2
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A touch to my forehead and the world spins away, buildings, streets and people sweep by, grey and smudged, as if I'm watching them from behind a screen.
"Where are they?" I ask, eyes darting from building to building for the traitors that said they were my friends. "Patience," Besirus purrs from behind me, his burning presence heating my exposed skin. Which is most of my skin, all that's left of my attire is a few scraps of burned tank top and the thin material of my sage green underwear.
"We'll find your prey soon enough," His nails brush my hair from my shoulder, exposing my neck. I can practically feel his stare, his hunger focused on the delicate flesh. "What is your name, Lamb?"
"It's Lauren." I Swallow, my knees becoming weak. Not from his influence, I realise, even with my wounds knitted together, he hadn't been able to replace the vital blood I've lost. I grit my teeth, my hatred a living thing inside me, raging and clawing at my rib cage. In such contrast to my fading body, my soul feels very much alive.
"Lauren," His name rolling across his tongue as he presses his hand flush against my spine, so hot it should burn. Instead, it thrums an intense, yet pleasant heat through my skin, to the spark in chest, and to my core.
"Your body won't last much longer," He says, not a question but a fact. "You'll have to be quick."
"I can do it," I grit out.
"Hmm, possibly, though I doubt you'll have the opportunity to savour the moment and you'll be dead long before you claim the whole of your quarry."
My heart skips a beat at that, from shock and also from that fact that I've definitely lost too much blood. Maybe I could get one of them before I died but not all three... Courtney, Elliot and Jack. I want them all.
"I can offer you another taste of my power?" He leans in so close I can feel his breath caressing the shell my ear. "It will see you through this night and spare your life."
I swallow, remembering the flush of his power when he healed me but..."The price?"
He laughs low and coy, "Not your soul if thats what your thinking, I've had my fill of those tonight."
So that's what the cultists gave up in return for whatever 'gifts' Sebastian mentioned, a death, which Sebastian give in my stead, must have only been the ticket to get Besiris to show up. Clearly his charity in helping me out with my little revenge plot only goes so far, I think before his hand curls around my neck, pushing my head back to look him in those burning eyes and he says low, "It's been an age since I've tasted a woman. So, tonight you'll bare yourself to me and fill my appitite."
My body flushes hot, considering the breadth of his request, but before I can speak he says, "We're here."
We're out the front of a beautiful, sleek town house, white walls and an expensive garden overlooking the city skyline. I don't know this place, but I do know the Porsche swinging around the corner and pulling into the drive way.
Rage fills me at the sight of the platinum blonde woman who steps out, wearing a singed version of her clothes from earlier that night but with one exception, she's wearing my pink hoodie. Hurriedly, she makes her way to the front door looking over her shoulder, though no monster lie in the dark but us.
What he wants, I don't care if its literal or figuratively, it's worth it I decide, "Fine."
"Fine?" He scoffs.
"Wh- YES, then, if thats what you need."
"It's a deal."
His hand presses further into my back and white hot light sears tears through my being. I scream wordlessly as his power fills me, ancient, cruel and all consuming. The coiling rage inside me sings and grows, my vision flaring red. I look down at my hands, to the threads of light glowing in my veins, decorating my skin. A slow smile curls across my face, yes, this will do.
Courtney is inside now, behind a locked door that I know has no hope of slowing me down. My smile widens, almost painfully, as we walk forward and pass through the door without so much as a hesitation in my step, the wood singed and smoking in my shape behind me.
Besiris walks behind me, his form is not much more then a shadow and smoke, eyes shining like embers. My face, however, is far more concentrated in reality, eyes burning like twin fires in the hallway mirror we pass. Their light splinters across my face, through my veins and dirty, soot covered body. My chest length, strawberry blonde is hair almost black, shorter in places where the fire had gotten to it.
Whatever. Where is Courtney?
She's left the lights off, surprisingly, the house lit only with a few battery lamps... and thats it? I try the light switch to my right. Doesn't work, someones behind in their bills. Walking around the lavish downstairs, I wind my way through vintage and/or designer furniture, all in various shades of white, for a mid twenties woman this is alot, but suits her 'wanna be influencer' personality.
Her high voice trails down from the upstairs but her words are muffled at this distance. She asks for someone to come over, then silence, then begs them to come to her. Her words get louder as she walks back downstairs, shakily trying to light a candle, her phone cradled between her face and shoulder. "I know that you know that! But you said...."
