by Lana Hartley
Carrie
I wake up in Jeremy's large four-poster bed and I am moved to tears to know what I have just been through on account of him. Last night was intense and amazing but the way I've gotten to this point is troubling. He's essentially my captor and he's murdered so many people right in front of me...how can I possibly stay? Visions sweep my mind of the classmates who used to taunt me but are now dead.
"You're so weird. God, Carrie, get a life!"
"Oh, her parents are social climbers, she's not that rich."
"This girl is always hanging around us, it's creepy."
"Look what she's wearing! Hahaha, hahaha."
The cackles of laughter descend in my memory as I'm reminded of all the hardship and torture those classmates put me through. I was constantly bullied by them, but does that give Jeremy the right to have killed them? Does he somehow think that's what I would have wanted?
For a moment or two, I consider crawling out the window, down the branches of ivy that cover the outside stone, and I think about running for my life. Is my life even at stake? I innately want to trust Jeremy, but maybe that is my lust for him talking. I mean, how can you trust a murderer? What if this is all part of some sick plan and he wants to fuck me into eternity before expunging me from the planet? I think he would never hurt me but I can't be sure. At the same time, every part of me is saying to stay, at least a little longer.
So, I pull myself out of his plush, comfy bed. I rise and meet the sun, wondering what the day will hold. And then I tiptoe down the hall to the room he's assigned to me. I graze my fingers over the soft, opulent clothes. Hmmm, Gucci, Valentino, Hermes...fuck, what do I wear for him? Despite all my misgivings, my soul is still pining for him and I want to look perfect. In the end, I just pull on a pair of jeans and some cashmere t-shirt. I walk barefoot downstairs and search for him. In the light of day, this place is more ethereal than I remember. There's decadence everywhere, layers upon layers of rich red and black and purple curtains, soft rugs, ancient antiques and I feel like I'm in a castle. In fact, it's a little like Beauty and the Beast, only my beast is much, much darker.
I find the kitchen, needing some coffee or something, and guess who's standing there but my very own tormentor. He's cooking something fabulous, and I can see his muscles outlined under his thin white t-shirt.
"Hi," I almost whisper not knowing where we stand this morning.
He whips around immediately and plants a kiss on my cheek before escorting me to a fully decked out table. It's a kind of breakfast nook, but lavishly spread with fine china and crystal and a large arrangement of assorted roses in the center. Does he dine like this every day? The table is impeccably set for four people. I take a seat and look out the iron-plated windows onto a countryside so vast that I feel at peace, for the first time in days. There are sheep grazing in the fields and a distant forest that is calling my name for a stroll. His palace is truly amazing and I feel gifted to be here, but there is also this deep pull in my tummy of an unsatisfied future. I have no idea what to do here or how long I will stay.
He's looking at me intently and I wonder if he's reading my thoughts of escaping, or staying.
"Mimosa?" He comes over to me and pours the finest champagne in my crystal flute and tops it off with orange juice.
"Yum," I say. "A girl could get used to this."
He looks at me with a hard gaze in his eyes, "Well, I hope you do...get used to it."
He wants me to stay. Hell, maybe he will make me stay. I don't know. In the background I see the news playing on a small flat screen he has in the kitchen. My parents flash across the screen and I ask him to turn it up. He does so before plating my gourmet breakfast and bringing it with his to come join me. We sit and listen as my parents deflect all truth from the media.
"She's had a breakdown," my mother is saying all dramatically to some reporter. Tears now run down her face and I wonder how she can manage to cry on cue like that.
"Our daughter is in a mental institution now," my father lies. "She's traumatized. She couldn't handle the death of her friends and that's the best place for her at this moment."
My mother is sure to add, "She is writing a book about her grief as it helps her therapeutically."
I am enraged. I look at Jeremy.
"They're just lying to save face. You know they're not even looking for me." My heart sinks as this evidence sets in. I am yet again disappointed by my parents. Why would I think they'd start to love me now?
Jeremy puts his hand over mine and it sends a thrill down my spine but I suppress that desire. He is quick to comfort me and he says, "That's not exactly true. They have hired a private investigator to find you, because the police said that since you're legally an adult their hands are tied. So they are looking."
"Yeah because they need my face on this to make a living."
I find comfort in his eyes that are imploring me to stay with him.
"Why don't the police have more questions for me?" I wonder aloud. "I am their star witness."
"That's the thing," Jeremy says. "They've pegged it on someone else. He was a student, prone to violent outbursts and he has no alibi. That's who they think did it."
A subtle smile reveals that Jeremy is happy to have gotten away with the crime.
"Here," he says handing me the phone. "You can call whoever you want, your parents, the police...the choice is yours."
"No." I take a long sip of my mimosa. "There's no one to call."
His eyes light up with possessiveness and I can see I've made Jeremy extremely happy by choosing to stay...for now.
Jeremy
Carrie and I have spent a relaxing day together. Though the morning's news rattled her a bit, she seems calmer now and more content. She is wise for her age and she seems like an old soul, able to take life’s grievances in her stride. When I tell her this I can see that she recognizes in my eyes the pride I feel for her and that it makes her happy. She is extremely intelligent and that makes her more becoming to me.
I took her for a walk around the grounds and she's sleeping now. My poor darling has had the weight of the world on her shoulders and I want to unburden her. If I could take away all the pain and stress she's endured then I would be happy. But I can only take as much as she will give and for now, though I know she is fascinated by me, I also know that she doesn't quite trust me yet. That's why I've planned a special evening to give her something new to focus on.
As it is, I've spent the day just watching Carrie. Her every movement makes me stare in wonderment, and in awe, of this being I've managed to capture. Like a butterfly too beautiful to set free, she must be caged and caught so that someone like me can witness her beauty unfettered. I am so in love, or lust, or in adoration of her that it surprises even me. She's been a champ at handling this break from everything she knew. It's not like she was happy in the life I stole her from, but it was at least hers. Here, in my palatial estate, it really does feel like she's my prisoner. Despite my attempts to let her know that she has choices and she can roam free, I think she and I both know that I will never fully let her go. I will always be there in the shadows, watching her, making sure she's alright. She is like magic and there's only so much willpower I have over that. At this point, I will take Carrie however I can get her. Though I am the one in control here, she has me basically on my knees, begging for her to stay. I would of course never reveal this to her but I'm getting in deep, I'm falling in love, and if she left me now I'd be devastated. I want her. I only want her.
My love and this exciting time in my life seem worth sharing, and there's only one person I can trust with a secret this delicious- Carter. He's the closest thing I have to a brother and I know he'll be interested in news like this. I am never absorbed in a girl for longer than one night, so he'll be keen to see the one who's grabbed my attention. Carter has a way about him that might charm Carrie and help her to feel more comfortable in her new surroundings. At least that is my hope.
There is a sense o
f disquiet within me however, an unease at the thought of them meeting. I cannot ignore the anxious feelings that arise with the thought of having Carter over. He can be intimidating and I don't want him to scare her off. I hope she sees in him a brother figure that is part of this life and in whom she can trust. I'd like us all to be a family. This is my first and only shot at having something resembling a normal life. Sometimes I feel isolated in my rare corner of the world and though I can have any extravagance, nothing can compare to the feeling of creating a true dynasty with the people I love.
It's been Carter and me for some years now. He's the only one who knows my business because we basically started together. I couldn't honestly hide Carrie from him, he'd find out eventually, so having him over seems like the best course of action. There is a side to him that is unpredictable though and I hope it doesn't come out tonight. I don't want Carter to spook her. I hope he's well-behaved and that he recognizes Carrie for what she is… my treasure.
I'm in the kitchen preparing the five course meal that I have planned for tonight. Cooking is another passion of mine, a hobby, and I think Carrie sees why and that she appreciates my efforts. I want her to have every luxury while she's here and I don't want the prying eyes of some private chef on her. In fact, the more I think about it the more unsure I am if Carter should even be here. I don't want his prying eyes on Carrie either. She is mine and I feel possessive of her to a degree that I've never felt before. Even sharing her presence is hard for me. I’m jealous that Carter will get to be in the same room with her as so far it’s been just me. I’ve been the only man she’s laid eyes on in quite a while and I like it that way. It arouses me to think about how wrapped up in me she has been. Trust or no trust I’ve been the only one to see her, to kiss her skin, to taste her sweet little pussy that is always wet for my hungry mouth. I want her as my sole possession, but I wonder how I could ever achieve that? I have her tucked away in my part of the world but eventually she will have to see people. I don't want her to feel isolated either. Maybe she will find a friend in Carter? And with that I push the thoughts out of my head and refuse to think of anything negative. This evening will go flawlessly and then we can all move forward together, that is my plan.
Carrie
After a restful day, I am in my room getting ready for dinner. I'm taking special care to put every hair in place and to arrange myself perfectly for Jeremy. I want to ignite that lust that I know he is constantly feeling for me. I want his eyes to take me in and devour me so that he cannot look away.
I've chosen the long red Valentino dress that clings tightly to my every curve. The dress is on the bed as I'm sitting in my lingerie at the vanity provided for my comfort. I haven't seen Jeremy in a while and I'm antsy to just see his face and connect. When I'm not with him I feel a heavy sense of isolation and loneliness, especially when I consider my place in the world at this moment. It's so precarious, all I've seen and done, and I'm eager to be held by Jeremy. The weight of his sculpted arms will bring me back down to earth. He centers me. He's like my point of gravity and the world melts away and I melt into him. After applying extra eyelashes to make myself look fierce, I swipe on some crimson lipstick, and then step into the gorgeous red gown I've chosen. I hope Jeremy likes it. It fits like a glove and I idly wonder how he knew my measurements so perfectly.
As I leave my room, hair swept up with a few loose curls cascading down my back, I can hear music playing. It's opera music, and I think how romantic it always is of Jeremy to set the scene in such a beautiful way when it's just us dining together.
When I reach the dining hall, however, there is a man there but it's not Jeremy. I feel startled and I stand in the stone archway, waiting to be noticed. Notice me he does and he quickly rises and comes to greet me. This guy is hot, not as handsome as Jeremy, but close. He's probably a few years older.
"Hi there." His voice is smooth, almost too smooth, and he takes in the look of me with not a hint of pretending. He's eyeing me up and down and I think how rude it is when I am a guest...or prisoner, of Jeremy's, not his.
"I'm Carter. Won't you please come join me?"
He takes my hand and leads me to a seat next to him. "Thank you," I reply a little stiffly. Who is this stranger?
"Been here long?" He offers to pour me some wine and I allow it.
"Not really," I say vaguely, wanting to cast his attention off of me.
Just then, to my delight, Jeremy enters with some hors d'oeuvres. His eyes light up in a profound way once he realizes what I'm wearing. He stands next to me and kisses my cheek lightly all under Carter's watchful gaze.
"So you've met Carter?" Jeremy says as he takes a seat at the head of the long dining table.
"Yes, we met just a moment ago," Carter responds and his eyes are dancing and I don't know why. What is it about this guy that makes me so uncomfortable?
"Yes, Carrie, he and I met in school a long time ago and Carter is really the only family I have left. I consider him friend and family." They clink their wine glasses together on this note. I find myself wondering what their history is. This is the first person of note that I've met who's a part of Jeremy's life. I want to make a good impression, but something about this man comes off cold and calculating like there is no depth behind his eyes, just a private reserve of something chilling, like untold secrets.
"Oh, so you guys met in boarding school." I take Jeremy's hand under the table and squeeze it.
"Yes," Carter responds easily. "We once knew a girl there that we both liked, didn't we Jeremy?"
I cringe at the weird tone of his voice.
"Yeah, um, we did." Jeremy is eyeing him cautiously and I wonder what's happened between these two and what the nature of their relationship is.
"She was nowhere near as beautiful as you are Carrie. Isn't that true Jeremy? Wasn't she just not even close to this lovely relic we have sitting beside us here." Jeremy's gaze narrows and I can sense some kind of a competition going on here. For what I don't know. It can't be for me because I'm already won over, by Jeremy.
I sit perfectly still in the uncomfortable silence. Jeremy exits to retrieve the main course. It smells really good and I'm trying to focus on superficial things like the food, instead of the tension in the air.
As soon as he leaves Carter is all over me. He leans in close and whispers in my ear, "You know, you really do look stunning tonight." He bites his lip as if holding back an impulse. "I could help you too like Jeremy has. I have the means to support— "
I cut him off right there. "You don't know anything about what's going on here."
Jeremy returns. We sit and begin to eat the delicious presentation.
Carter says, "I was just telling Carrie here how gorgeous she looks tonight. I mean she really is something."
I'm dying to tell Jeremy about what Carter said when he left but I say, "Thank you," to his compliment and bite my tongue on the rest.
Jeremy's eyes are intensified now and I know he's just waiting for one more comment about me to leave Carter's lips before he reacts. Carter creeps me out so much. Sitting next to him sends shivers to my spine, and not in a good way.
"Mmmmmm, this food is delicious. Carrie, let me see you taste it. I want to see your face when you eat Jeremy's food. Let me see it light up."
With that Jeremy is standing over me glaring at Carter. He says through clenched teeth, "Carrie, I need you to go to your room, now."
I'm happy to appease him because Carter's turned out to be more than a little odd, he's downright scary.
"It was nice to meet you," I mumble as I make my way out. That was the most awkward dinner table I've ever sat at.
Jeremy
I'm just waiting for Carrie to make her full approach out of the room. I watch the final folds of her red dress disappear up the stairs. I want to follow her so badly and assure her that everything's alright, but I have some final words to say to Carter first. I definitely don't want her to hear this. I invited Carter over based on goodwill and he
's acted in a totally obscene way. It looks like he's up to his old tricks and I don't know why I'm surprised. I'm gonna have to shut this down fast. Normally I would be a little more apt to indulge his dark fantasies but when it comes to Carrie I just can't. He better not ever lay a hand on her or he will cease to be. Family or not, Carrie's my property now and I will never give that up.
"Listen, Carter, you asshole. This is not a game, understand? This is not like before. She is special. And she is mine."
He laughs like he appreciates my anger so much. He laughs like he has not a care in the world about what I've just said. This makes me fume and I want to rage on him but I hold back.
He says haughtily to me, "Come on old boy. We're practically blood. Don't let some virgin come between us. She is a virgin, right?" His lips peel up in a smile. "Or have you already undone that? I could help, you know. I could show her what a true man is."
"Carter, I'm warning you. I regret that you're here okay? I regret ever showing her to you. You obviously can't handle yourself."
He takes a nice sip of his wine and leans back into his chair. He's eyeing me, wondering if he can call my bluff. I normally let him get away with so much. But not this time, not with Carrie.
"Oh, come on! You always let me play with your toys. I like them. You're so good at picking the right ones. Besides, you break them too quickly. I'll be careful. She's ripe isn't she Jeremy? Let me just finish her off. It would feel so good for me to do that. I could fuck her first."
My eyes are full of anger and I hope he's reading them right. He's treading on dangerous ground. He continues to take this lightly as if we are meant to share everything like he has some entitlement to her.
"She is not yours okay? Get it through your head right now, I am serious and this is different." I'm practically growling the words through my teeth.
"Oh don't be jealous Jeremy. It does not become you. I will fuck her, yes, but I don't mind sharing. Unlike you, I like to spread the good around. I could fuck her nice and slow, and then hard until she's near coming, and then you could come in and take her from behind. That's how you like it, isn't it Jeremy? Don't you just love to take women that way? You love to rip them apart with your cock. I imagine you're planning to do that tonight with her anyway, why not let me join in on the fun? Hmm? We could finish her off, kill her right there with our cum sprayed all over her face like we so often have done. Wouldn't that be nice?"
