Page 1 of Hell House
PROLOGUE
Pierce: Two years ago
The woods are alive with sin tonight. My face is covered by a black bag, my vision is obliterated by the dark material, feet stumbling over errant twigs and divots that cover the ground. There are seven of us who are being initiated into Tartarus House, or more commonly known on campus as Hell House. My foot twists and I slam down hard on my knees, a rock jabbing through my jeans. Strong hands hoist me up and I feel a surge of wetness slide down my shin. Ah, fuck. I was bleeding. The guys and I’d pregamed a few shots so it didn’t hurt as bad as it should have. Bet I’d feel that in the morning though. The sound of waves hits my ears, and the murmuring from the guys dies down. We must be close, though I can’t see shit. The terrain changes beneath my feet from the hard mossy ground of the woods we’d just tracked through to sand, my shoes sinking with each step forward. Someone still has their hand wrapped around my arm, leading me to the secret initiation site.
Kildale Academy is located on an island off the Pacific Northwest Coast. It takes either a ferry or helicopter to get here, which meant you had to have a shit ton of money to even be accepted. Most of our parents were CEO’s or heirs to a multimillion-dollar fortune. There was only the occasional scholarship offered, and to even be considered to join the only fraternity on campus, money and connections were imperative for your selection. My twin brother Lukas and I had been easy shoo-ins, being legacies with both our father and grandfather having been in the fraternity during their college years. It was expected that we’d follow in their footsteps. No questions asked, we had to uphold the Ledger legacy.
The guy’s voices start back up sounding like a chant. Their voices echoing off of something. I feel my pulse increase, the vein in my neck throbbing. I was ready to take this fucking bag off my face and get this over with. I take one more step before I’m shoved down onto my knees, the bag ripped off my face. I blink fast, my eyes trying to adjust. We’re in some cavern, close enough to the ocean that I can hear the waves slapping against rocks nearby. The air smells dank, the stench of fish wafting in the sea breeze air. My knees burn, and my head swims with alcohol. The cave is dark, the only light is coming from the moon and a few phone flashlights. I notice I’m kneeling next to Lukas in front of some alter looking thing lined with seven silver chalices. Though we might have been identical once, he’s done everything possible to individualize himself. From dying his hair darker, getting tattoos on almost every inch of his skin, and even the piercings. I shudder thinking of the Jacob’s Ladder he got this summer before we’d headed off to college. No one would be coming near my dick with a needle, thank you very much.
A hooded figure emerges from the shadows. The voices stop their chanting and the seven of us wait on our knees, not knowing what to expect.
“Welcome Freshman. Tonight, you will be initiated. The vow you take here binds you to this school, your new brothers, and the island. You’ve been chosen amongst the masses, weeded out, and tested. If you’ve made it this far, the dead of Hell House have deemed you worthy.”
I shift on my knees, not sure what he means by the dead of Hell House, but I try to pay attention.
“Brothers, hand them their chalices.” Seven seniors step forward, obeying, each grabbing the cup as they stand directly in front of us.
“Pledges, repeat after me: I hereby pledge my body and soul, my very blood, heart, and essence to become a brother of Hell House. Should I break this pledge I will accept the consequences of my actions.” We all repeat his words, the chant starts up again in a language I don’t understand. The guy in front of me steps forward, his hand holding the challis out to me. He brings it to my lips, and I see from the corner of my eye that the seven others are doing the same.
The hooded figure raises his arms, “Drink!” He demands, so we do.
The liquid burns the back of my throat like no alcohol I’ve ever had. I clutch my stomach and feel it roil inside of me. Was this some kind of sick hazing prank? Blood whooshes in my ears, my heart hammering against my rib cage. What the fuck was happening to me? I writhe on the floor and see the other new pledges doing the same. I start convulsing, my head smacking into the ground. I can’t see, I can’t think.
A scream wretches out of my mouth and then my body goes limp.
I watch through blurred vision. My head laying flat on the cave floor as the hooded figure reveals his face. My eyes clear as I blink fast. Headmaster Hayden is gleaming down on us, a wicked smile coating his lips.
“Welcome back to Hell House, Sins.” Pride rises in my chest at his words, making me brush myself off and stand up to my full height. My throat burns with smoke, but I push down the discomfort. I wasn’t about to let my new fraternity brothers see me looking weak. I’m overcome with the knowledge that I was now a part of the most exclusive fraternity in the US. The Ledger legacy would be continued through me, through my name, and I’d make sure the world would remember it.
CHAPTER ONE
Lukas: Present Day
My headboard is pounding the walls with each thrust I dish out. Whatever her name is below me is screeching in my ear, I’m bored as fuck and slightly deaf after all her screaming. Either she really is enjoying herself that much or she’s an overeager actress, and by this last thrust I’m leaning toward the latter. She licks my ear and mistakes my shudder of repulsion for pleasure. “You like that, Daddy?” She purrs. Daddy? What the messed-up fuck is that? I flip her over so I don’t have to have her hot beer breath in my face. It’s gotten far too easy luring people into my bed, that she’s just become another name to add to my list of one-night stands. I pound into her from behind as she arches her back, her badly dyed red hair hangs limply over her shoulder, her hands grip the rails between my headboard. I try clamping my hand around her mouth to get her to shut the fuck up so I can find my release already, but she’s slobbering all over it. Fuck this, my hand would have been a better lay. I pull out of her and give myself a few pumps trying to picture anyone but the girl below me until I’m coming, filling up the condom.
She sits up and tries kissing me, but I pull back throwing a washcloth at her. “Clean yourself up and get out of my room.” I practically bark at her. I know I’m being a dick, but I’m beyond caring at this point. She knew what she was signing up for the minute she pulled me off of the dance floor. I’m not exactly known for my chivalry. She scrambles for her clothes and tumbles out of my bed. I sit off to the side and take a swig of water. I carefully peel off the condom making sure it doesn’t snag on my piercings, and toss it in the trash.
“Will I see you later Lukas?” Whatshername asks, fully dressed now and holding her gold heels in her hands. I give her a once over with my eyes like I’m really considering it.
“Not a chance in Hell, sweetheart,” I say with a smirk. I get up from the bed and give her a little shove out the door, music from the back-to-school party my fraternity was throwing assaults my ears. I grip my tattooed hand around the door frame making sure to slam it shut for extra emphasis. I catch the red head’s shocked face before she disappears behind the door.
I stalk back to my bed, a frown pulling at my brows noticing the wet spot on my sheets. I yank them off, tossing them into a pile on my already cluttered floor. My posters that are tacked on the wall rustle from how hard I throw the dank sheets. My room is full of expensive wallpaper and crown molding, boasting of the wealth and history this house holds. It gives me a twisted sense of pleasure to see my band posters tacked up, debasing its value and sticking a middle finger up to it.
Just as I plop back down onto my bed, still fully naked, a knock comes at my door. I swear to God, if it’s that girl, I’ll make her regret it. I let out a grunt, as the rapping continues. “LukASS.” I roll my eyes. It was just my brother Pierce. He doesn’t wait for my response before opening the door. He’s visibly plastered, swaying as he holds onto a red solo cup. He points a finger at me, “Woah dude, cover your junk.” He says covering his eyes dramatically.
I laugh and grab my blankets, covering myself up. “It’s my room, asshole.” I grab my vape pen from off the nightstand and take a puff, the smell of vanilla and sex swirl around me.
“Stop being such a dick and come back to the party.” A riot of laughter can be heard coming from downstairs.
“Nah, I’m done for the night.” I say taking another puff. The girl had quieted this demand in me, but she didn’t light my soul on fire, and I wondered if anyone ever would or if I was destined for a life of boring as fuck sex.
Graham pops his head in from behind my brother, munching on an open bag of Cheetos, his hand coated in orange dust as he brings one to his mouth to chomp on loudly. “Whatcha doin in here, let’s go. I made snacks.” I roll my eyes. Graham was either perpetually eating or cooking. I knew now that the two of these fuckers had started bothering me, that they wouldn’t leave me alone. I inhale one last jolt, letting it coat my lungs before sitting up. I yank on my briefs and see the two goons who’d interrupted my plans for spending my night sketching out more tattoo designs, smile widely with victory.
“Let’s get fucked up,” I say spreading my arms wide.
They answer with a “Hell yes!” Graham says, pumping his orange hand up in the air.
Once dressed, I rejoin the party that’s in full swing. Sweaty bodies sway back and forth while I weave my way to the kitchen. If I’m going to be here, I’m going to need alcohol. I hated crowds. Inevitably someone would throw themselves at me and the Lust inside of me would demand to be released. If I drank enough though, I could keep that instinct down. It was a temporary fix to this endless battle that raged inside of me. I push past a few stragglers clogging up the space in front of the keg. I glare and it’s enough to send them skittering.The Bad Touch 2K20by DJ Gollum pulses through the speakers, a chorus of drunken voices sings along as they grind on each other. A set of Christmas lights that had been left up, blink haphazardly, making the room look like a small rave.
