“It’s ok, Imogen, I’m fine,” Tom whispers under me. I don’t know if he’s trying to reassure himself or me, maybe both. Tobias grips my waist, trying to pull me off him, but I hold onto his clothes, refusing to let go and ignoring the pain in my wrist.
“Don’t hurt him please, please.” Hot tears stream down my face. I hear Theo growl before he pries my fingers off Tom’s shirt. I start kicking and screaming as Tobias lifts me up, pulling me against his chest. I manage to kick Theo as Tobias pulls me away, which only angers him more.
Theo grabs my shoulders and shakes me. “Enough, Imogen, that’s enough. Fucking stop,” he screams, clutching my face. His grip squishes my face in his hands. I can feel his hands shaking before Tobias shoves him away from me with one hand.
I look up at Tobias, tears spill from my eyes as I start sobbing uncontrollably. “Please, Tobias, tell him to stop.” Tobias’ eyes soften slightly before he looks over to Theo. Theo pulls Tom to his feet, holding him by one arm.
“Stop Theo, we kill him, we are only hurting her.”
Theo’s head snaps in my direction; the look he gives me sends chills down my spine. I push myself closer to Tobias, frightened. Theo’s eyes look demonic, and I can tell he wants to kill Tom. I can also tell if he does, he will enjoy killing him, like he craves it. This isn’t my happy go lucky Theo, this is the monster he kept at bay and hidden from me.
Theo walks towards me, pulling Tom with him by one arm as he approaches. I flinch, not liking his red-hot anger directed at me. He stops, realizing he is indeed scaring me. I can feel my heart rate thump loudly in my chest. Hear it my ears, my entire head pounding to the same beat as a migraine starts to form.
“Mom will pitch a fit if we kill him. Think Theo, we don’t have to do this.” I watch him think for a second, practically see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks long and hard about what it is he wants to do. I know he wants to kill Tom, I can feel the rage that consumes him, I fear it. What if he loses his temper like that with me? Will he kill me too?
“If I let him live, you don’t leave this property,” he says through gritted teeth. I quickly nod, looking toward Tom. He visibly relaxes when Theo lets go of him, shoving him towards the car.
“How do I know you won’t kill him when you take him back?” I ask, scared that if Theo takes him home, he will snap on the way and murder my friend.
“I will take him home; you stay here with Theo.” I shake my head, not wanting to be left alone with Theo, not when he’s like this. I never thought I’d see the day where I actually feared him.
“Either Tobias takes him, Imogen, or I kill him. Pick,” he says, moving toward me. I look up at Tobias who is watching me.
“You’re scaring her, Theo. You will be fine, Imogen. Theo won’t hurt you. I promise.” I have my doubts after seeing him like this, but I nod anyway.
“Get in, I will take you home.” Tom moves to the passenger seat. Tobias lets go of me and Theo immediately grabs me, his cold hands make me shiver. I watch as Tobias gets in the car and leaves. I turn around when Theo tugs my arm, pulling me toward the house. My entire body shakes in fear and pain, I groan, trying to walk up the veranda stairs, my legs feel like every muscle is put through a meat grinder.
Theo, seeing it’s taking so long for me to walk up the stairs, becomes annoyed and scoops me up in his arms, forcing me to grab onto his shoulder. He walks inside and up the stairs to the bathroom, placing me back on my feet.
He starts the shower before turning to grab my shirt. I move away from him, taking a step back. He grips the front of my shirt and yanks me towards him, and I smack into his chest.
“I have more control than you think, Imogen. Don’t doubt me, I won’t hurt you.” His voice sounds angry but at least he doesn’t sound homicidal anymore. He rips my shirt open, seeing as it is already torn and barely hanging onto my body anyway. I lean on his shoulder as he bends down removing my pants, he removes my underwear before standing up and removing my bra. I stand freezing and shaking in front of him.
He strips his clothes off before getting in the shower, pulling me with him. As soon as the water touches my bleeding and grazed skin, I flinch, pushing myself out of the water and to the wall, clutching my broken wrist to my chest. I hiss at the pain and my tears burn the grazes on my face. Theo pulls my hand from my chest to examine it. I gasp, holding in my scream when he prods it with his fingers.
“I can heal you if you want.” I shake my head.
Theo stares at me. “You’re in pain. I can fix it, let me.” I don’t know what to say, I know they won’t take me to a hospital. They will see it as another way for me to escape, and I don’t think I will be able to get past them in this condition. I nod my head. Theo pulls me to his chest, my back flush against him. He wraps an arm around my waist before I see him reach his hand above my head, biting into the side of his palm. Blood starts running out. He presses it to my lips, I shake my head, trying to get away from his bleeding hand. No fucking way, I’m not drinking his blood.
“Imogen, drink it or I will force you.” I shake my head again, the thought repulses me. I feel him press his wrist harder against my lips and feel his blood running down my chin.
“One.” Really, he is counting like I’m a child? Not wanting to find out what happens at three, I open my mouth. His blood floods into my mouth. At first, it tastes disgusting as it runs over my tongue.