Dark Sonata Read online

  “I think the same thing,” she admitted softly.

  Just floating, and without cause.

  She took a rushed breath in when his lips touched her neck. The heat of his tongue swirled over her skin, lightly, making her bite her lip. Wasn’t she supposed to like this? He groaned into her neck as his hips started a slow grind against hers. Samson’s movements grew more demanding, his mouth devouring her throat. Tori squeezed her eyes shut when she felt his lips trail up her jaw line, trying not to be so repulsed.

  “What’s wrong?” he breathed into her cheek.

  “Nothing,” she said lightly even though she was not enjoying this. What was wrong with her? Samson was very handsome; any woman would be thrilled to even be in his presence, let alone kissing him. His fame was worldwide as a sex symbol.

  “You taste like honey,” he moaned into her neck as his lips trailed down to the line of her breasts. His lips seemed sloppy to her, his hands too aggressive as they firmly pressed into her body.

  He slapped her on her backside making her gasp in pain.

  “You like that?” he smiled into her neck while his hands pulled up her lace skirt.

  Tori squeezed her eyes shut as he slapped her again, telling her how perfect her ass was. This is fun. This is a lot of fun, she told herself even though she was ready to slap him across the face.

  “You’re so perfect,” he laughed as he grabbed a handful of her bare backside and squeezed painfully. “I can’t wait to see all of you.” Samson pulled up her shirt. He expelled a breath when he saw her breasts pushed up firmly. “I want to pour honey all over you then lick it up.”

  He slapped her backside again and groaned.

  “Samson,” Tori hissed and held her black bra on, so he could not remove it. “This is too much too fast.”

  He looked out of breath as he glared at her. “You’re kidding right?”

  “I said a kiss and we could work up from there,” she whispered, not liking his dark expression.

  Yes, something was wrong with her.

  He laughed loudly, almost sounding insane. “You can’t do this to a man Tori,” Samson said harshly then raked a hand through his hair. “Do you have any idea what you do to me? Or to every man that looks at you?”

  Tori didn’t say anything, scared of what he might say.

  “You’re,” he paused to search for the right words, “You’re not like other women, which is why I am waiting for you like a love-sick moron! I am going out of my fucking mind Tori!”

  She flinched when he swung his hand in her direction.

  “Look at me!”

  Tori looked up and saw the anger in his gaze, his face took on a ruddy complexion. “I am sorry Samson, I just need a little more time.”

  He pointed at her. “You’re making me out to be a fool.”

  “That is ridiculous Samson.”

  “Oh is it baby?” he asked and walked up to her. “The tabloids say how I turned soft for a mere woman, that I am wrapped around your damned finger. You’re playing me Tori. For fuck’s sake you know that I want you every second of the day and you,” he waved his hand at her, “walk around in your short skirts and low tops and expect me not to behave like an animal!”

  She looked away, trying to keep tears from falling.

  He laughed coldly. “I have not even seen you naked. I bet Hollywood would love to know that their bad boy has not even seen his girlfriend for three months naked,” he repeated. “That’s a record for me.”

  “Is that all you want is to see me in the nude then?” she asked coldly back and raised her gaze to him.

  He stared at her for what seemed like forever. “It would be a start.”

  Tori clenched her fists and nodded. “Fine you may see me naked, but you may not touch.”

  His eyes lit up, his breathing escalating. “Done.”

  Tori glanced down at herself, her skirt still half hiked-up. Taking the end of the lace hem she slowly pulled the skirt down, hearing his breathing hitch. She had to bite her lip to keep going, wanting nothing more than to run away sobbing in shame. Inch by inch seemed to take hours, her breathing echoing in her head. He is your boyfriend, you shouldn’t feel this amount of revulsion. Finally, the skirt dropped to the floor making a soft sound that vibrated off her senses. She wore a simple black thong but from the look on Samson’s face it was like she wore gold. Her jaw clenched as she tried to keep her emotions in check. “Would you like me to spin?” she asked without emotion, her pulse beating against her neck.

  Please say no.

  “Yes,” he breathed.

  She nodded, trying to come up with some excuse not to expose herself but nothing believable came to mind. Slowly she turned and when she faced him once again he looked like he would perspire. He was clearly enjoying this, she just wished the feeling was mutual. Tori counted to ten and grabbed the sides of her shirt and pulled it up over her head. Her skin was perfectly smooth, and her body curved in all the right places. Or so she was told. By him.

  “Yes,” he whispered, as he unzipped his pants for something she didn’t want to see.

  Tori took a breath, trying to find her courage. She slowly unclasped her bra letting it fall to the floor, watching the black material bounce … one … two … three times. The room was dim, the moonlight barely lighting the room. She was bare to his view and she felt dirty, this felt wrong to her. She prayed he couldn’t tell that she was not into this because she didn’t want to deal with his anger. The cold room worked to her advantage.

  “Tori,” he whispered. “I need you now.”

  Tori gritted her teeth and frowned, unable to stop it. “I told you that … I am not ready.” She tried to keep the anger from her own voice but failed.

  “I give you two days Tori, that is all.” He turned to leave and yelled over his shoulder. “Take off that thong and I might be capable of rape.”

  He slammed the door that led to the hotel bedroom, then she heard the water of the shower turn on. She sank to her knees and felt the heat of her tears slide down her cheeks then to her neck and in between her breasts. Just a reminder that she sat almost naked, shaming herself in front of a man that barely knew her. The real her.

  The mentally insane one.

  She just wished she desired him like he did her. Maybe in time she would learn to enjoy what he did to her sexually? He was the only one she had in this world, she’d be smart to keep him happy. “Samson!” she yelled and knew what she had to do.

  The door opened and he was in his towel, his tanned muscles flexing. “What do you want?” he snapped.

  Tori couldn’t find the words, knowing it must be her secrets holding her back. It had to be. “I-I need to tell you something Samson, then after we can lay together.”

  His eyes widened. “Lay together? Sometimes I think you are from another time. You mean I can finally get to have sex with you? Just so we are clear.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Only after I tell you something first.”

  A loud knock pounded on the door making them both jump. Tori’s heart took flight as she stared, tunnel vision setting in. Samson cursed and let go of her, walking to the door. “This better be fucking good.”

  Tori wanted to call him back but didn’t. Instead she just slowly sank to the floor, consumed with denial. She pulled her clothes on as fast as she could, knowing deep down who it was. No. It was just her paranoia, nothing more.

  Doctor Kristensen walked in, burst in with very intimidating looking men in white coats. Samson looked confused at first then rage overtook him. “What the hell? Can I help you?!”

  Doctor Kristensen’s ice gaze rested on Tori. The doctor's mousy brown hair was pulled back into a severe bun heightening her bony cheeks. Her eyes noted Samson’s state of undress and hers. “Forgive the intrusion Mr. Willis, but I’m afraid we must take Ms. Grayson for immediate treatment. She is unwell.”

  Tori felt tears slide down her cheeks as she stood, her body shaking.

  Samson grunted and sto
od in their way. “The hell you are. Haven’t you heard of calling first? What is wrong with this place! Tori and I are leaving. She can consult other doctors about her migraine condition elsewhere. Now get out!”

  The Kristensen laughed and Tori cringed.

  “What is funny? I don’t find you barging in here funny, Doctor,” he spat.

  “Samson …” Tori pleaded, slowly walking up to him.

  He turned towards her and stared with open anger. “Tori, do you know what’s going on?”

  “That’s what I was going to tell you,” she whispered as more tears streamed down her face.

  Kristensen interrupted, “Mr. Willis, she did not come here for migraines. She is mentally ill, diagnosed with Letta’s Syndrome. She is a harm to herself and to others if not properly treated.”

  Samson looked like he had bitten into a lemon. “Come again?”

  Tori closed her eyes knowing that everything was over.

  She opened her eyes and tried to reach for him. “Samson …”

  “Don’t!”

  Pain tore through her and she knew it would be the last time she would ever hear his voice.

  * * * * *

  Tori felt completely numbed to the core.

  She sat across from Kristensen in the limo barely able to register what was happening. The feeling of danger was ever present; the tingling in the back of her neck grew as the seconds passed. She glanced out the window to see the orange glow of the disappearing sun. Darkness was only minutes away, alarming her more than it should have.

  “I’m sure you have questions; no need to be scared,” the doctor said indifferently.

  Tori looked at her, wanting desperately to slap that flat look off her face. “Where are you taking me?”

  “To Sector 7.”

  Tori stared, waiting for her to expound.

  Kristensen exhaled. “Ms. Grayson, this will not be easy to digest, what I’m about the tell you. I don’t have time to do this lightly. I am giving you two weeks. Two weeks of treatment to see if you can tell reality from delusion. If you pass you may be free, and if you don’t you must stay here.”

  Tori sat up in her seat and scowled. “You’re giving me two weeks to see if I’m crazy or not? How will you do this? Lock me in a white room and see if I start talking to myself?!” she shrieked, not liking this one bit.

  She sighed and regarded her for a moment. “I think you should give us more credit than that Ms. Grayson.”

  Tori snorted and sat back in her seat.

  “You see, this place I am taking you to will have absolutely no white rooms,” Kristensen revealed carefully. “Sector 7 is a large, beautiful estate.”

  Tori’s heart was beating fast now, her head shaking left and right.

  The doctor leaned forward. A grave expression marred her features for the shadows in the car made Kristensen appear quite intense. “You will not like what I will tell you next, and for that I’m sorry.”

  Tori stared, feeling dread seep into every bone of her body.

  “You were born in Sector 7, Victoria.”

  “Excuse me?” Tori couldn’t find air to breath properly and pushed the button to roll the window down.

  She raised her voice over the rushing sound of the wind. “You were a part of an experiment the day you were born, I’m sorry to say that! Your real name is Victoria Orpha Leslie, born in this estate twenty-five years ago!

  “No!” Tori rubbed her eyes … she’s lying! “You’re lying!”

  Doctor Kristensen smiled. The sadness in her reproving gaze was alarming, like she did speak the truth. “Victoria, this is no joke. Everything in your story that you wrote actually did happen to you. We determined that with the help of some experiments and drugs we’d get you to hallucinate.”

  “What?!” Tori could not believe what she was hearing; her mind was breaking into tiny shards!

  Focus! Don’t trust her …

  “When you told me about your story I knew that we needed to bring you back for further testing. Your mind is having trouble giving up your memories that we have installed, then tried to remove successfully.” She continued, “I’m sorry that this happened to you, I really am but we must move forward.”

  Tori felt faint, her vision swirled. “That’s impossible,” she whispered, feeling sick.

  “No, it’s not Victoria. Impossible is not a scientific term, just that the possibility is very improbable. The possibility that your entire life was a test on the powers of the human brain just became very possible.”

  “So … are you telling me … that everything in my book actually happened to me? That they were my real lost memories all along? For some sick test of the mind?!”

  “Well, most of everything Victoria. You were given heavy hallucinogens, resulting in your mind creating a world of supernatural power. We just helped you along and your mind did the rest.” Kristensen stared at something over Tori’s shoulder. “It was ground breaking what we did with you, you know? Our other patients were not nearly as successful as you.”

  Tori’s eyes watered. “There are others?”

  “Yes, you will be tested in the next two weeks with other girls with similar cases close to yours.”

  Tori felt tears trickle down her cheek. “What do you mean similar cases?”

  She looked away then back to Tori. “Each girl was presented with the same testing scenario as you were. All their stories were not identical to yours, but pretty close. They all feel in love with Ezra, the misunderstood Demon. Though I can’t I blame them, he was a perfect fit for the part.”

  Something dark and ugly boiled up inside of her. “You crazy bitch! You’re the one who's insane,” Tori hissed. “You mean to tell me that Ezra is real?! And you let innocent women fall in love with him?! For some silly science project?!”

  Kristensen laughed coldly. “He is real, yes. But not the way your mind has perceived him. He was nothing but an actor, and a very good one. From what I understand, you have a thing for actors.”

  Samson.

  Tori shook her head feeling bile rise in her throat. She covered her mouth but managed to grab the sick bag just in time to empty the contents of her stomach.

  “The nausea will cease as soon as you eat something.”

  Tori gaped at her, wiping her mouth. “You poisoned me? When?”

  “I gave you a slight sedative, not knowing how you would react to the truth.” She continued, “We are here Victoria, take a look.”

  Tori faltered a second then stumbled out of the vehicle feeling like each limb was a hundred pounds. She looked up at the massive mansion that appeared more like a haunted castle. This place was dark and forbidding, and oddly familiar. Thunder rumbled deep in the distance making the hairs on her arms stand on end.

  Oh dear.

  Her wide gaze locked onto the round circle entrance and she forgot how to breathe. Images started to flash through her mind’s eye, of her running in the rain. A man on a giant black stallion who stole a kiss … “This can’t be the same place,” she murmured, refusing to believe this. “This can’t be real! I won’t believe it!”

  Doctor Kristensen stood beside her. “That is what you will have to figure out over the next two weeks Victoria. What is real and what is delusion. I would advise you to take what I have told you to heart, for if you are wrong after two weeks you will be forever trapped here by law. Letta’s syndrome is that serious.”

  “But you know I don’t have that you bitch!”

  The doctor smiled.

  She wanted to slap her desperately but couldn’t lift her arm to do so. Her mind was screaming in denial! Ezra was real?! He was just an actor?! Pain erupted inside of her. What a fool they made her out to be …embarrassment.

  “From here on in, everything will be a test and recorded. Do not let your emotions cloud your reasoning,” she warned. “The only way these tests can stop is if we have success with one person.”

  “What the hell are you trying to prove?!”

  “That
the brain can heal itself from extreme trauma. That mental illness can be cured.”

  This disgusted Tori.

  God as her witness, she will get off this island! Tori suddenly felt her knees buckle and strong arms were instantly around her. Tori’s body was being lifted right as she went out of consciousness.

  Chapter twelve

  Was it customary to wear unsightly nightgowns in an asylum? Was it so that the patients always knew their place, reminding them of their insanity? Tori looked down, hating the cream sheet that reached down to her feet. The neckline was itchy, reaching high under her chin like an old-world night rail.

  Tori sat on a velvet bed and surveyed the room she had been put in. This oddly didn’t look anything like an asylum bedchamber to her. Before, she only remembered a white sterile room, empty of warmth and life. This was rich with wood furnishings, antique décor elegantly accenting the walls and floor. The space was small but beautiful, making her feel as though she had really been transported back in time.

  A thought suddenly struck her. Of course. They’re trying to confuse her mind with the setting of her story! Trying to bring back her supposed past to see if she can overcome the delusion. Everything is a test. Tori smiled, knowing that this was a poor attempt at confusing her good sense. In fact, this was amusing. Proving them wrong seemed very attractive. Her anger towards everything that the doctor had confessed was still an open wound. She didn’t know what to believe. This whole thing could be one big lie, to see if her brain could weed out the truth. Or whatever sick experiment they were trying to conduct here.

  Tori shivered, feeling very much alone. The dead silence of the room made her nervous, wondering what kind of tests they had planned for her. She missed the comfort that Samson had brought her, and now he was gone. She’d never forget the look of disgust he gave her before they took her away. Taking a deep breath, she knew that she had to keep her anger in check if she wanted to succeed here. Staying focused was a must. Tori had a strong feeling that they were going to try and bring back her fake memories, her story once again. But this time she was ready. Under no circumstance would she take any sort of pills.