Oliver Aldrich was a successful businessman from humble origins. His father had been a carpenter, and expected that his son would follow the same path. Not because of some narcissistic ideal, but because that was how things worked in their society.

Sons inherited their professions from their fathers, and no one questioned such ways.

It was by sheer luck, then, that Oliver was able to break from his ancestors carpentry business.

He was the fourth of eight siblings, and so no one really paid attention to whatever Oliver was doing. His younger brothers were always crying and needed to be cared for, and the older ones were already learning the carpentry business with old Mr. Aldrich. 

As a young boy, Oliver had more than enough time to idle by himself.

Education was free in the Carmella dukedom, and every child was required to attend school until they were sixteen years of age. Not sending your kids to school was against the law, and could mean at least seven years in jail.

So, although Oliver was from a humble family, he knew how to read, write and do calculations. In fact, he spent most of his youth reading the books he borrowed from the school library, and running away from his father’s carpentry lessons.

He knew he didn’t want to be a carpenter, but he also knew it would be difficult to do something else.

One day, when Oliver was already eighteen years old, he happened to save a nobleman from nearly being hit by a carriage. The nobleman was thankful, and rewarded Oliver with some money, enough for him to start his own business.

Oliver didn’t have to think too hard about what he wanted to do, he wanted people from all kinds of life to be able to read as many books as they wanted to. Even if education was free, books were still too expensive.

‘A publishing house that makes low cost books? Sounds excellent!’, said his father.

And so Oliver started his business, with all the support he could have gotten from his family.

The first few years were difficult, because Oliver was too young and was still learning the ropes, but in his third year after opening the publishing house, he finally started making his fortune. Oliver now sold books all over the dukedom, and was one of the most successful companies in the region. He had even gotten a business query from the Brandt dukedom to open a branch there.

Life couldn’t be better for Oliver, and when he met Rebecca, he truly thought the gods were smiling at him.

Rebecca was the perfect image of a sensual woman, one Oliver never hoped to be anywhere near. He was too ugly and puny, and thought he would never actually marry.

When Rebecca said she was in love with him, Oliver could not believe his ears.

Little did it matter if Rebecca had already been married twice, or if there were strange rumours about her. She was his wife and, as far as Oliver was concerned, she was the kindest of women. 

‘Rebecca could not hurt a fly’, Oliver always said.

Well, she really didn’t hurt flies. But humans? That’s a whole different story.

The Aldrich couple lived in a house by the river, a bit far from the city centre but they liked how calm it was.

Well, that was what Rebecca said, at least. It was her idea to settle there.

One day, Rebecca needed something from the basement, and asked Oliver to get it. Naturally, she could have asked for her hired help, but they were throwing a dinner party that evening, and everyone was busy getting things ready.

‘I’ll get it, no problem honey’, said Oliver.

The basement had always scared him, because it was the only part of the house that hadn’t been renovated when they moved in. The floor always made this strange sound and Oliver always thought there was someone, or something, watching him.

He went down to the basement nonetheless, because he did not want to disappoint his wife.

As Oliver went down the stairs, the steps made a creaking sound.

‘I should really look into this after the dinner party is done and over with’, Oliver thought to himself.

The basement was dark and eerie. Oliver snapped his fingers, and conjectured a small flame. He had learnt how to use a bit of magic at school, which was always useful, even if he had no real talent for it.

Darkness gave room to light. Oliver could see what was in front of him, even if the room was not completely illuminated. 

He stumbled here and there, but eventually found what Rebecca was looking for: a brown box where some old but fancy china was being kept. 

‘It was my former husband’s. It should be fancy enough for tonight’s dinner’, she explained.

Just as Oliver found the box, he heard the basement’s door closing.

‘A gust of wind’, he thought.

Oliver did not worry, because even if this was the most usual setting for a horror story, he had never read those, so he couldn't have known.

He started making his way back up. In the partially lit atmosphere, Oliver bumped into objects he had no idea what they were, until he reached something… soft.

It was warm and soft. Oliver could feel life inside it and he immediately recognised his wife’s breasts.

‘You’re still here darling? I was worried, so I came to check on you’, Rebecca said, sweetly.

‘You didn’t have to come all the way down here. Let’s go back, honey’.

‘Sure… by the way, did you meet them?’

‘Them?’

‘Your predecessors, darling. My exes!’

Rebecca snapped her fingers, and conjectured a much bigger flame than Oliver’s. The room was now completely illuminated.

Oliver’s eyes grew wild. Behind Rebecca were displayed two heads, two faces who were eerily familiar to him. Husbands number one and two were hanging on the wall, much like what hunters do to their prey. However…

It wasn’t just their heads.

Inside their mouths was a penis. Rebecca had hung their heads as if they were giving a blowjob. A last and eternal cocksucking madness.

Oliver gulped. So this was how it all ended.

Before he could scream, Oliver felt something heavy hit his neck. 

And then there was only darkness.

***

That evening, the dinner party went on as usual at the Aldrich’s residence. When asked about her husband, Mrs. Aldrich replied:

‘Oliver has come down with a cold. It’s nothing serious, but it’s best that he rests. I am sorry he cannot be here with you all’.

No one questioned her. No one questioned what they were eating either. It was all so delicious! How could they suspect that the main dish was, in fact, Mr. Aldrich himself?