Chapter 26
Avidya
I was frozen in my seat as Zachariah pulled up to one of the places I never thought I’d have to see, let alone pass by, again. Why? Was he here because he had an issue he had to take care of? Or was he here because he didn’t want me anymore and thought this is where I should be?
“Relax, Avidya,” his smooth voice instantly calmed all of my fears as he opened my door and kneeled down to eye level. I hadn’t even noticed that he moved, let alone shut the car off. “You will be with me the entire time, I promise. No harm will come to you.”
Taking a deep breath, I let him help me from the car. My fear was no farther away as it was just a few moments ago. His words may only sooth me for so long, but I didn’t want to step anywhere into that building but knew I had no choice.
“No one will dare look at you,” he said, folding my hand into his own. The action made my heart warm, but my gut was filled with dread. Zachariah gave me a small encouraging smile before leading me towards the bland building.
I was still shocked, even as this placed seemed to so innocent to the naked eye. I knew what horrors were held inside. Knew what pain was held within the walls.
The door was opened from the inside as Zachariah led the way up the one lone stone step. He nodded in greeting before entering all the way into the building. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.
Zachariah didn’t pause long as the door was shut behind us and led us farther into the building. I refused to look around me, not wanting to see anything. The yellow stained floor was clean despite the aged coloring. It smelt of bleach, and it caused my stomach to continue to flip over itself.
I watched as Zachariah’s black shoes moved, mine just a second slower. My shoulders were bunched up in worry as he contended on farther into the building.
Going up a flight of stairs, since apparently, it was safer than the old elevator, we came to a stop at the room I had first met the man I was with.
This time, the room lacked the smoke, but still smelt too suffocating to me. The dark walls felt as though they were caving in on me, making the room smaller.
Zachariah led me to the desk that I hadn’t seen the first time and took a seat in the worn out leather chair before pulling me into his lap, where I sat stiffly. Despite the warmth, I still felt chilled.
“Breathe,” he whispered in my ear, his voice warm. His arms wrapped around holding me against his chest. “Nothing will happen to you.”
I turned my fearful eyes to him, not sure how to respond. I had no idea what he expected of me as all my fear came to a boiling halt as a voice from the other side of the door reached my ears.
“Mr. Melendez,” Shemoli called through the door. “I have a Mr. Ray here to visit you.”
“Enter,” Zachariah stated grouchily as he eyed me. “I hate this job,” he then mumbled out.
I fought back tears as the door was opened, allowing both men enter the room.
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Cody was still as put together as always. It almost made me laugh to see him in a place like this, as I knew for a fact that this type of life was not him. He thought he was a man of God, which was laughable on its own.
“Why is she here?” Cody seethed, clenching his hands at his side as though he was fighting back his rage.
“Why wouldn’t she be?” Zachariah replied, keeping his voice dark and deadly as not to be tested. For some reason, this type of voice went straight to my core, causing a reaction out of my body that I had no idea how to explain.
“Do you really plan to marry my daughter? Or making her into one of your sex toys?” Cody shot off, taking a step forward.
“Don’t make me escort you out,” Shemoli threatened.
When faced with these two, I’d rather face Shemoli any day than the other man who caused me so much pain for years on end.
“What do you need, Cody,” Zachariah spoke, gaining control.
“To find my wife,” he answered hotly. “She’s not anywhere! Are you even looking? Your father hasn’t done shit about it!”
“Watch it!” Zachariah shouted, causing me to jump at his raised voice. “Sorry,” he whispered to me. Then, turning back to my father – no, he wasn’t my father. I had to stop calling him that. He was the Devil. “I am using all my resources to find her, but it seems like Lynn doesn’t want to be found.”
“It’s all your fault, you little brat!” Cody seethed towards me.
Instantly, my eyes met his and I poured all my hatred at the man that I could with one burning look. The look alone would have made him into a burning pile of smoldering ashes.
“You are not to talk to me like that,” I stated, my voice surprisingly calm despite the fear and hatred I felt inside. “You are no longer someone that can tell me what I can’t and can do. It’s a good thing that my mom ran off when she could. You were just waiting for the perfect time to finish her off. You killed her soul, and you would have killed her heart too if given the chance.”
“Watch it, Avidya,” Cody spoke, spraying spit from his mouth in the process.
“Don’t you dare,” Zachariah said, glaring at my father. “There is nothing else I can do; therefore, you do not need to be here. We are done. Shemoli, please take out the garbage.”
The man gave out one last nod before quickly grabbing Cody around his chubby neck from behind, forcing him from the room. He protested all the way out the door.
I turned my attention to the man, meeting his heated gaze. My eyes widened at the look, as I expected a look that was . . . . well, not hot with passion.
In the next breath, his lips crashed to mine and his hands pushed me into him. The kiss was rougher than the previous ones that we’ve had as his tongue instantly searched out, asking for entrance. I gave in, letting him take total control as our breaths grew ragged.
My eyes slid closed as I felt his hardness underneath me. My core grew warm, demanding attention.
A cough made us break apart and he shot a hot melting glare to the one that dared to interrupt us. I couldn’t help but let out a small giggle, letting my head fall against his shoulder, my body shaking. Out of all places to get caught making out, it had to be here in the worst place possible.
“What?” Zachariah barked out.
“Sorry to interrupt,” a man replied, his voice quiet but yet loud enough to carry around the room. “The dirt that caused a mess this morning. . .”
Was it a normal occurrence for Zachariah to be here with a woman on his lap? No one really seemed all that surprised. Or was it just me that they weren’t surprised about?
“Fine,” the man grunted out, shifting underneath me. I giggled again, pressing a light kiss to the side of his neck in the process. He froze under me before relaxing. “Avidya,” he whispered in a half grunt. I took that for him liking what I did, but let my head fall back to his shoulder.
“Why did three of my girls die when I was out?” Zachariah asked, holding me tightly to him as he addressed the man. My face was pressed against his shoulder, causing me to not be able to see who it was that was dragged into the room.
“It was an accident,” the man answered with a high-pitched voice, clearly fidgeting.
“It was not just an accident,” Zachariah stated, his voice hardening and darkening. “Gem, Sal, take this rat to the trap. Death would be too kind.”
“Please. It’s won’t happen again,” the man begged, pleading for his life.
“Or throw him to the dogs. They’d love to tear into him,” Zachariah said, his posture relaxing. He seemed as if he didn’t care about the man’s well-being.
Within seconds, the man was dragged away, crying and begging for anything else as a punishment. I wasn’t sure what to make of it all.
Zachariah was a deadly man, so why didn’t he just kill the man right here?
“Why didn’t you just kill him?” I asked, my voice muffled against his shoulder.
“Because you are already on edge,” was his answer. “I don’t want to push you over the edge. He’ll get death, but it’ll be a slow one.”
“Do you always draw out . . . .” I didn’t want to say death, as it didn’t’ feel right.
“Sometimes,” Zachariah answered. “Sometimes I make it quick if I’m in the mood. People fear me for a reason, Avidya.”
“I don’t fear you,” I said, lifting my head to meet his. Fear for him was the farthest thing I felt.
“I know,” he said, giving me a wide grin that transferred his no-nonsense face to one of relaxation. “You trust me more than you should.”