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Chapter 22
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2024-09-03 22:14:59
Alisa SelbyThis chapter was inspired by the song *Anywhere Away From Here* by Rag'n'Bone Man & Pink
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Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 23
I felt like I had spun a bottle all my life and its neck had always come to a stop, pointing in the wrong direction. I guess I had unknowingly spun the bottle again, and once more, I'd been pointed in the wrong direction. I wanted to mean something to Torin, not just a passing steamy as fuck night four years ago that I had been unable to forget. I knew he'd cared, and I felt he still did, but he was pushing me away, and I didn't know why. He had been the one; the one I would have spent the rest of my life withâmade babies with, but that dream had died the same day as I'd been told he had. I had tried to move on with other men, to forget, but I just hadn't been able toânone had ever measured up, none had lit the spark Torin had. That night in the pickup with Rook on the way to the hospital, I had forgiven Torin of the hurt he induced within me by hiding the fact he was alive. I had spent the last month in his presence. Yet he had never once let on who he truly was, and I didn't unde
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-03Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 24
Silently, I gave a nod and he slid from the bed, making his way across the room toward his dresser. My eyes followed him, appreciative of his tight ass, the sculpted curve of his back and shoulders. He was absolutely gorgeous. As he turned to face me, there was no denying his arousal, nor the fact he was well endowed, for his cock thrust outward, long, thick and hard. Though I was already wet, I grew more aroused at the sight. Shifting my hips, I drew my knees up, squeezing my thighs together; trying to relieve some of the ache between them.God, I was more turned on than I'd ever been in my entire life. Unable to draw my eyes away from Torin as he climbed back on the bed, I gazed into his eyes, as holding up a necktie, he stated, "I'm going to tie your hands to the headboard, princess. You okay with that?"Holy Mary, Mother of God! He was going to do WHAT?! My breathing began pulling through my mouth like I'd been running a marathon. HOLYâFUCK! I'd had fantasies about him doing t
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 25
The realization slammed into me that I needed a friend, someone to talk to, to help distract my mindâmy heart.Thirty minutes later, I'd changed clothes, washed my face, and cleaned my teeth. As well, I pulled a brush through my hair. As I did so, I avoided looking into my eyes, for I hadn't wanted to see the pain etched within their depths.~~Over the next hour, as I worked in the bar with Ginger, we girl-talked and knocked back the occasional shot of whiskey. Senseless, non-specific conversation flowed between us, something I was in need of. After a while, she finally broached the subject of me and Torin. "So, I saw you going after Tonya last night, then follow Satan out. How'd that come out?"I gave a shrug, muttering, "We had sex."Shock held Ginger hostage for a second before she gasped, "Come again?"I gave a shrug. "I mistakenly thought he was making love to me through the night. However, this morning he made it clear he'd been doing nothing but fucking.""Wait, hold up. This
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 26
The next morning I was again sitting beneath my tree, and as I glanced up from the book Tonya had given me, my breath kicked up at the familiar shoulders of the man walking toward one of the buildings. As I ran my eyes over the length of him, taking in the muscular build of his back, the way his jeans hugged the spectacular curve of his butt, my gaze dropped to his handsâin particular, his fingers.God! What those magical digits had done to me last night and with my thoughts, an ache began between my thighs. My nipples hardened, and I grew damp thinking about the things we'd done. I found, as well, I wanted to do them all again.Standing, I hurried after him, and when I reached him, I grasped his hand. At my touch, he gave a start and jerked his hand from mine, snarling, "What the fuck!" as stopping mid-stride, he whirled around to face me. A smile spread across his lips, and taking my hand back in his, he laughed, "Sorry, didn't know who the hell had a hold of me!" "So, do random wo
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 27
An hour and a half later, when the movie came to an end, I lifted my head off Torin's shoulder where it had come to rest at some point during the evening. Torin had dozed off early in the movie, and without moving, he cracked an eye open, husking, "Just stay put." The evening hadn't gone anywhere close to the direction I'd expected it to. Yet, I couldn't deny more snuggle time was damn tempting. Giving in to my desires, I settled back into Torin's arms, and placing my head back on his shoulder, I gave a huge yawn and a contented sigh. Floating in that moment that comes right before the blissfulness of sleep, I heard Torin whisper to himself, "I'm so fucked!"**~TORIN~**I should be sent straight to hell. I had to fucking stop this shit. Out of Marlowe's presence, I had it together, my mind set. But when she was around meâĶyeahâĶno, my dick got to sniffing and I followed where the hell it led like an idiot, skipping along with it as if I were its damn sidekick. God, I loved what she
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 28
My head jerked up, and I stared at Torin over the bar's countertop. Not fucking again! If this shit kept up, he was going to need to be wrapped in bubble wrap for his own damn protection. Lord help the man! With a shake of my head, I ran around the counter, heading towards Torin; at least he was walking this time, which was a plus. As I neared, he looked in my direction. Then, holding up his hand, he assured me, "I'm alright, Marl." "You don't look alright!" I argued. "There is bloodâ"Before I could finish, Torin shook his head. "It's not mine, Marlowe."I gaped at him. "Then who the hell's is it?" I exclaimed..Torin just shrugged, then asked, "Does it matter? It's not mine, that's all you need to know."**~TORIN~**I'd hope to make it to my room and change clothes before Marlowe saw me. Yeah, so didn't happen. Now, she gazed at me, her eyes curious. I was making things worse with my evasive answers, and I knew it, but she didn't need to know what had gone down. I'd set out gunn
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 29
The scrape of a shoe had my head jerking up, and my gaze traced the length of the legs standing before me upward until my eyes collided with the green ones gazing back. After a few seconds, Torin stated, "Let's go for a ride."Fifteen minutes later the rumble of a bike engine filled the air. The wind was warm as it brushed across my arms and tugged with a gentle caress at my clothing, gliding across my skin like a lover's touch as we traveled at a sedate pace down the road. Torin seemed to enjoy the wind as well and was in no hurry it appeared to be any particular place. The road he had chosen was vacant of other vehicles, and with a contented sigh, I laid my head against his back, feeling the bunching and tightening of his muscles beneath my cheek. The night whispered to us, calling out a siren's song as it seduced with its beauty. The moon shone down on the scenery beneath it, flushing everything within silvery lighting and the breeze weaved through tree branches that danced at its
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-05Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â Chapter 30
The next morning arrived with another nearly sleepless night passing as my thoughts were centered on Torin. After we'd made love, he'd become distant, avoiding any eye contact. Climbing on his bike, he'd helped me climb on behind him, Then with a small shake of his head, he'd started the engine and we'd headed back toward the compound without another word passing between us. The longer the silence grew between the more used I'd felt. When we'd reached the compound, he'd brought the bike to a stop. Remaining seated, he'd offered a hand to help me dismount. Afterward, he growled, "I fuckin' screwed up. I should have never been with you," then shifting the bike into gear, he roared off, leaving me shredded and pissed off.My anger carried me through the rest of the night and most of the next morning, his words reverberating over and over within my head as I tended bar.After splashing whiskey into a tumbler, I pushed it at Houseshoe, then, setting the bottle back in its place, I hissed
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-09
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Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 015
I stared at Rook, with a mix of fear, confusion, and a strange, inexplicable excitement."So, what does it all mean?" I asked , my voice hushed.Rook's expression grew tight, his jaw clenching as he took a step closer to me. "It means," he began, his voice low and intense, "that I have to be careful. I can't risk losing control, especially around you.""But what if you do?" I couldn't help whispering, my eyes locked with his because of my own darkness. "What if the creature inside of you takes over?"Rook's eyes searched mine, the depth of his pain reflected in the depths of his own. "Then you'll have to save me," he murmured. "As I've always tried to save you."Drawn like a magnet, I stepped closer to him. "And what if I can't? What if the darkness is where you truly belong, though?"He took a deep, unsteady breath, his gaze never leaving mine. "Then I'll have to be the one to save us both," he said, his voice a mere breath.The room around me faded away with his nearness, the warmt
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 014
Chills skittered down my spine at the womanâs words, but as she continued, dread filled my every pore. "You see, I intend to test Rook's blood lust. And who better to do that with than someone he holds so dear?"I stood frozen in the dimly lit room, my heart pounding against my chest as the realization of my dire situation sank in. Sharella, with her flowing jet-black hair and porcelain skin, seemed to embody a haunting beauty that belied the darkness within her.âRook would never harm me,â I breathed.Sharella's face was a twisted canvas of emotions, her lips pulled into a sinister smile. Her voice carried a malevolent lilt as she spoke, sending icy tendrils down my spine. "Oh, my dear," she sneered, "harm is but a pale word to describe what he will do to you."Her eyes glimmered with an unsettling confidence, casting an ethereal glow upon her features. "You see, Rook," she said, her voice laced with an otherworldly charm, "is not quite what you believe him to be."I leaned in, my cur
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 013
~ROOK~Three Hours LaterWhen Iâd entered Catriana's room, I'd had no intention of doing what I'd done. Hell no I hadn't, I'd actually come to apologize for my actions earlier, but I hadn't been expecting what I'd found when I'd pushed through the doorway, either. Fuck, I mean, Jesus Christ, what red-blooded male wouldn't have reacted the same way I had!The vision that had been before me had nearly brought me to my knees with need, the hunger I'd carried for Catriana beat strongly within my groin, causing the usual swelling behind my zipper as I'd moved toward her masturbating figure like an automated puppet before slipping into bed beside her. I was no more able to deter my next action than I could have willingly stopped breathing as I laid my hand over hers, husking for her to keep going. However, I'd quickly came undone, as shifting our hands, she pushed me backward until my back rested against the bed, then climbing on top of me, she'd began grinding against my hard-on. Sweet me
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 012
The rest of the day was a blur, the weight of Grandma's death and the looming threat of the unknown attacker pressing down on everyone at the academy. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, waiting for the next explosion of emotion or accusation.At dinner, I sat next to Keeley, my eyes darting to Rook at the head of the table. He was deep in conversation with the coven leaders, his expression serious. I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing, mixed with anger and fear.The food was barely touched on my plate as I pushed it away. Keeley gave me a concerned look. "Everything okay?""No," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it will be."The evening brought a moment of reprieve as Keeley and I snuck out to the conservatory. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of the fountain was soothing. We sat in silence for a long time, just listening to the water and the crickets outside.Finally, Keeley broke the silence. "What are we going to do?" she as
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 011
~Cat~I awoke as the sun began poking its golden mane above the horizon and spread sleepy tendrils of orange and yellow ribbons across the sky. Rolling over I watched through tired eyes as the ribbons journeyed their way across the hard-wood floor, creeping towards where I lay, washing the room within their announcement of the new day.Within the sun's kiss, the room lightened and brightened, as a particularly persistent ribbon of light climbed up and onto the bed. It continued to methodically inch its way towards where I lay until it bathed my face in its warm golden touch, forcing me to hide beneath the spare pillow again in an effort to blot out its radiant smile. However, only a few seconds later, I found myself suffocating within the insulated heat of my own breath as the confined space around my head became overbearingly warm and stifling.Letting out a low, frustrated groan, I gave up and threw off the pillow as I pushed back the sheet and sat up. Afterward, rising, I began wip
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~ROOK~Cat's words of, 'I was raped, Rook. Tied up and gagged while the bastard raped me,' were stuck in my head. My fists clenched at the memory of her tears, the fear and pain in her voice when she'd told me. I didn't believe that she didn't know who it was. Cat had been a little hellion growing up, but I knew her better than she thought. She was staying mum about her rapist for my sake, not theirs.The thought made me sick.I took a deep breath, trying to push aside the rage that was burning a hole through my chest. I had to stay focused. The coven was in mourning, and Grandmother's killer was still out there. Now was not the time for personal vendetta.Tannin had called me to see how I was doing, and the phone call had jarred the fact within me that I hadn't been to the bar in days. As such, I now found myself in my office, the music from the bar and the patrons' voices rattling through the walls.The office was a mess, a stark contrast to the well-managed chaos of the rest of the
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 09
Danielâs words hung in the air, filled with implications that sent a shiver down my spine. Special was not a word I was used to hearing, not in a positive way at least. In the world of Anderson Academy, special usually meant something was wrong with you.I took another bite of the sandwich, buying myself time to think. "What does that even mean?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.Daniel leaned back in his chair, his eyes searching my face. "It means that you're not just a witch. You're something much more powerful. And much more feared.""And what are you?" I whispered.He smiled faintly. "I'm a guide. Someone who's been around long enough to recognize the signs. Someone who knows how to navigate the world of the supernatural without getting burned."I swallowed hard, the food sticking in my throat. "And what's the catch?" I asked, my voice barely audible.He leaned forward, his eyes intense. "The catch is that you need to trust me. You need to let me help you. Becau
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 08
Daniel reached over and gently took my hand in his. His skin was cool and smooth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he murmured. "It's just... you have abilities, things you don't even know about. Things that make you a target. And I can help you."I couldn't help but feel a little calmer when he held my hand, even though his words only served to confuse me further. I squeezed his hand back, wanting to believe him, wanting to trust him. But the more he spoke, the more I realized that trusting him would mean giving up a part of myself, accepting a reality that I wasn't sure I could handle.The car pulled up in front of a small, unassuming apartment building in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Daniel turned off the engine and turned to look at me, his expression serious. "This is where we'll be staying for now. It's not much, but it's safe." He leaned over and pressed a button on his keychain, unlocking the doors.I hesitated before getting out of the car, still trying t
Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1)Â Â Â 07
Iâd been gone for two days, when I found myself sitting in a diner just off the highway, nursing a cup of bitter coffee. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and I had no idea where to go or what to do. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't go back to Raleigh Academy.Shane's words echoed in my mind, his taunts and threats refusing to leave me in peace. I tried to push them away, to focus on something else, but they were always there, lurking in the shadows. I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread deep in my gut.I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was nearly noon. I'd been sitting here for hours, my thoughts spinning in circles. I needed to make a decision, to figure out what to do. My options were few and far between.As I debated with myself, a figure caught my eye from the corner of my vision. A man, sitting alone in a booth across the diner. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place him. Something about him seemed...off. Lik
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