I want to help him, and I don’t know if that makes me just stupid or suicidal. I move my head to the side, offering him my neck. He stops, stepping away from me, his eyes not leaving my neck.
“You don’t understand what you are offering, little one. I bite you; I will mark you,” he says as I watch his entire body shake as he fights for control.
“Will it hurt?” I ask, wondering if it will feel like Ryland’s bite.
Thaddeus’ eyes snap to mine, his fangs stop him from being able to close his mouth. His eyes flicker dangerously, and I feel the air thicken.
“Only if I make it hurt,” he says. The door is suddenly opening, and Orion and Ryland walk in. Thaddeus looks relieved.
“Thaddeus has trouble stopping. He just wanted to see if he could control himself,” Orion says, I can make them out through the frosted glass.
“Thaddeus, do you need help or not?” Orion asks. Thaddeus looks toward the door.
“He’s fine; he just wants to feed on me, right?” I ask, looking at Thaddeus.
I see his eyes dart to my neck, and a growl rips from him loudly, sounding louder from the tiled walls and the confined shower.
“I will open the door for you, Thaddeus,” Ryland says, but I move closer, all fear gone when I realize he doesn’t want to hurt me. As I move closer to him, blocking the door, his eyes never leave mine.
“Do it. They will rip me away if you go overboard, right?” I ask, as the door opens behind me, and I see Orion before he nods at me, reassuring me.
“Evelyn, you don’t have to do this. I can take him to town,” Orion says behind me.
“Does he kill them?” I ask, stuttering over the words.
They don’t say anything, and I feel my heartbeat pick up, knowing I am right. Ryland grips my arm, and Thaddeus growls, making goosebumps rise on my skin. This side of him is animalistic, and at the moment, I am prey. Thaddeus’ hand goes to my hip, tugging me to him and away from Ryland. I feel Ryland step into the shower behind me. Thaddeus’ eyes don’t leave me.
“Don’t make it hurt,” I tell him, and Thaddeus cocks his head to the side, observing me.
“You know once I bite you, I mark you, like Ryland did?” he asks.
“So do you plan on letting me go?” I ask.
“Never,” Thaddeus growls, and I shrug, stepping closer.
“Well, it will happen eventually then,” I tell him. His eyes darken, and he growls, ripping me to him.
I whimper when I feel his teeth sink into my neck, but then a different feeling wraps around me. I don’t know if Thaddeus or Orion is using that weird fog as I relax against him and feel his tongue lapping at my neck. Arousal washes over me as I feel the bond snap in place stronger, feel Ryland stronger, and feel Orion, but not as much. A moan escapes my lips, and my core pulsates, the feeling foreign, but I don’t push it away.
Thaddeus’ grip on me becomes tighter before he pushes me away at arm’s length, holding me there, his grip tight as he fights with himself. Reaching up, I place my hand on his face, and he leans into it. His grip loosens, and I watch as his fangs go away and his face goes back to normal, the black veins leave, and he no longer looks like the devil incarnate.
Evelyn
My head feels foggy from his bite, and I have a strong desire to sleep. As I sway on my feet, my eyes flutter closed. The last thing I remember is tingles spreading all over me as someone tries to steady me on my feet before I feel strong, warm arms wrap around me as I plunge into the darkness, my body succumbing to exhaustion.
I know I am dreaming because I have been here before and know what happens next, yet I can’t pull myself out of the dream as I follow him toward the basement. I have three weeks, and I am officially free of this hell. They will age me out of the system. I can go out on my own, but the uneasy feeling of leaving Lana with this monster has been haunting me.
I tried twice to go to the police station, each time standing out the front, looking at the building that was supposed to offer protection, but would they offer protection from one of their own? He was a well-respected officer, the man with the perfect wife, perfect house, and perfect life.
I am a throw-away child, the broken foster kid he took in. The voice in my head told me they wouldn’t believe me, that what happened is my fault. The thought of having to go through the courts and tell a bunch of strangers what happened for an entire year, have them question every detail and scrutinize everything about my childhood, about me; the victim becomes the accused.
The term innocent until proven guilty irks me. Why must I be questioned as if I am the guilty one before being proven innocent? So, each time I turn around, not able to go through with it, not able to mention my biggest shame.
That is what plays on my mind when he tells me to come to the basement. I know he doesn’t need help to sort things; he only wants me to go down there so he can torture what is left of my soul, to make sure I am destroyed beyond repair.
That sickening feeling fills my gut as my feet touch the cold basement floor. His wife is a nurse and always works the night shift, leaving us with this monster. I often wonder how many before me. How many more girls has he destroyed?
I’m not sure, but I know his next target will be Lana. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I left her with him, left her to this house of horrors. I watch as he undoes his belt and points to the dusty couch in the corner. Bile rises in my throat as I walk over to it. I can hear the TV upstairs above us, Lana watching cartoons, completely unaware of what is happening below her. He places his belt and gun on the mini fridge before roughly grabbing me. I tune out while he has his way with me, only coming back to reality as he pulls my pants back up. Tears roll down my cheeks, I hear the TV click off, knowing it is nearly bedtime.