Chereads / Eternal Entwined / Chapter 9 - Caged

Chapter 9 - Caged

The air was thick with anticipation I found myself in Kai's embrace once more. It was as if our lips had a mind of their own, crashing together with an urgency that belied the secrets that lay between us. Kai's hands roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine, and I leaned into his warmth, eager to forget the cold concrete wall at my back.

"You are my salvation, baby," Kai murmured between kisses, his tongue coaxing my mouth open. "I've waited so long for this... for you." His words sent a thrill down my spine.

"Who took you, Kai? What is this place?" My voice was laced with desperation as cling to him, my hands entwined in his hair.

Kai's brows furrowed, a shadow passing over his face. "I can't tell you everything, baby. The less you know, the safer you are. But the kings... they can't be trusted. They've been experimenting on us, trying to unlock something within our DNA." He hesitated, a pained expression crossing his features. "I never meant for you to get caught up in this."

My heart raced as I realized the depth of our predicament. "What have they done to you, Kai? And how am I here?" I asked, her voice laced with fear.

As if in response, distant voices echoed through the corridors, sending a shudder through Kai. He pulled me close, his eyes darkening with desire and despair. "This might be the last time, baby. But I want to give you something to remember me by." His lips crashed down on mine, and I felt the fire in his touch, his hands leaving a trail of heat wherever they roamed.

"Kai, what are you doing?" I ask, a nervous laugh escaping my lips as he starts to trail wet kisses down my neck. His hands are greedy, pulling me closer as if he wants to consume me entirely.

"I have to give you something to remember me by," he whispers hoarsely, his eyes burning into mine with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. "Do you want that, Delilah? A piece of me that you can keep forever?" His hands move to my jeans, tugging at the hem as if he's asking for permission.

I nod, unable to speak as desire clouds my mind. This man has a hold on me, and I know it. I step back, giving him room to work, and he wastes no time in unzipping my jeans and pulling them roughly down my legs. The cold concrete wall on the back of my thighs surprises me, but only for a moment before Kai's warmth replaces it.

He licks my thighs, his groans sending shivers through my body. "You taste even better than I remembered," he murmurs, looking up at me with dark, passionate eyes. His fingers hook into the waistband of my underwear, and he pulls it aside, revealing my most intimate self to him.

"Kai," I breathe, bucking my hips against his mouth. His tongue is skilled, and my pleasure builds quickly. I grasp his hair, tangling my fingers in the silken strands as I try to steady myself. "Oh, God... Kai..." I moan, my voice echoing off the cell walls.

"That's it, baby," he encourages, his mouth never leaving my core. "Moan for me. Let me hear how much you're feeling this." He sucks gently on my clit, his finger edging inside me. "I want to give you something so good that you'll never forget me, Delilah."

"You're already unforgettable," I pant, my body on edge. "Kai, don't stop. Please, I'm so close."

He adds another finger, curling them just right, and sucks harder on my clit. "Come for me, baby," he growls, his voice thick with desire. "Let me feel you fall apart." His free hand grips my ass, holding me firmly in place as I grind against his face.

"Ah, yes!" I cry out, my eyes rolling back as my release crashes over me. "Kai, I'm—I'm—" I babble incoherently, my body shaking as he laps up my essence.

He stands, his eyes glowing with satisfaction. "You taste delicious, just like I remembered," he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I'm going to miss this, baby. I'm going to miss you." There's a hint of sadness in his voice, and his eyes hold a pained expression.

"What do you mean, 'going to miss'?" I ask, my heart sinking. "Kai, what's happening?"

"It's time for you to go, Delilah," he says, his eyes filled with torment. "They're coming for me."

"No!" I start to yell, reaching for him desperately. But it's too late. Men in white coats burst into the cell, dragging Kai away from me. I'm left alone, my body still buzzing from our encounter, as the darkness pulls me back to reality.

I find myself on the ground, dazed and confused. My eyes adjust to the dim light, and I realize I'm in the library. "What the...?" I whisper, standing up shakily. My jeans are gone, and I self-consciously pull down my shirt to cover my exposed state. Kai sent me here? But why? And why now?

As I process what just happened, fear grips me as I hear the familiar voices of Sebastian and his father entering the library. I quickly hide behind a large bookshelf, my heart pounding. What are they up to? And why did Kai send me here of all places?

I hold my breath, the silence in the library heavy, as I strain to listen to the tense exchange between Sebastian and his father. My heart pounds in my chest—every word feels like a knife cutting through the air.

"Why did you bring her here Sebastian?" his father barks, fury lacing his voice. "You know how serious this is! You know the rules!"

Sebastian's voice trembles as he takes a deep breath. "I was just showing her the house! It wasn't meant to be anything serious."

"Nothing serious?" His father scoffs, incredulous. "Do you have any idea what this could do to our family? Everything we've sacrificed for you, and you throw it back in our faces for the Collins girl?"

I feel heat rise in my cheeks at the mention of my name, but I force myself to stay hidden.

"Where is she?" his father rasps, his voice low and dangerous. "Why didn't you stay with her? Where did she go?"

"I don't know! I don't know!" Sebastian mumbles, desperation creeping into his tone as their footsteps echo ominously through the library. My hands tremble, and I grip the edge of the bookshelf, fighting the urge to bolt. I need to get out of here before they discover me.

"Sebastian, this she is a lost cause!" his father continues, his voice rising. "You think this is good for us? Everything we did was to save you, to save this town, and now you're jeopardizing it all!"

"Dad, I will fix this!" Sebastian pleads, his voice cracking with emotion. "I swear I will find her, and we'll put this behind us."

"It won't be behind us, Sebastian!" his father snaps. "She's already connected to him! She knows he's here! I saw it with my own eyes when I was down in the cellar!"

A sick feeling coils in my stomach as I realize the truth: Sebastian and his family are behind the tragedies that have plagued this town for years. They were supposed to be our protectors, the ones who kept us safe, yet they've been tearing families apart.

The library door slams shut, jolting me from my thoughts. "I know you're here, Delilah," Sebastian calls, voice low and filled with frustration. "You can come out now. You know everything, so it doesn't really matter. Just… just come out."

I hesitate, my heart racing.

"Please," he urges, his tone softening. "Don't make me come and find you."

I step out from behind the bookshelf, anger igniting within me. "Why are you doing this, Sebastian?" I demand, my voice trembling with fury. "All these years you have acted like my friend, like you cared. Watching me rot away while you knew exactly what was happening. All this time it was you"

His gaze sharpens. "My father knows you're a danger to us. I'm trying to protect you!"

"Protect me?" I scoff, stepping closer, my chest pressing against his. "I never asked you to protect me! You knew what was happening. You knew the dangers, and you just sat there, watching me suffer."

His fingers tremble as they run through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "I never wanted this! My family is sick, Delilah. If we don't do what we do, people die. Not quickly—painfully, slowly. This town is rotting from the inside out. If we didn't do this, none of us would survive!"

"That's a load of bullshit!" I snap, my voice breaking. "You're monsters! You think you can justify this?"

"Darling," he says, his voice a mix of sadness and resignation, "you may think we're monsters, but… Kai is one too."

As he turns away, the weight of his words settles over me like a shroud. I sink to my knees, overwhelmed, a whirlwind of anger and sadness spiraling within me. I'm trapped in a nightmare, surrounded by those who should protect me but instead have become the very embodiment of my fears.

I sat in the vast silence of the library, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. Hours seemed to blend into an endless haze of confusion and dread.

"Monster…" I murmured to myself.The word tasted bitter on my tongue. How could they label Kai a monster? He was nothing like the them, who seemed to  thrive on chaos and suffering.

My fingers brushed over the smooth oak of the shelves as I paced, searching for answers among the dust-covered books. I felt as if the library itself was mocking me, its secrets locked away, just like the truths about my town's tragedies. Each creak of the floorboards echoed in the stillness, a reminder of my isolation. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and pushed open the large library door. It groaned loudly, the sound slicing through my reverie.

Peeking into the hallway, I glanced both ways, my heart racing. She had to be careful; Sebastian father seemed to have eyes everywhere. Stepping out gingerly, I tiptoed through the dim corridor, my mind racing with anger and frustration. "I can't believe I'm stuck here because of you, Sebastian," I whispered fiercely to myself, recalling the way he had looked at me with that mix of concern and something darker.

As I reached the door that hopefully was his room, I hesitated, then took a deep breath and entered. Sebastian lay sprawled on the bed, his expression shifting from relaxed to alert as he met my gaze. I took in the luxurious room—the plush furnishings, the extravagant decor—and felt a pang of resentment. This was a prison dressed up as a palace.

"We need to talk," I said, my voice steady but laced with defiance.

He pushed himself up, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Delilah, please, just let's talk about this tomorrow. It's late, and you need to rest."

"Rest? You think I can sleep in this creepy house, knowing what your family is capable of? You're taking me home tonight. I won't stay here, not with you or your—your evil father!" My voice cracked slightly, revealing the fear that lay beneath my bravado.

Sebastian's eyes softened, but his expression was serious. "Delilah, we can't keep you here against your will, but I promise, we'll talk about everything tomorrow. It will all make sense. I swear."

My frustration bubbled over. "I'm not sleeping in the same bed as you! Not after everything I've heard!" crossing my arms, feeling exposed in just my tank top and underwear, as if the room itself was judging me.

"You don't have to sleep in the bed," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I can take the couch."

My breath caught as I glanced around the opulent lounge area, suddenly self-conscious. Feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as he looked me over, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. "This isn't about comfort, Sebastian! This is about the disappearances in Kingston. Your family is behind it all, and you know it!"

He leaned forward, his expression earnest. "I know it sounds terrible, but there's so much you don't understand. My father… he's done horrible things, and the kings—they're not what you think. There's a darker truth beneath it all, one that I need to explain to you."

"Then explain it! Don't make me wait until tomorrow. I can't just sit here and pretend everything is fine."

Sebastian sighed, his frustration mirroring mine. "I wish I could, but it's complicated. I need to protect you, Delilah. If you knew everything now, it could put you in real danger."

I met his gaze, searching for sincerity. "I don't want to be a pawn in your family's game. I want to help Kai, and I want to know the truth."

"Tomorrow, I promise," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You'll understand everything, and we can make a plan. I want to help you Delilah, but for now, just trust me, please."

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his words settle in my mind. "I hope you're right, Sebastian. Because if I'm still trapped here tomorrow, I swear I'll find a way out—no matter what it takes."