A Dark Place

  Wednesday approximately the same time that the bodies are being discovered

  Aquarius stares at the numerous canvases surrounding the metal room. Every single one of his beautiful ladies is on display. The siren twins are his newest edition to the collection. How much more beautiful might they have been if nature had not decided to split their essence into separate vessels? Well, Jeremiah has corrected that mistake. Their renewed body is more gorgeous on the canvas than could ever be seen in real life. He had tried, but their fragile bodies had resisted his most arduous machinations. In the end, Jeremiah had done want he could. The rest, Aquarius has left up to the canvas. Toulouse would be envious, if the painter could see the feminine masterpiece Jeremiah has managed to create.

  Stepping toward the filthy countertop, Jeremiah opens a cabinet about at eye level. Inside are several dozen specimen jars. Pieces of flesh, or dead animals, float inside the glass jars. One jar contains the severed head of a large bullfrog. Jeremiah grins maniacally and takes the jar with the frog's head from the cabinet.

  Setting the glass jar on the counter, Aquarius reaches for the deck of tarot cards on the cabinet's top shelf. He also grabs down the small burlap sack which once belonged to his mother. The sack Claudia often used to sneak food to Momma Sybil.

  Inside the sack are several tiny bones and a pair of mystical dice. Jeremiah will need these tonight. The tale of the cards will guide him to his next soul. And Aquarius will save her from this world. She will join the others in his collection, and she will be made new.

  Years Ago

  Janet King- "On the Stage but Underground"

  The dim light of the club strains the limits of Jeremiah's vision. Many of the club's other attendees do not wish their identities to be known. Comparatively, the dancing stage is excessively lit, lending every person in attendance a full view of Janet's topless form. The young woman dances provocatively, gyrating and moving her body in a sensuous rhythm. The stripper's movements remind future Aquarius of an uncoiling snake. The kind he would catch in his dear late mother's yard and skin slowly.

  Jeremiah has silently watched Janet's shows for more than seven months. Never has he ventured close enough to the stage to offer her his piss poor money. However, men and women of all ages continue to do so. Aquarius is certain there isn't a single night when the low-rent colored stripper hasn't made at least $500 dollars.

  On one occasion, he'd hired a cab to follow Janet home. It had taken almost an entire week's check to buy the cabby's strict silence. The cabby also being a regular of the underground night club. Rules are rules.

  Tonight, Jeremiah will make his move. Why pay for what he can get for free?

  With a sardonic grin, Jeremiah climbs from his seat. He watches Janet for a few seconds more before heading down the aisle towards the exit. Bodies in the aisle shift to let Jeremiah pass. It is a packed showroom tonight. Many of the men and women are from the surrounding cities and towns. Faces he does not recognize. But all have eyes which are full of lust and deceit. Someone does not know they are here.

  Jeremiah continues to smile as he makes his way to the door. Several women are trying out their own version of sexy near the exit. Jeremiah's eyes casually skim over them, they are not who he came for. One has already been chosen. His purpose has been decided. He must remain focused. The time is at hand.

  Stepping out into the street, Jeremiah looks back as the metal doors to the forbidden club are slammed shut. The cab he arranged is waiting at the corner with its lights off. All is as it should be.

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  Janet enters her hotel room and flicks on the light. To her surprise, there is a large man lying on her bed. Janet utters a loud gasp and prepares to exit the room. The man's deep voice freezes Janet in place.

  "Don't be afraid, Janet. I didn't come here to harm you. I have money. I can pay."

  Janet glances over her shoulder once, and then steps further into the room. She closes the door softly, expertly locking it in three quick motions. With a thin smile, she walks toward the bed with dingy sheets.

  "You know...This is completely against the rules?" Janet teases.

  The showgirl removes the white fur scarf from around her neck, signaling her indifference to the rules. Next, she drops her hands to the buttons on her imitation white fur coat. She slowly undoes the buttons.

  Aquarius maintains eye contact for only a brief moment, before his gaze shifts to the workings of Janet's slender hands. Janet draws the fur coat open, revealing the white lace bra barely covering her ample bosom.

  "Who cares about rules?" Jeremiah quips. "I'm here to have a good time."

  Janet approaches the bed, where the large handsome man lies with his feet crossed and his hands behind his head. She places one knee on the mattress and slowly climbs atop the bed. The man's lips curl upward into a sly grin. Kneeling on the bed beside her assumed lover, Janet studies his face. Not a bad looking face.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Take it off. Like you do on the stage. Except...I want you to do it just for me."

  "Let me see the money."

  "Why? So you can rob me? I don't think so. You get to see the money...After I get to see some skin."

  "Hmmm."

  Slowly drawing the fur coat to about the position of her shoulder blades, Janet rotates her shoulders, allowing the sleeves to slide off of her arms. The white fur coat falls to the floor below. Janet pushes out her breasts, straining the thin material of her bra. She winks at Jeremiah and seductively licks her lips.

  "We're not in the club anymore. You can touch."

  Jeremiah's eyelids lower and he grins more slyly. Without a second invitation, he uses his right hand to stroke Janet's breasts. After a third pass, he casually unhooks the clasp at the front of her bra. The emergence of her luscious breasts is expected but also exhilarating. He strokes them harder, now without any bothersome material to get in the way. The darkened tips of Janet's breasts remind him of Claudia's, his mother's. How he had enjoyed kissing his mother's breasts. After watching his father--and the large man--, touch his mother so intimately, it had become more than a wet dream to touch them himself. Mother had not been pleased.

  Janet grins and folds both arms behind her head. She sways on the edge of the mattress. Jeremiah sits up and grips the back of Janet's neck in a large hand. He draws her to him in a rough kiss.

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  Jeremiah exhales loudly before pressing his lips firmly against Sabrina's. Gripping his lover's right hand, he raises her arm, guiding her hand to the bedpost. She'll need it. Sabrina sighs as Jeremiah uses his other hand to open the clasp at the front of her bra.

  "Beautiful," Jeremiah mutters, while lowering his mouth to her bosom.

  Sabrina lapses into an almost semi-conscious state as Jeremiah has his fun. They will have to hurry. His wife, Janet, will be back soon. Sabrina's anxiousness to meet with him was not merely about pleasure. What Sabrina must tell Jeremiah is sure to make him angry. This may be the last time they are able to see each other. At least for a while.

  "Jeremiah...I...I have to talk to you. It's important. I don't...I don't think I can see you anymore. He doesn't like when we see each other, Jeremiah. He becomes extremely violent. I lied about the bruise on my arm. I didn't want you to do anything...You would regret. But, Jeremiah...Oh god. Last night...He hit me again. I can't risk any more violence. We have to stop seeing each other. At least, until I go back to college. Maybe...Maybe he'll forget about me. Maybe he'll find another girl and move on. Jeremiah...Please understand."

  Jeremiah raises his head and peers down at Sabrina with angry eyes. He is not angry with her. He is furious at the big man. The man who strives to take everything Aquarius loves. The large man will not have Sabrina. Not anymore.

  "Don't worry," Aquarius says, inching his mouth down the center of Sabrina's chest. "He won't hit you again."

  "Jeremiah? What are you going to do? I don't want..."

  "Hush," Jeremiah says, firmly kissing Sabrina's pouting lips.

  He applies slight suction to his kiss, causing Sabrina to gasp softly. Her back arches with increased arousal, their chests touching. Jeremiah prepares for his entrance into her warm darkness, removing his mouth from Sabrina's lips and kissing her throat.

  "If you cannot leave him. He will have to be dealt with. He will not hurt you anymore."

  Jeremiah lowers his mouth to Sabrina's lips again. A brief moment later, she inhales sharply, her body trembling from head to toe. The moment has come.

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  Lich General Hospital

  Sabrina races out of the double doors of the emergency room. The big man is just heading to his car, a smug grin on his face. Sabrina reaches him and roughly jumps onto his back, pounding him with her fists.

  "You bastard! You son of a bitch! How could you? Err! You bastard!"

  The large man throws Sabrina off of his back and she goes sprawling backward. The man whirls on her, grabbing one of her ankles and drawing her across the pavement. Sabrina attempts to flip over onto her stomach to gain more leverage. However, the large man grips the bottom of her blouse and yanks her upward. He speaks directly into her face.

  "You might want to reconsider how you approach me, you whore! And keep your voice down. Someone might hear you!" the large man hisses in a deep voice. "Better yet...Come with me. Now!"

  The large man hefts Sabrina up onto his shoulder. She struggles futilely, but to no avail. Roughly wrenching open the passenger side door of his car, the man maneuvers Sabrina inside and shoves her back against the seat. Sabrina's face is bright red, and her eyes are wide with terror.

  "Buckle up, Sweetheart. Now!"

  Sabrina does as instructed. The large man climbs behind the wheel and glances over at Sabrina with narrowed eyes. With nearly lightning speed, he leans over the center console and grips Sabrina's chin. He kisses her with a violent appetite. Sabrina scrunches her face and tries to turn away. However, the large man does not allow her.

  After what feels like forever, the large man withdraws from the terrified young woman. He offers her a snide grin and starts the engine of his car. As the car speeds away, a solitary face watches him from a first-floor window of the hospital.

  Once they are out of view of watchful eyes, the large man parks his car beside a wide ravine. He shuts off the engine and turns to Sabrina. The young woman's body starts to tremble anew. The look in the large man's eyes is familiar and frightening.

  "Just so we understand each other...We never had that conversation out near the hospital. You don't know a damn thing. Do you, Sabrina?"

  "No. I don't know anything," Sabrina lies.

  "Good," the large man says with a sardonic grin. "There's a good girl."

  Leaning forward, the large man kisses Sabrina again. He uses one hand to grip the back of her neck. The other hand, he snakes into the bottom of her blouse. Sabrina sighs because she knows this is expected of her, not because she derives pleasure from the large man's touch. She hates when he touches her. She wishes the monstrous son of bitch would die already. But until she is finally able to get away from him, the most she can do is go along with his sick games.

  Pulling Sabrina's blouse up over her head, the large man slowly undoes her bra. He eyes her full breasts with lecherous intent. Sabrina holds her breath and counts silently in her head. She starts counting down from eight-thousand. A number so obscure and high, she hopes the man will be finished by the time she is done counting. For a moment, the man's gravelly voice breaks her concentration. She meets his gaze with widened eyes.

  "The girls are looking a mite perkier than usual, Sabrina. It seems my money was well spent. I'm sure you can understand why I can't have you spreading yourself around? A man has to protect his investment."

  Sabrina inhales sharply as the big man lowers his head toward her chest, regretting every moment she has ever spent on this wretched Earth. Jeremiah. Oh Jeremiah. If only the big man knew who's money had really paid for her boob job.