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The woman moved to a cabinet and pulled outsome vials and bottles. She had Ava turn around and she carefullyrubbed ointment into the cuts from the beast. Ava instantly felther skin heal and fuse together again. When Ava turned back around,a large tub had appeared.

“I’m going to wash you,” the woman explained.Ava self-consciously shed her remaining piece of clothing andclimbed inside the tub. Using a small hose, the woman washed Avacompletely, including her hair. She then handed Ava a large fluffyrobe and helped her out of the tub. Unsure of what was happening,Ava followed along, letting the woman blow dry her hair and apply asmall bit of makeup. Ava heard a familiar ping and saw that a greenlight was lit above a channel in the room. The woman retrievedclothing out of the small box.

Ava let out a small sigh of relief when shesaw the clothes were not the same trashy ones back in her room.Without speaking, the woman dressed Ava in a pale blue dress thathad small cap sleeves, with a round opening on the back showingjust a bit of skin. The dress was fitted in the waist, and thenflowed out slightly before falling just to the ground. It was theperfect mix of sophistication with just a hint of sexy.

“Now comes the hard part,” the woman saidsoftly and she motioned for Ava to follow her.

“What hard part?” Ava asked withoutmoving.

“You’ll see, dear. Follow me, please.” Hereyes were sad and Ava followed the woman without knowing what elseto do.

They walked along a corridor until theyentered a room that reminded Ava of where victims indentifiedcriminals. The room was small, clean and cozy, but there was a hugeplate of two-way glass on one side of the room. A horriblecontraption was in Ava’s line of vision and she also thought of therooms where prisoners were put to death in front of victim’s familymembers.

Ava heard a loud sound and she saw the beastfrom breakfast being brought in by two guards who were restraininghim with rope. The beast roared and howled, fighting and thrashingagainst the rope, but he was unsuccessful and the guards broughthim to the nasty contraption, hooking him into the metal.

“No!” Ava cried. “What are they doing?” Shedidn’t like the beast but she certainly didn’t want to see himharmed.

“He broke the rules,” the woman saidgently.

“What rules?”

“You were an Untouchable.”

“What do you mean? What are you talkingabout? Who the hell are you?” Ava yelled.

The woman smiled patiently. “I am Jolie. I ama result of what happens when monsters breed with humans.”

Ava sucked in her breath. That’s why thewoman looked so strange. She was part human, part somethingelse.

“We can’t really live in the real world, somost of us who have survived work here.” She sighed. “The Overlordordered you not be touched. The beast broke that order so he mustbe punished.”

“But I don’t think he meant to break it!” Avablurted out.

Jolie shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. He alsomust be killed to help cleanse you.”

“Killed?”

Jolie nodded solemnly.

“And what do you mean cleanse me?”

“We need to restore you to your untouchedstate. Part of that involves killing the monster who mated withyou.”

Ava felt sick and she turned away so shewouldn’t see what was happening in front of her. She heard adeafening roar of excruciating pain and then all was silent. Whenshe turned back around, the beast was gone. She felt as if sheshould cry but she didn’t have the tears or the energy. Jolie stoodand Ava followed.

This time they entered a room with a largechair that reminded Ava of something one would find at agynecologist’s office. Ava climbed into the chair and placed herlegs on the sides, waiting for Jolie to continue. Jolie placed asort of damp towel over Ava’s sex and Ava had the strange sensationof something being leeched out of her. She suddenly felt herselftighten and twist and Jolie smiled brightly.

“All finished!” she exclaimed, helping Avadown. “The last bit is to erase your memory.”

“What?”

“You will have no recollection of mating withthe beast. You will remember him mating with the other women, butnot yourself. All the other women are having their memories alteredalso so no one speaks to you about it. You will not remember hisdeath or why you are here other than to meet The Overlord.”

At first Ava tried to protest but then shesnapped her jaw shut. She was disgusted that she had mated with thebeast and not having to remember it seemed like a great idea. Jolieplaced a type of cap on Ava’s head and Ava heard a large hum ofelectricity. The next thing Ava remembered was following Jolie outof an empty room.

“You’re ready now to meet The Overlord.”

Ava nodded nervously. She wasn’t sure why shehad been brought to this part of the castle to prepare for theirmeeting.

“He’s looking forward to meeting you,” Joliesaid, and her voice took on a strange tone.

Ava followed Jolie to a large set of doubledoors. Jolie knocked twice before entering. The room was dark yetsumptuous. Jolie beckoned Ava to a dark grey antique looking sofawith wooden carvings. Ava sat and watched as Jolie retreated.

Ava continued to stare about the room, takingin the dark wood table, the fireplace, the ornate chairs and anancient looking desk. She noticed a glowing light in the corner ofthe room, and she moved towards it for a closer look. She pulled acurtain aside and gasped. There were nearly a dozen small TVs, eachone broadcasting live stream from around the castle. Ava recognizedthe Monsters’ Lair, along with the fuck space in the middle, aswell as the dining room where she had eaten breakfast and watchedother women have sex with the beast.

There were also other rooms and areas thatAva didn’t recognize. So this was how The Overlord watched over hiscastle? She heard a noise from the far side of the room and shequickly scurried back to the sofa. A shadow moved within the roomand Ava felt the hair on the back of her neck rise.

“Ava,” the cold voice said softly and hernamed rolled of his tongue as if he were speaking to a lover.

She shuddered.

The man, or should she say monster, came intoview and Ava had to force herself from not turning her head awayand crying out with shock and disgust. He was tall and deathlypale, his skin a sallow gray with flecks of black and white. Hisarms and legs were thick and solid looking, and he had a broadtorso that looked as if it were made from decaying marble. Twowretched wings sprung from the center of his back, and his face washard to put into words. The monster was some type of livinggargoyle. His eyes were human, and a deep gray, but that was wherethe comparisons ended. His chin was pointy and his lips a gauntblack. His cheeks were sunken in, and his ears were large andpointy, protruding up and away from his head. Two small horns saton top of his head, making him look the demon that he was.

With a small gasp Ava realized he resembledthe crumbling gargoyles outside the fortress.

“I am The Overlord,” he whispered, his voicerasping as he spoke.

“Do you have a real name?” Ava asked, unableto stop herself.

The Overlord titled his head as if studyingher. “I do.”

“Are you going to share it?”

“No.”

“Why am I here?”

“I summoned you.”

Ava had to fight the urge to roll her eyes.If this monster was going to fuck her or kill her, she just wishedhe would get on with it already. Her hopes of escaping and makingit back to Drew were vanishing by the second.

The Overlord moved towards her, his eyesrunning over her appreciatively. He stroked one of his hornsabsentmindedly. Standing behind the couch he ran a cold hand alongher shoulders, skimming over the bare skin exposed on her back.

“Yes, you are perfect,” he murmured.

Ava shuddered again with repulsion.

“I have been waiting for a human like you.You will be my pet, cucciola mia.”

Ava bristled at the tender Italian phrase.Such a phrase was meant for lovers, not for this monster to say toher.