Page 30 of Cursed Lifeline (Eternal Love)
Twenty Nine
Viktor
Song: me she whispers, “Viktor, I’ll be waiting for you.”
The door to my chambers bangs open. My gaze lifts and locks on hers . Before I can disguise my thoughts, she reads them and says, “Playing with fantasies never ends well, especially if you’re stupid enough to let them control you.”
I bite back the response that desperately wants to unleash. The one where I tell her not all dreams are fantasies. In fact, in exchange for securing one of mine, I gave her the one thing I was foolish enough to think she’d never use against me.
My submission.
Knowing so, loneliness overtakes me.
Forsaken by my coven for what I’ve done, what I couldn’t control, I hang my head, swallow hard, and whisper, “ My words fly up, my thoughts remain below , words without thoughts never to heaven go .”
Because of my transgressions, I accept my penance as she stalks across the room and viciously slaps me across my face.I struggle against my restraints even though putting up a fight is pointless. Watching me writhe in anger, her magic reaches out and violently pulls against the chains, forcing me back against the wall. I cry out in desperation, but it only fuels her relentless fire.
With a wicked grin, she taunts, “Behave before I make you.”
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and imagine a mythical goddess with a peaceful gaze, a warm and inviting smile, a tender touch that soothes before she steps forward and brutally grabs my chin.
Forcing me to meet her gaze, her powers reach out and demand my submission. When I refuse to meet her stare, her right hand slashes across my face. The air stings as it meets the cuts her nails inflict, and she seethes, “Look at me, servant.”
Reluctantly, I open my eyes. Jaw set harshly, I raise my chin in defiance and hiss, “To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting? If memory serves right, you weren’t going to come to me for a fortnight.”
She grins.
“There’s been a development,” she taunts.
Swallowing hard, I manage to ask, “What does it have to do with me?”
“It has everything to do with you,” she seethes. My jaw sets harshly. Smiling at me sweetly, she says. “You’ll find out all you need in due time. For now, be ready to train come morning.”
“I won’t be used as a tool,” I insist, even though I know my outburst could cost me.
For over a century, she’s obtained immortality by sucking my immortal life from my body any way she can. If her presence here tonight is because Esme’s alive, I’ll do whatever it takes not to succumb to the power she holds over me and take the slayer’s life again.
A light, menacing chuckle escapes her lips.
“No,” she whispers. “I have other plans in store for you this time.”
She trails her red fingertips down my chest before studying me like the toy I am, then turns to leave.
“ The plays the thing ,” I call after her.
She stops. Her back stiffens.
“No matter how hard you try and hide, all will be found out in the end.” When she doesn’t respond, I warn, “Though you think you move in silence, sometimes the quiet is louder than you think.”
“My confidence rests in silence,” she hisses, “it’s your insecurities that are loud.”
A vexed huff leaves my lips. Out of the corner of my eye, she turns and studies me with a bewildered expression.
“What do you know?” she demands. “Tell me or I’ll…”
“ So full of artless jealousy is guilt, it spills itself in fearing to be spilt ," I chuckle sarcastically. When she stays silent, my head turns her way. “You’ll find out in the end. I’ll make sure of it.”
Her gaze turns lethal. Infuriated, she takes a heated step forward but then suddenly stops. Something I’ve said gets to her, and she turns bitterly on her heels and angrily stalks out of the room.
As the door slams shut, and I’m once again left to the lonely despair that’s intent on killing me slowly, I close my eyes and smile to myself. Even though I made her believe the worst, the truth is, I know nothing. Nothing but the welcoming peace I drown in night after night. One with a warm and inviting smile, a touch that feels like home, and a gentle voice that whispers…
I’ll be waiting for you.