Page 50 of Master A-0011
“We enjoy it. It’s personal. It gives us power and control.”
“Exactly. Some people don’t need a weapon, Main Master. Some peoplearethe weapon. Their games are the torture.” I stood. “Take for instance the two different stories between Quincy and Pearl. If nothing matches, nothing can be proven. What exactly do you know about Melissa? You’re both shrinks. You both obviously have the same ability to mindfuck people. What else do you know about her?”
His mouth opened, immediately closing.
“Not as much as I thought.” He blinked, his gaze going to the floor. When his head finally came up, his hand lifted with it.
“I have to go.”
Heavy footsteps stomped against the floor, but I flew forward.
“Elec, wait.”
He came back to me with a speed that almost had me crashing into him.
“I’m sorry about Pearl’s revenge, but I’m afraid I can’t risk Melissa finding what’s left of the Mallorys. Kill them all tonight.”His voice lowered even more. “There’s a lot going on right now that you don’t know, and Melissa is not stable. If she’s guilty of this, she’ll come to you. You’ll tell her nothing. Kill them before she knows I have them here. I’ll take care of her questions. I had the family before I delivered them to you. You know nothing.” The foreign words left him again and my eyes grew heavy as I stared into blue. “Everything I’ve told you tonight. Everything you’ve heard from Quincy is gone. You’re going to shut this door behind me,Ethan O’Brien, and then you’re going to cover this apartment in blood. These people hurt Pearl, and that’s the only reason you need to tear them apart. Make me proud.”
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Iwasn’t going to cry. I wasn’t. No tears. Not a single one. Deep breaths.
“Oh my God. Holy shit. Elec, are you seeing this? I knew before but seeing her in that dress with makeup. Oh…my God.”
“Kayla, no, stop.I’m trying not to cry.”
My lids squeezed tighter as I felt my new friend’s hand settle on my shoulder. Elec was holding the mirror, but I couldn’t get myself to open my lids to see how I looked. Mirrors had been forbidden during the healing process and that was over now.
“Open, Pearl. Look and see yourself.”
“I don’t know if I can. What if I’m still ugly?” I paused as emotions rolled through. Sadness. A little fear. Anxiety. Mostly it was the happiness that never left. The screams were still there, but they were so far away now. Not as far as the memories that were beginning to leak through, but I kept those to myself. No one wanted to hear about my accident or childhood, and me…I wanted to forget the trauma that had ruined my life for so many years.
“Open, Pearl. You’re far from ugly. You’re beautiful. So beautiful.” Kayla made a small giggling noise, and I cracked mylids. Immediately, my eyes shot open as my breath caught in my throat.
Smooth skin. Perfect skin. My eyes. My lips and…cheeks.
“Oh.” More broken breaths.
“I told you. You’re exquisite.” The Main Master’s lips tugged back at the side. “Just wait until Ethan?—”
I didn’t let Elec finish as I pitched forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. A laugh sounded, but it was almost just as hollow as he appeared these days. He wasn’t the same since he’d left my room all those weeks ago. I knew I had missed a lot, but I didn’t have the details on that yet. I would soon. Ethan would fill me in when I got to see him again. And I wanted to see him. Each day we were separated, my need to be with him grew to unmeasurable lengths. I was ready to be his wife. Dying to have his children. I wanted us to be together every minute of every day.
“Thank you, Main Master.” The tears filled my eyes, but I held them in. “Elec, you saved me. I really can’t thank you enough. You saved my life.”
“Maybe.” He laughed, pulling back. “How about we finally get you to the man who has made my life a living hell since you’ve been gone? He’s going crazy wanting to see you. He’s waiting now at The Six.”
I fanned my eyes so that the mascara wouldn’t run, and I couldn’t resist easing my hand out to Elec for the mirror again. “May I? Just real quick?”
“Of course.”
As I brought it up, I couldn’t stop the way my heart raced. My smile was automatic at the dream I never thought I’d have. It was just a face, but it wasmy face. It was the start of a life I could have never dreamed of. From monster to the wife of the most famous movie star in the world. We’d say our vows in less than a week. I’d be married to Ethan, and he’d be mine forever.
“Alright.”
I placed it on the bed, nodding as I took Elec’s arm he offered. The form-fitting, black lace dress I wore swished with every step. It was high on the neck, covering most of my scars as it went down to three-quarter lace sleeves. Kayla stayed even with us, and she grabbed my hand, holding to it as she kept the other at her round belly. She was positively glowing, and it made me so excited to start our own journey.
“Your bloodline is supreme.” Elec glanced over. “You haven’t even started your classes and yet you walk with grace. Your hand is in perfect placement on mine. You were made for this life, Pearl.”
“And I have it, thanks to you.”