She was back where it had all begun, and she was in trouble. Big trouble. The last thing she remembered was stepping inside the back of a limo. When she woke, she’d found herself here, in the belly of the beast once more.

She knew she was in Hill House. Even though the darkness was so deep she could see nothing, she recognized the smell of decay. Oddly enough, she hadn’t noticed that until she had come back. She suspected the stink had always existed. When she was a child, Hill House had smelled like home and safety. The adult Irelyn recognized the stench of death.

Her hands were tied behind her, and she was sitting in a straight-backed wooden chair. She closed her eyes and tried to envision where she was inside the house. The chilly air made her think she was underground. She knew there was a small wine cellar and basement that had rarely been used. The air didn’t have the kind of musty, dampness one would associate with a basement, though. Actually, and she couldn’t say why, she thought she detected a faint whiff of paint and turpentine.

Giving up on trying to determine her location within the house, Irelyn used her other senses. She was still wearing her dress, but her boots had been removed, and her feet were ice cold. The ties on her wrists and ankles were made of rope, not plastic. Rope would be hard to break.

She didn’t know Dark’s exact plan, but she had a good idea. Torture, then death. Why he hadn’t taken that opportunity when she’d been here before was a mystery. Perhaps he would tell her before she killed him.

Someone who didn’t know her history might laugh and call her delusional. She was sitting in the dark, barefoot and tied to a chair. But she had skills that weren’t evident to the naked eye. Skills that Hill Reed had taught only her. She had never used them, never wanted to use them. She would gladly make an exception for Sebastian Dark.

So, unless Dark came in and shot her dead at point-blank range, she knew she would escape. What it might cost her in the long run could not be a factor. She would do what she had to do to not only save Somer and Sister Nadeen, but also herself.

It had taken her years to acknowledge that she deserved saving. If not for Grey’s determination and perseverance, she likely never would have reached that point. He had saved her. Now it was up to her to save herself.

Wanting to get started, she yelled, “Dark! Come out and show yourself!”

Silence was her answer. That was no problem. She had good lungs and a strong voice. She set up a litany of insults and screams directed at Sebastian Dark. If he was listening, he was stinging.

Fifteen minutes later, she was rewarded. Lights exploded around her, and agony burst behind her eyes. Blocking out the pain, Irelyn squeezed her eyes shut briefly and then reopened them. Dark stood before her. Dressed in his usual black suit and red power tie, he looked as evil as always.

“You are a loud one, aren’t you?”

Ignoring her surroundings for the time being, she focused on the man in front of her. “Where are Somer and Sister Nadeen?”

“They’re both safely back with the good sisters at the children’s home.”

“I want proof.”

Dark smiled. It was ugly, vile, and evil all at the same time. “Understand that I don’t have to do this, but just to show you I’m not without a heart…”

He nodded toward a wall. A giant screen dropped down, and then Somer, along with Nadeen, appeared.

“Irelyn?” Sister Nadeen said.

“I’m here.” She glanced over at Dark. “I don’t want them to see me like this.”

“No worries, my dear. They can’t.”

“Are you all right, Irelyn? Did that man hurt you?”

“No, he didn’t hurt me. Are you and Somer okay?”

“Yes. We’re back home, safe and sound. We were both a little discombobulated for a while, but we’re okay now.”

Despite the circumstances, Irelyn smiled at the nun’s word choice. Her penchant for English crossword puzzles often showed up in her conversations.

“I’m glad. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”

“You’re sure you’re okay? We—”

The screen went blank. “That’s enough. You’ve seen that they’re both alive. I don’t hurt children or nuns.”

Knowing he’d kill his own mother if it suited him, she didn’t respond to his obvious lie.

Though it was painful to do so, she made herself look around. The room was a large square and so intensely lit that her eyes watered. The only relief from the blinding white was the black television monitor and Dark himself.

She had never seen this room before, which reinforced her impression that it had been recently painted.

“I know you’re redecorating, but I have to tell you I hate what you’ve done with the place. Quite unimaginative.”

“It has its uses.”

“Where are we? In the basement?”

“Actually, no. I added this little addition a year or so ago. I had it decorated just for special events. You’re my first guest.”

“That makes me feel all warm and cozy. What happens now?”

“We have a discussion.”

“About what?”

“Don’t you want to know why you’re here?”

“Because you’re a sick, twisted, perverted creep of a weasel who kidnapped a little girl and a nun.”

Another smile, this one pure evil. “You think that’s the worst thing I’ve done?”

She gave him a bored look. “I’m sure you think you’re some sort of Big Bad, but you’re nothing more than a slimy worm to me.”

“Your insults won’t change what’s going to happen here.”

“Then let’s get on with it, shall we?”

“You don’t want to know how I knew about the house in Colorado?”

For now, she was content to let him talk. His ego would be the death of him.

“You have little spies running all around the world. Information is easy to obtain if you find the right person and have a bit of money. So no, I’m not that interested.”

“Very well, then. Do you want to know why I hate you so much?”

“Hmm. Let’s see. Because I’m better than you? Because I was being groomed to be Hill’s successor? Because our father loved me more than he loved you?”

All those things would slice into his insecurities, but her last statement would hurt him the most.

His face flickered with intense hatred for a moment. Then, as if a light switch had been flipped on, a triumphant and smug expression replaced the anger, preparing her before he asked the next question, “So tell me, how did it feel to kill your brother?”

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“But of course. Though I would have been happy to have Kevin kill Justice, the way it worked out was much more satisfying. Poor little Irelyn having to choose between her brother and her lover. Oh how I would have enjoyed being there.”

Allowing him to see her pain would only make his joy greater. She refused to give him an ounce of satisfaction. “I wish you had been there, too. Then I could have killed you as well.”

His smile dimmed at her emotionless reply but he didn’t let up. “You’re not fooling me. He’s the reason you broke into the records room. You wanted to find your brother. Maybe have a little family reunion. Instead you killed him.”

Memories of that fatal moment would haunt her for the rest of her life. Damned if Dark would know that though. She snorted softly. “You really think it bothered me to kill another assassin? He was nothing to me. Just one more monster that needed to die.”

“You think you’re so tough, so smart. That you know so much. But you don’t know anything. You don’t even know why you’re being punished.”

“Is that what this is? Punishment?”

“It will be. But we learned from our wonderful father that punishment does no good if you don’t know the reason. You remember him, don’t you, Irelyn? Hill Reed? The man you killed.”

Okay, that surprised her. It was only thanks to the man she had killed that she was able to hide her shock. Only a handful of people knew what she had done. Who had ratted her out?

“You’re not going to deny it?”

“Why would I deny something I’m so proud of?”

“For that alone, you will suffer greatly before you die.” He came closer, stood in front of her. “Want to know how I know you killed our father?”

Since she really did want to know, and it was obvious he wanted to tell her, she remained silent.

“I knew he was having dinner with you that night.”

“So what? That doesn’t mean I killed him. If I remember correctly, he was found in a hotel in Luxembourg two days after our dinner meeting.”

“Ah yes, all very mysterious. Nothing to trace back to you and Justice. But I know the truth. Want to know how I know?”

She sighed as if bored. “I believe you’ve already asked that question.”

“Because Reed was going to kill you that night.”

Another bombshell she hadn’t expected, but it made perfect sense. Over the years, she had met with Hill for the occasional meal and a bit of information sharing. She had never revealed anything that couldn’t be uncovered by a little legwork. In turn, she had gleaned information from him.

That last dinner, though, was set up for one reason only. She had arranged it to finally end Reed’s life. And he obviously had been ready to do the same to her. She’d just gotten there first.

“He was going to retire, but wanted to tie up loose ends. You were a loose end.”

She had to laugh. What a screwed-up life she’d lived.

“You think this is funny?”

“Well, yeah. Don’t you? I mean, I go there to end him and get it done before he can do it to me. Neither one of us expects it from the other. My timing has always been a bit off, but I have to say, in this instance, it was impeccable.”

“You’ll pay for that, you bitch.”

“Yes, yes. So you’ve said. I did the deed. What more is there to say?”

“For starters, how about you’re sorry?”

“Sorry the perverted bastard is dead? Um, no, nope, and nada. Am I sorry that I was the one to kill him? Oh, hell no.”

“You destroyed a great man.”

“Are you still that delusional? He turned children into killers. He abused you, tortured you, allowed others to abuse you, and you can still say that he was a great man?”

“His methods of child-rearing might have been unorthodox, but they were effective.”

“Child-rearing? He was a predator, a pedophile, and a killer. You should thank me for ending him.”

“Thank you for killing our father?”

“He wasn’t our father. He was a monster.”

“Think so?” He walked to a digital keypad attached to the wall and pressed a button. “Maybe you need some reminding of how great a man our father was.”

Five more screens appeared.

“Do you remember a television show a few years back called This Is Your Life?”

“No.”

“Doesn’t matter. Just thought it would help explain what’s about to happen. I’ve worked night and day getting these in just the right order. I do hope you appreciate my hard work.”

An image appeared on the first screen. The child was about Somer’s age, maybe a little younger. She had long, stringy dark hair and a sallow complexion. She was bone-thin, malnourished. Her gray eyes spoke volumes of abuse, neglect, and hopelessness.

“Recognize this beauty?”

She couldn’t look away if she tried. That damaged, lonely little girl still lived somewhere inside her.

“Amazing, isn’t it? What was once the very image of pitiful and disgusting is now one of the loveliest women in the world.”

As she continued to stare, photo after photo appeared. Most were of her in the same sad-looking green pants with yellow ducks and a dirty white T-shirt. She closed her eyes when several photos showed her wearing nothing at all.

Electricity shot through her body, and her eyes flew open. Dammit, the chair was hooked up to some kind of electrical current.

“That’s so rude. I’ve prepared all these memories for you. You must see each one. If you don’t, I’ll be crushed.”

“I know you’re a sick, twisted bastard, but child pornography is low even for you.”

“Oh my dear, this isn’t pornography. This is art. Hill Reed was a gifted artist, and you were one of his most perfect creations.”

She closed her eyes again, but remembered the shock and reopened them quickly.

Dark laughed. “You are a fast learner.” He glanced at another screen. “We’ll let those images remain and move on to other, more interesting things.”

All of the screens began to display images and video of her life at Hill House. The sound was turned off, so she was at least spared hearing the treacherous voice of her former teacher.

She hadn’t known he’d filmed their interactions. Yes, she had known that Reed had recorded some of her training. He had used the recordings on occasion to remind her of what would happen if she failed at a certain project he’d assigned her. The early ones were the most heartbreaking. They told the story of how a starving, neglected child had come to love her abuser. The bastard’s manipulative, mesmerizing voice had practically hypnotized her, enthralled her. The food and warmth he had provided had done the rest. His training had been insidious, seeping into her mind, her heart, her very soul. By the end of the first year after her “rescue,” she had been a willing participant in anything Hill Reed wanted from her.

Irelyn lost track of the time as the images played around her. She was so lost in the past, she wasn’t even sure Dark was still in the room. Memories assailed her, and even as she told herself to fight them, they swamped her as she relived each day, lesson, and event that created Reed’s perfect weapon. She could see, feel, taste everything. Affection, followed by mental, physical, and emotional abuse. Then, when he realized she had reached her limit, he would shower her with affection again. Special treats, toys, and clothes, anything a child could want. But she had sought his love and approval the most. Knowing he was disappointed in her was often more painful than physical punishments.

Sweet heavens, she had been so young and so damn malleable. To a child who had never known anything but hunger and pain, it had felt like rescue, like love. Her young mind had been the perfect training ground for Hill Reed’s evil manipulation.

She drew in a ragged breath. She tried several times to close her eyes, to block out the more painful moments. The shocks pulsing through her body prevented her from escaping.

The chair she was strapped to moved in slow circles. Not fast enough to make her dizzy, but it enabled her to see each screen as her life played out. It was painful, demoralizing, and sickening to watch. The pitiful child who only wanted love, the budding teenager who wanted approval. He had played her like a master, and she had grasped at every straw and morsel he would allow.

The perverted bastard had even recorded the first rape. She remembered being frozen in fear. She’d been thirteen years old, a child blooming into womanhood without any idea what that meant. Even as she’d known what he was doing to her wasn’t right, she had done nothing to stop him. Watching it now with adult eyes, she felt immense grief. The frightened child lay there, not knowing what to do, knowing what was being done to her was wrong, but still craving approval and warmth. That first time had hurt. She remembered the painful tearing, Reed’s heavy breaths and grunts.

Nausea threatened and Irelyn swallowed back the bile.

Reed had told her that her body was a weapon and that someday she would use it to entice and secure her prey. But, that for now, her body was his to use as he wished.

The rapes had happened a handful of times, and afterward, he would hold her and whisper soft words of praise. She had craved that praise more than anything else on earth. She would cling to him, aching for what she had believed was love.

The beatings and torture had been horrific, but they almost seemed more bearable than those tender moments. Hugs, kisses, and verbal praise from a monster who’d doled out affection one moment and harsh discipline the next. She had learned to look for his approval in all things. She would have done almost anything for him.

And in the end, she had.