Page 10 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

Laszlo nodded to the guard. “Cut Tabitha’s wrist.”

The guard walked over slowly. His bright-blue eyes connected with mine, filled with uncertainty. But I nodded, giving him permission. He cut a thin line across my wrist, and blood dripped over the side. It hurt but wasn’t the worst pain I’d experienced in this room.

“You imbecile. Don’t you know how to inflict pain properly?” Laszlo snatched the blade from his hand and grabbed my wrist. He held my hand down on the arm of the chair as he cut a longer line from my wrist to my elbow.

I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped as my skin tore open under the sharp knife and a steady flow of blood left my body. Dizziness tickled at my brain as the blood dripped to the floor at a steadier pace.

“Stop it!” Seraphina yelled. “You’ll kill her!”

Laszlo wiped the blood from the knife with my dress. “I know. She doesn’t have much time with a cut like that. Will you let Greg here play with you, or shall we continue with Tabitha?”

“Me, motherfucker. Just leave her alone,” Seraphina snarled, her eyes filled with fury as she stared at my bleeding arm.

“Even knowing Tabitha betrayed you over and over, spilling all your secrets to me, touching herself for me? You don’t want to watch her writhe in pain?”

“She didn’t betray me. You forced her. You’re pathetic. The only power you have is what you take.” Seraphina’s voice was full of rage, and she looked close to losing her shit.

Laszlo smirked. “All power is taken. If you cannot keep it, you’re weak.”

“Whatever, asshole. I chose me so get on with it and help her.”

“No, I don’t think so.” He shook his head and handed the blade back to the guard. “Now, spread her legs and use the vibrator on her whore cunt while you deliver tiny cuts to her arms and legs. Do not stop until I tell you to do so.”

“No!” Seraphina screamed.

Laszlo’s hands clasped behind his back as he walked over to Seraphina. “You will watch. See how she enjoys it. She needs the pain only I can give her to finish.”

Seraphina began to thrash in her chair, nearly knocking it to the side, but Laszlo smacked her across the face and forced her to be still.

He pulled a strange remote from his jacket pocket and pressed a red button.

Seraphina screamed as sparks shot up from the water, and I realized he was electrocuting her.

Silent tears escaped as I was unable to shout and beg for him to hurt me instead.

I could take it. This was all my fault, and watching him hurt her was tearing my heart into a million pieces.

The guard distracted me from her grunts of pain when he knelt in front of me with the blade and sex toy.

I whimpered, unable to hold back the needy sound at the sight of those two items. The guard looked up at me with anger in his eyes.

He didn’t look like a Greg to me. He was too beautiful.

I nodded at the toy and knife. “Please.” I whispered the word, and I swore his eyes glowed for a moment.

“Begin or I will call Tony in here to do it for you,” Laszlo snapped at the guard.

Greg turned the vibrator on, and fresh tears fell down my cheeks as my pussy throbbed with desire.

I closed my eyes and searched for that door and the darkness that would welcome me.

But when I entered the small corner of my mind where I could hide, I could feel him there too.

The guard. I couldn’t see anything, but I knew it was him brushing against my thoughts.

Fuck this. Don’t be afraid. I’m going to save you.

His words reverberated in my mind like an oath. I opened my eyes, unsure how to respond, but there wasn’t time to do so anyway.

In the next moment, the guard turned and flung the blade at Laszlo.

My eyes widened as the knife sunk into his neck.

He dropped to the floor, choking and holding his hands to the bleeding wound.

The guard lifted me gently into his arms, as if I weighed nothing.

He turned to Seraphina, but she shook her head.

“No. Get out of here. Take care of her.” Her voice was laced with pain as she spoke, but her eyes were sharp and commanding.

My guard didn’t say a word, only nodded and walked to the window. He whispered a few words, and the glass exploded outward. He stepped to the ledge, and before I could think to scream, he jumped.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and buried my head against his shoulder, waiting for us to smash into the earth.

But we didn’t. We were going up and up, into the sky.

I peaked out and gasped at the sight of monstrous, breathtaking wings.

His wings were a combination of black scales and deep-green feathers.

His arms held me tight as his wings flapped powerfully against the wind.

Blackbyrn Manor faded away, and we swiftly left my prison behind. My arm throbbed, and my head drooped suddenly. I was losing too much blood, and my mind grew cloudy.

“I’ve got you, Tabitha. Stay with me, love. We’ll be there soon,” the guard spoke quietly, his deep voice a caress against my ear.

But I couldn’t respond. I was fading fast. At least if this was the end, my guardian was here, holding me and making me feel safe. I tried to murmur a thank you, but the words came out jumbled. My eyes closed, and I let the darkness swallow me.