange words the last time I saw him.How he was open, laughing one minute, and the next he morphed into someone I don't know.I think about his words. How every devil has a piece of light in them, and how I bring out the light in K
TitaniaI smile at his uncharacteristic behavior, knowing I've hurt him by second-guessing whether I should move in with him or not. I put a hand on his cheek, and pinch it. “Yes. I'd love to move into Bloom Bazaar with you.”“Stop saying it like it's something huge.” He laughs.“Of course it is! This is the first time you're asking me.”He rolls his eyes. “Fine. I should've asked sooner. Happy now? Let's go see your uncle,” he says, taking my wrists and pulling me down the corridor, towards the nurse at the reception to ask for Uncle Patrick's new room number.The nurse offers to show us to his room herself. We take a bend, down a second corridor I've never been in, nor did I know existed. With each step we take, my heartbeat spikes, louder and louder in my ears. Kristoff squeezes my hand, his other arm pulling me into him, and suddenly I'm glad he's here. To help me through this. I don't know what to expect, but when we arrive at last, the nurse pushes the door open after a brief kn
TitaniaIt's been two months since Uncle Patrick was attacked. I can finally say those words and think about that event without it scaring me, without breaking down in fright and tears. Winter arrived two days earlier, and every surface is covered with soft, snowflakes — rooftops, car roofs, the road — everywhere. Winter is my favorite season, a huge reason is that it coincides with Christmas. The air is different, wholesome, sugary, and filled with festive gaiety and promise.“What are you thinking about? Come on now, wear me the damn coat, princess.”I chuckle.Kristoff and I are standing at the entrance of Elysium Healthcare Home and I'm holding out his jacket. He lets me slip his hands into the furry coat and fix the collar — the material making him appear two times bigger, like an ogre man. I slip my hand in his and we both turn to face the open corridor, my nerves threatening to get the best of me, but I'm pushing forth victoriously. Taking a deep breath, I nod. We step inside t
KristoffThree Weeks Later."Kristoff!"I look up as Titania rushes into the room, clutching a copy of the Daily Times. She halts, stares at me, then holds the paper out for me to take. I took one look at the photograph and back up to her face. Her bottom lip trembles. "Do you have a hand in this?"After what we shared three weeks ago, I'd told her about my uncle in greater detail, and also that he was the one who sent Harvey to try and kill Patrick. She'd been shocked, and furious, and I knew she didn't want to go back to how she was before. Thirsty for revenge. I'd decided to avenge Patrick then, for her, even though she hadn't asked me to. William committed many more stalling crimes that deserve a much more painful death than just simply being blown up with his car.I smile, buttoning up my coat, and pull her close to me. She's fidgeting, curious. I take the paper away from her limp grasp and throw it on the bed. "He deserves it. You know he does.""I didn't ask for you to kill him
Kristoff“Shh, princess. It's alright now. It's fine,” I murmur quietly, holding her close. Her sobs fade out and she's finally still, her shoulders relaxed. I feel the arms of sleep curling around her, lulling her into its dreamless abyss. It doesn't take long before she's snoring softly, still clinging tightly to me. I play with her curls idly, a lighter feeling in my chest. I'm not letting her out of my arms, or life again. I'll never walk away. Whatever happened tonight, united us. On all fronts, it made us one. Made us whole. One soul. Forever.But we were always bound together before that. From the very first moment I set my eyes on her, I knew. I sensed her darkness. I made it out at first glance, and it drew me to her like a magnet. She was damaged, like me. But I never envisioned the extent of that damage to be this huge. I never thought it'd turn into this.She's curled into me, her face buried in my chest, her hair all over the place. Her tears on my dry are drying up, and
TitaniaKristoff stands in the doorway, in his suit pants and a white t-shirt. A dark figure, but I can still make out his handsome, slick features even in the darkness. I can feel his gaze on me, taking in my appearance — the torn dress and smudged make-up. He takes a few steps forward and shuts the door behind him, trapping out the light. I fall back on the bed, the wall behind me cold against my skin.Shit's about to go down.He clears his throat, then takes off his watch, tossing it on the floor. It makes a huge clunk sound as it falls, but I'm too concentrated on him. To scared of what's about to come, even though I don't know what he's going to do to me. He rolls up his sleeves, one after the other, carefully. I stare at them, at how big they are, at how big-muscled and powerful they look. My gaze slides down to his big hands. Remember how solid they always feel against my skin. How he uses them firmly whenever he touches me. Grabs me. Make me cave in to his wants.“I'm sorry,”
TitaniaIt feels as though someone is playing a cruel prank on me. It feels so surreal. Kristoff is seated beside me, just as I wanted. He's come to take me back with him just as I'd hoped. But the scenario back at the club... I almost can't believe it happened. I'd never envisioned any of the strangers I allow to fuck me, persisting or hurting me if I said no. It's slowly sinking in now, how much danger I've been putting myself into all these past years. I shake my head, drop my gaze and wipe my eyes — feeling pitiful of myself.Everything feels like a huge, jumbled mess. For the first time ever, I'm frustrated and confused. I don't know what to do. I don't know what I want. I don't know how to feel about this whole plot twist. I thought I'd be happy now that Kristoff is here to take me back, but I'm not. I want to run away and hide from his gaze.“I can't let you keep putting yourself in danger. I can't take any more risks with you. I know you. I know how you're feeling right now. Y
TitaniaThankfully, the ladies' room is empty. I push the door open, striding down confidently to the last stall. It's also the biggest and the neatest.Pitch perfect.I hear the sound of deep footsteps halt, then the door opens. When I turn, I find the handsome man standing there, his eyes raking over my tight dress, down to my lean legs.He runs a hand through his hair, and strokes his chin. I can tell he's very impressed.Just like all the others.I take off my coat slowly, hang it over the door and go in. He follows, shutting the door behind him while I whip out a condom from my bra and hand it over. Up close, he's even more handsome — his lips a succulent, wet pink, thanks to the beer he'd been drinking earlier. I should be invested in his looks, but I feel queasy instead. Like something is off, but this is exactly why I came here. This is how I'm going to forget about Kristoff. By getting banged by another man. By letting myself drown in another man's touch.He gives me a dazzli
TitaniaFour weeks creep by slowly. A month devoid of drama, and spent indoors lazing on the couch and watching movies. I still haven't seen Uncle Patrick, though Doctor Wave kept in touch, as he promised. I haven't heard from Kristoff ever since that terrible night at his office. He kept his word — I'm a free woman, just like I wanted. But a part of me, the naughty part, keeps expecting him to break his own rules by disregarding his words and coming back for me. To change his mind and take me back to the mansion forcefully. The one time I went to the club, wearing a disguise, I didn't see him, nor anyone else I knew was close to him. The three women who normally stripped had been replaced.In fact, it felt like those two weeks had been a dream. Like it never happened.Ever.But try all I can, the memories are ever fresh in my mind. I can't forget those moments. Can't forget how they made me feel. How he made me feel. How his touch sizzles and bring out a fierce passion I never knew I
TitaniaI wake up the next morning, feeling like a fucked up train wreck. My heart clangs as though it's being pounded, and it's like I didn't get a wink of sleep at all last night. My joints quake as I move, my limbs so tired and heavy. I can't even drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower. When I eventually manage to stand and get the shower running, I stand in the cool water for a very long time, letting it stream down my body and disappear down the drain — a mixture of white soap suds and pink.I washed the blood out of my hair next. I didn't realize there was much of it on me, and to think I'd slept like that last night is appalling. I should change the sheets, hand them over to a dry cleaner later since I'm too lazy to wash them, and I've got a lot of stuff to sort out around the house. When I'm done, I towel my body dry, change into black shorts and a thin, tank top, then sit on the couch with my phone in hand.I place a dial across to the kind