Page 45 of Ruin

“Arik?” I called out, hearing only silence in return.

How long had I been in the bath?

It felt like hours…or maybe it had been minutes?

With a deep exhale, I pulled the stopper from the drain.

A scream flooded the air just outside the chamber, sounding as if it were coming from the beach. My heartbeat thumped wildly in my chest as I brought my face close to the black metal panels, trying to see out.

Impossible.

I quickly stood in the tub as gravity settled on my shoulders and water dripped down my skin. The tub, once brimming with bubbles, was now flat and chilled. I stepped onto the rug, letting the loops of white cotton soak up the water that cascaded down my legs as I threw on the robe Arik had placed next to the tub for me.

I moved quickly across the room toward the door, my feet leaving wet footprints in my wake. More muffled noises came from the outside. I threw open the door, the chill of the long stone hallway hitting my wet skin.

“Arik?” I called again as I made my way through the shadows and to the staircase that led to the living room. I stopped at the top of the stairs, listening for more sounds as water pooled at my feet. The upper level was eerily quiet and empty. Whatever sound was within earshot of the bathtub could not be heard from this level.

But still, where was Arik? He said he would be in the living quarters. Am I alone in this villa? Is this the part where I get kidnapped or murdered?

Gah. Shut up, Claire.

As I approached the glass, I could see scattered flickers of light coming from the beach below—the smell of smoke filling the air as I slid the glass doors open and emerged onto the terrace. Screams and grunts cut through the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

My attention turned down, below, toward the beach as I approached the glass surrounding the terrace.

A raw, guttural scream tore from my throat as I froze in terror.

Death and blood stained the sand below as waves crashed violently against the shore. The smell of metal filled the air as smoke arose from three bodies engulfed in flames at the far end of the beach. Just below me, lifeless bodies were thrown across the sand in complete mutilation, their throats torn out as crimson pooled beneath them.

Men ran across the beach in circles as they groaned in agony and screamed for their lives, some with burlap sacks over their heads as Arik’s conti struggled to force them onto their knees by kicking the back of their kneecaps. Two fully restrained, burlap-hooded men lay on the sand, their bodies bound and spasming like worms seeking earth.

And in the center was Arik, kneeling in the sand, his back turned toward me. He hovered over another body as its legs shook until, suddenly, the feet parted, and the body went still.

My scream echoed through the night as he stood and turned to face the villa, his white shirt now dripping with red. Wet, wavy hair blew in the wind, obscuring the face I had come to love. Arik’s head snapped toward me as I gasped, his dark eyes widening as he saw me staring down at him. The chaos around him of the guards and men struggling desperately for their lives seemed to blur into a background of horror as he focused on me.

My jaw dropped as his lips turned into a twisted grin, blood running from the corners of his mouth. My heart pounded in my chest; each beat was a desperate plea for escape so loud that it drowned out the sounds of everything else. I turned and ran from the terrace, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I raced toward the glass doors. I threw them open and slammed them shut behind me as my fingers flicked the lock closed.

I turned, taking a step toward the front door, only to come to a halt as the sound of glass crashing behind me filled the room. My shoulders inched up as I turned around slowly. There was Arik, towering behind me, his head tilted with amusement.

His smile was cold and predatory, fangs visible behind blood-smeared lips.

I inhaled sharply as my eyes grew wide.

“Oh, that was a cute attempt.” He laughed, his voice dripping with sinister amusement.

Fear gripped me as I took slow steps back, only for him to take equal steps in my direction. I begged, my voice shaking, “Please…please. I swear…I won’t tell anyone.” Tears formed in my eyes as I continued to move slowly backward.

Arik smiled wide with amusement, the inside of his was mouth stained red. “Oh…so you do not want to fuck anymore, Claire?”

My breaths came in shallow as I tried to inhale, my shoulders shaking as my body shuddered. When suddenly he lunged in my direction, wrapping his cold, wet body against mine.

I gasped, tears streaming down my face as fear left me frozen, barely able to speak. “I…I…please.”

His hand wrapped the back of my head, pulling my hair down to lift my chin to him, the look of satisfaction on his face making my stomach churn. He held my head there as I shook and begged. I felt his other hand untying my robe, parting it at the center. The cold air flowing through the shattered door pierced my exposed skin as his dark eyes scanned my body with satisfaction.

His hand reached out and caressed my curves as his tongue glided across his bloody lower lip in enjoyment. As soon as his eyes darted back to mine, he pulled me against his body violently and pressed his mouth against mine. The taste of blood and salt filled my mouth as I struggled to remain standing.

He yanked my head back and rested his forehead against mine, his eyes looking down at me as I started to hyperventilate. His voice came out smooth, barely audible above my rasps. “Are you ready to be a good girl for me, Claire?”