Page 25 of Cry Baby
Natalie circled me slowly, pushing my hands away from my body with her talons.
“You’ve become competent enough.”
“I’m touched,” I snorted.
“I didn’t say exceptional.”
She stopped beside me and lifted my chin with those same spikey nails.
“You can fight.”
A step beside me.
“You can survive.”
Another behind me.
“You can improvise.”
She came to a stop directly in front of me again.
“But you cannot influence people. You can’t seduce our clients and lure our property.”
“I don’t need to,” I stated stubbornly. What the fuck was she on about?
“You do now, Cry Baby. You have been such a good tool, but you’ve aged out of being useful to our clients. Now I see that your true potential as my loyal dog is to hunt. You will need better skills if you hope to succeed.”
She held my gaze and continued in a menacing manner. “You know how to win with force, but…”
She paused, then smiled with so much evil that I felt my skin crawl.
“I need you to win with your body, your words. Weave a tale that is too powerful to refuse. I need you to become the best.”
I frowned.
“I don’t follow, Natalie…”
“People reveal themselves when they feel understood and trust you. What better way to earn someone’s trust than to welcome them into your bed?”
Melodie spoke up and it caught me off guard even more. Her voice was lyrical, adding to that childlike persona. Was it an act?
“They’ll hand you every secret they own if you make them believe you’re the only person who’s ever truly seen them.”
Natalie nodded in agreement.
“And how well you can bring their fantasies to life. People are sick. The dirty stuff they want is the way to get their trust. Give them a taste.”
“Exactly.”
Natalie turned toward me.
“Charm. Poise. Education. And master of seduction.”
Another circling step around me, her nails trailing my sensitive skin, leaving bloody welts in her wake.
“Presence.”
Another step.
