Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia froze, not quite sure what Rupert meant.

It almost sounded like he was asking for a label-like he wanted to define their relationship or something.

But how could there even be a label between them?

He was in love with Bridget. To him, Sylvia was just someone to use.

She was the kind of person he'd sacrifice without a second thought.

Sylvia felt her chest tighten. Her voice came out cold: "Oh, right. I forgot. You're my Uncle Rupert."

Rupert's eyes narrowed, shadows swirling in their depths. Suddenly, he lost his patience and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into a rough, punishing kiss.

Their breaths tangled, the air between them turning electric and wild. She barely had time to resist before her strength gave out and all she could do was let him take what he wanted. A low, helpless sound escaped her throat.

"Mmm..."

Rupert's breathing hitched. He gripped her waist, his voice gravelly, almost desperate: "Sylvia, you're going to drive me insane."

She frowned, about to protest, but her back hit the wall, making her flinch in pain.

"Ah-"

Rupert let out an exasperated sigh and gently pulled her down to sit. "Turn around. Let me put something on that cut."

Sylvia wanted to say no, but her body just gave in and she sat down, exhausted.

Rupert grabbed some disinfectant from the table and dabbed it on the scrape along her back.

was a surface

eyes only grew

skin was flawless-smooth, not a blemish in sight, so perfect it was almost unreal.

out his phone and shot off a message to

Don't hold back.

her, fumbled with her torn shirt. "Are

shoulders-a jacket. She recognized it immediately: it was the same one Rupert had draped over Bridget earlier that

off and handed it back.

when he saw how pale she

"It's not about "

sharp sound of police

her feet, panic in her eyes. "What's going

parted the curtains for a quick look, then grabbed her and

leaning down so their eyes met. "You

Sylvia hesitated, then nodded.

to

on the

to hers. "Change into that

She hurried to the bathroom, changed, and walked straight for

leaving, she glanced back at

window, lighting a cigarette, his face hidden in a

she was gone, Rupert called

he heard Mark's muffled

this freakish obsession with collecting human skin-always bought it off the dark web, so nobody found out. He came here for the jewelry

exhaling a stream of