Sinful Veils (18+) [GxG]

⌈9⌋ Brass & Lead

The dense air stank of sweat, mildew and old blood. I slumped in the wooden chair, feeling the rope clench at my limbs. The seering pain at this point had to be worth the humiliating marks and hurt, for the sake of any semblance of relaxation I could offer my body. I wasn't sure how long I had been trapped down here, but most of my time was spent tied to the chair. My muscles felt stiff, like a springboard that would trigger at any given moment, and the only times I could ease them were during my walks to the grim, filthy restroom. I slept and ate with most or all of my limbs clinging to the chair.

The Barbieris hadn't even visited me anymore. The only person I chose to speak to anyways, was Valarie. My turmoil and resentment constantly had things to say whenever I saw her, so she was my only company. Now, my only company were thoughts of her, of how much I hated her and how I wanted her to share the same bond with the dirt beneath her that she had with a younger me. I scowled in discontent, wondering if she somehow forgot that she captured me and stuck me in this grimy prison. The only visitors I had were the shallow Barbieri guards, who'd check to make sure I didn't decompose.

When the faint buzz of the bulb above me was quiet enough, I could hear eerily faded sounds from upstairs: footsteps, muffled voices, laughter. Their laughter. Sickening, all-too-comfortable laughter, from the most vile creatures.

I shifted against the oppressive ropes, wincing as the chair creaked from under me. I leaned my head back, letting the rough wood bite into my scalp, and exhaled slowly. All the energy I stored from the adrenaline of being on my very first job was drained, and I sat in pure agony and the heavy burden of regret and silence.

Valarie.

For an unknown number of times, that name kept popping into my mind, like a blade slicing through any other thought I could even attempt to muster. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing her to leave my head, but she clung to me, through my haze of exhaustion - like a ghost I couldn't shake.

Everything about her pissed me off. The neatly tucked white shirt into her black slacks, trying to look like she was anything but a murderous fiend. Her soft, freshly cut dark hair, that she must have spent a lot of dirty, blood money to upkeep. I wanted to punch the amusement right out of her shit-stained eyes. The way she'd confidently stride around the place, as if she owned it all. Anything she did own was given to her by her father. She was almost as much of a princess as me.

How could she treat me like this? Like I was everything she could ever ask for, just to abandon me at my lowest and leave. Granted, after what her family did, I didn't care that she left. But, to be taken and thrown back in here again, and being accused of betrayal? That was what I didn't stand for. If she had to leave me, so be it. I wanted her out of my sight. Why did she have to drag me back into this? To feed me to the wolves?

No, not the wolves. The Barbieris.

Worse.

Her own gluttonous pack, unrelentless and bloodthirsty.