Chapter 15
Seth stops a few feet away from where I’m standing, his eyes glaring at me like I've just committed a capital sin. If I didn't know better, I could say he looks offended that I dared to interrupt him. But suddenly, his bipolar nature kicks in, and he seems to have a change of plans like the most magnificent idea just popped into his head. He’s still fuming mad; I see it from the large frown on his forehead, but there's something beyond that. Something so evil that it takes my breath away.
“Serena,come closer,” Seth calls for me, all too aware that I am at his disposal.
I feel the guard releasing me as my full weight is back on my feet. I don't even question Seth's command, although I am mortified at what might happen when I get next to him. Still, my body obeys him without any hesitation, but as I try to move toward him, I realize I'm too weak to walk, especially to keep my balance in the heels I'm wearing.
I feel myself crashing to the ground, but the guard steps in and helps me back on my feet before I hit the floor. This catches Seth's full attention, and before I know it, he's standing right in front of me.
I'm too afraid to look at him. Thankfully, I don't have to for now. I just spot him kneeling in front of me and beginning to unfasten the small belts that hold my heels together. I’m unsure what to make of his gesture, but deep down I am convinced it’s only one of his games, meant to get me on the edge.
Without warning, I feel his warm hands wrapping around one of my ankles, slowly helping me put my feet on the floor. He repeats the gesture with my other foot, letting a few of his fingers slide up on my leg as if he’s gently steadying me to stand. Yet his gesture does quite the opposite. This is the first time he ever touched me, and despite any logical thought, I feel my body reacting to him. It's like I completely forget for a second that those are the hands of a killer, and a sensation I never felt before sends goosebumps all over my skin.
I'm sure he notices but doesn't say a word. Not that he cares. He has just one thought in mind—revenge. He wants to make us all pay.
I'm not convinced I can walk yet, and I don't even get the chance to try before Seth extends one of his arms inviting me to join him. His hidden smile carries so much wickedness that I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. It makes me want to keep my hands glued to my body. It doesn't happen though. Forced by the circumstances, I let my palm slip into his hand. I didn't want to, but I need to grab it as tight as I can to keep myself from falling. The guard’s arms release once again, and I’m afraid that just holding Seth’s hand won't be enough.
I don’t even know why I’m so panicked about it. I think it’s because I don't want to give him any more reasons to get mad at me. But before I get to take another step, he comes behind me, taking the guard’s former position, and keeps me from falling.
Seth is drawing me close to his chest while his hand sneaks around my belly, supporting almost all of my weight. His grip is much different than the guard’s. The man who held me before was keeping his distance, making sure our bodies didn't touch any more than necessary for me to stand, while Seth almost melts me into him, letting me know he owns every inch of me.
Still, old debts need to be paid, and Seth begins guiding me to advance toward Nick. My feet barely touch the ground, and they still stumble when they do. Any attempt to keep my balance seems futile, and I’m afraid I'm only one step away from pissing him off.
Contrary to that, his mouth approaches the nape of my neck. “Slow, I have time.” I hear him whisper, as I feel him slowing down. There are only a few steps, but right now it feels like I'm climbing Mount Everest.
My body is shaking in his arms. No matter what I do, I can't stop myself. I don't know if it's because of the effort, because of his presence, or because I feel something horrible is about to happen, but I feel like I'm either about to scream or faint.Or maybe even both.
After a few steps, we stop in front of Nick. By this time, I'm powerless. I can barely keep my eyes open, much less stand. I guess Seth feels it too. I can't even tell if it's because he pities me or just because he needs me alive for a few more minutes, but he leans to brush his lips over my ear, “I've got you.” The words come out hushed, yet firm at the same time, like their sole purpose is to imprint themselves on my brain.
I sense it like a double-edged promise. Yes, he does have me as his prisoner, but his message makes me feel invincible. Being supported by him would make anyone feel invincible. Yup… I'm in need of an immediate brain transplant. My body keeps sending me the wrong signals, letting some chemical reactions override the rational part of my brain with the physical attraction that I have for him.
I let that mistake ruin my life once before, with Nick. I know well enough not to repeat it. Not that I have a life left to ruin anymore.
I look at Nick and realize he's just as lost as I am. He knew this would happen, and still decided to risk our lives, while I just got trapped in his game without agreeing. But I do bear the blame for this. I chose Nick, and worse, I stayed beside him when I should’ve left long ago.
Seth's hand begins moving, and I need to pay extra attention to everything this man does. He's a ticking time bomb, and we just lit the fuse.My eyes land on the bloody knife he holds in his hand. I can't believe I forgot about that. How can anyone ever forget about a blood-stained knife? But I guess his mere presence is much more intimidating than any kind of weapon.
I feel myself stiffen. Even though the knife’s closed, it’s too close to my body. I might not be able to stand, but I can sure react to the unavoidable danger. And it doesn't go unnoticed by Seth. “Serena, I'm not gonna use a knife on you. I was just putting it away.” He tucks the knife back into his pocket, but his reassurance doesn’t comfort me as it should. It sounds more like a threat, as if he's planning to do much worse things to me than just using a knife. “I don't usually kill people. It's bad for my health,” he continues, his voice louder, edged with madness. At least his message seems to calm his men. Like a sudden relief takes control of their faces.
“But you know what else is bad for my health? My mental health, that is...?” he asks, and I know the question is meant for both Nick and me. “Being betrayed,” he roars in my ear, so loudly, that for a few seconds, I hear only the echo of his words.
“I didn't—” I try to say something to him, driven only by fear, but I stop mid-sentence.
“You didn't what?” he growls. “You didn't know? You didn't want to do it? You didn't what, Serena? You wouldn't have let yourself be convinced by Nick eventually?”Seth's questions state the ultimate truth. Nick would have convinced me to go along with it, just like before. I'm guilty of standing by and doing nothing, not just with the artifact, but so many other times. I have a feeling Seth already knows it.His arms wrap tighter around me, almost squeezing me against him, until all my bones begin to hurt. He's right—I’m to blame for whatever is happening to me. It's not just Nick's fault. It's also me, I'm too weak to take control of my own fate.
I don't make a sound, even though I feel Seth is draining the life out of me. I just let myself drift into a semi-conscious state, unsure if I would ever wake up again.
But Seth seems to have other plans with me, “Come back to me, Serena. I'm not done with you yet.” The way he says my name sounds so seductive, as if he's calling me Baby, Kitten, or any other pet name.
Yup, now I'm convinced that I'm hallucinating.
Still, I listen to him. I manage to keep my eyes open as his grip loosens, just enough to ease the pain, but still strong enough to keep me glued to him.
I'm looking at Nick, but he shows no reaction. I can't even tell if he's scared of what may happen to me, or just waiting for Seth to be done with me so that maybe he can try and cut a deal with the man.
I suddenly feel Seth's fingers digging into my stomach. It's not to steady me. And it's not to hurt me either. His touch is much more sensual than that, like he's trying to ignite something in me for Nick to see the effects he has on my body.
I want to fight it, but I can't help myself from enjoying the sensation of protection in the arms of danger. I feel him sniffing my perfume, at the same time my senses vibrate from his cologne. He's trying to do something to me—maybe even turn me on—and wipe away the last shred of my sanity. But nothing in this world could prepare me for his next confession. “Remember that night at the gas station?” he asks, confirming the most impossible thought that ever crossed my mind—he was the one stalking me.
“You...” I whimper, unable to find any other words. Why would a man like him ever waste his time with me?
“Yes, me…” he whispers in my ear, knowing exactly the power he has over me. He owns my deepest fears, the same way as he owns something of mine that I can't quite explain. “Remember when Samuel called?” he asks, letting the inception of a painful thought enter my mind. I didn't like the way he said Samuel . Nor do I like what he has to say next. “You should’ve taken that call. Shouldn't she, Nick?”
For the first time tonight, an expression other than fear rises on Nick's face. Seth is about to expose something that will change everything for my boyfriend.
I don't think I can stomach what Seth has to say, but it seems it gets much worse than that. He wants to show me something. “Octavio, bring my laptop,” Seth calls to one of his men who obeys in just a couple of seconds. The man places the laptop on a table a few feet away from us.
“Come, I have something for you to see.” Seth helps me walk toward the table as slowly as he did earlier, but this time, my feet refuse to move completely. It's more like he's helping me float there than walk.
I dread seeing what he's planning to show me. I have a feeling that it's something I’ve always feared deep down, but couldn't bring myself to ever think could truly be real.
As soon as we reach the laptop, Seth goes through some files, looking for something. I quickly realize it's a video, but before he presses play, he gives me a little warning. “I need you to be strong now.”
I don't want to be strong. I can't be strong after the day I've had. Still, he gives me no choice, and with or without my will, the recording begins to play. I want to look at Nick before the video starts, but I can't quite see him because of Seth's broad shoulders. Nothing an order from the Master of Death can't fix. “Bring him closer,” he commands his guard, who immediately brings Nick right next to us.
Somehow, my boyfriend seems even more worried than before, as if something could be worse than death at this point. And that unsettles me even more. I don't want to watch the video because I think I don't want to admit I've been lying to myself. Ever since Seth told me about Samuel, I’ve put two and two together. I know where things are headed.
My eyes fixate on the laptop. The blur that's in the first frame of the video soon clears to become the image of a woman. I think the camera is somewhere on a table because I only see a zoomed image of her waist. She's getting undressed—slow, sensual, like she’s teasing someone in her bed.
Even though she's the only thing I see for now, I can tell from the way she moves that she's not alone. Her hips swing in a certain way like she's controlled by desire, and needs something to fill the gap between them.
A knot tightens the pit of my stomach as I wait to see what happens next. And although I would like to stop time, I see a hand emerge somewhere from behind her, pulling her a few feet away from the camera. I still can't fully see their faces, but the man's gestures are disturbingly familiar. Sliding a hand over her stomach, he's in a rush to get her panties out of the way, and soak his fingers in her damp pussy.
I feel like throwing up as his hand begins to move, and a small fragment of an arm tattoo catches my eye. It's Nick’s. I have no doubt about it. I recognized him from a few moments ago. This only confirms my suspicions.
My hands clench around Seth's arm, without even realizing it at first. But he does, and buries his nose deep inside my hair, near my neckline, like he’s sniffing out his next prey. The bastard gets a kick out of this. He's probably even turned on by my misery.
I don't want to watch anymore, but somehow, I can't stop either. I see Nick’s hand moving inside of her, and I pray that's all there will be to it, but I know better than that. I can hear her moan as he speeds up his pace inside her body, slowly arching into him as she warms herself up. With a long moan, she turns to kneel in front of him, creating just enough space for me to recognize the pair of boxers he's wearing. I fucking bought those. He can't even buy his own underwear, and still thinks he's man enough to cheat on me.
I stop to glance at Nick, seeing the same fear spreading across his face. I don't even have to watch to know what's going to happen, and by the look in his eyes, there's way more than this to follow. Maybe I am a masochist, but I turn back to the screen again. It's like if I could see enough of his betrayal, then maybe I might rip him out of my heart for good.
By this time, his cock is already deep between her lips, fucking her mouth. I don't feel good. In fact, I feel like I'm about to faint, but Seth's hand sneaks somewhere on my lower stomach, anchoring me in place. It's like he feels every single one of my emotions. But I know better than to believe that he's trying to calm me down. He just thrives on the pain he inflicts on me, tormenting me to my limit for what I’ve done to him.
The video goes on and Nick slides himself out of her mouth, then goes to lie on the bed that's in the room. She follows closely, getting on top of him. This isn't the first time they've had sex. They seem way too familiar to each other, which leads me to believe this isn't a one-night stand. It's something more serious than that. He's probably been cheating on me for a long time. I just can't believe I allowed myself to ignore all the signs.
Her eyes close as she takes him in, and her hips begin to move against him, rocking his body on the bed.I finally get to see her face. She's a platinum blonde—go figure—but she's not as attractive as I initially imagined. Just a lot of Botox and enough implants for the aesthetician to need to restock his whole year's supply after he was done with her. I don't mind a little touch-up here and there, but I do draw the line when things get too ridiculous.
I would have expected him to fall for someone prettier. It just feels like another slap in the face to be cheated on with someone who isn’t even more beautiful than me.
His hands mold on her tits as she's riding him, and their moans quickly cover any other sound in the room. I can't watch this anymore. I can't watch him fucking someone else. My eyes close, tilting my head to the side, waiting for the recording to be over. I can't handle this kind of pain; there are just too many events piled up today.
My gesture is quickly observed by Seth. His hand presses even harder on my stomach, causing the knot in my gut to twist painfully. “No, no, no! Be strong, watch it until the end.” His voice is so firm that he doesn't even need to threaten me.
I try to listen to him—I know better than not to—but the images are impossible for me to watch. She rides him harder and faster while his body responds, arching against her from the mattress.
My head turns again in the opposite direction of Nick. I can't bring myself to look at him now. But I feel I won't have a choice soon.
Seth gives me another warning, “Look!” He takes pleasure in tormenting me,and I'm starting to believe that nothing can hurt me more than what I’ve just seen. “This won't last long, but I guess you already know that,” he continues, slightly amused. I know he's right, and it's actually the first time I feel relieved that Nick can't last for too long.
As the video goes on, his hands lock themselves on her waist, using their strength to raise her, then slam her against him. It's not enough. His torso lifts until he's almost in a sitting position, pushing her harder to rock against him.
“Remember that day he stormed out of the apartment after he got a text?” Seth asks me, and although I’m not sure I want to know how he got this information, I definitely don't want to hear what he has to say next.
“Yes,” I ghost out the word, knowing exactly what day he means. It was right after the night when Seth paid me a visit at the gas station. Things were heating up between Nick and me when we got home, but suddenly his phone buzzed, and he just left me hanging.
“It was her,” Seth continues. “She texted him that she’d tell you about them if he didn't respond.”
“She knows about me?” I almost stutter. What kind of woman fucks a man knowing he's already in a relationship. “Iwant to know how long it's been going on,” I turn my gaze toward Nick, demanding an explanation. I know Seth can probably tell me; he must have a file on our lives from the moment we opened our eyes. But I want to hear it from Nick. To hear about his betrayal. “Answer me,” I snarl, my voice perhaps even more menacing than Seth. I want to know for just how long I've been a fool. For how long have I been living a lie?
“Since we moved to Elko,” Nick says quickly and painfully, like ripping off a Band-Aid. I can see he is somewhat repentant, but that doesn't change anything.
To make things worse, Seth slips another piece of information that makes me cave in from the pressure. “It gets way worse. This fucker even got her an engagement ring from one of my stores, and charged it on the expense card. I find it hilarious that I am the one paying for his fucking engagement. He's not even man enough to get her a ring on his own.” Seth muses while the world seems to be stopping around me. I know exactly what ring he's talking about—the one I found in his pocket. The one I thought was meant for me .
Jesus, I can be so delusional sometimes. They were all empty promises—the house, the life, the baby. Everything set out to get me to finish this job. Funny, how fate turned on us. This job is about to finish me.
“You fucking lying piece of shit,” I curse at Nick for ruining my life. He's been trying to build his happiness on my misery.
I don't even realize it, but my reaction seems to disturb Seth. His hand suddenly locks tighter right above my pussy, while his lips come to whisper in my ear. “Don't curse Serena. I don't like it when you do.” His warm breath falls on my neck so seductively that I almost dismiss the warning and focus only on the way my name leaves his lips again. But he's not finished. Far from it. Another threat comes to life. Or maybe it's even a promise, “I'll make sure you get your revenge before this is over.” I don't like the sound of that, and I have a feeling that the word revenge doesn't mean the same thing for me as it does for Seth. “But for now, we have a video to watch.” He's forcing me to watch until the end. At least there's not much of it left, from what I can see on the time bar.
I turn to see Nick enjoying himself once again. I bet he would give anything to be there with her in that room right now, and not here. But I am beginning to be convinced that he deserves his place here.
The blonde continues to rock against him, her tits jumping up and down from the effort trying to get her to release, as he seems seconds away from achieving his.
God, I don't want to watch this!
Still, I don't seem to have any way around it, and can't help but notice how his face tenses. I know that look—although I wish I didn't. He's close, and that makes him slam her body against him a couple of more times before he falls to his back. An orgasm rips through him as disgust runs through me.
At least she's not done, just faking a moan, probably hoping it will be better next time. That leaves me with a smile on my lips. Takes one to know one. Now that I think of it, she can have him. My decision to leave him should have come a long time ago.
But things are not over along with the video. I feel there's something even worse coming our way and judging by the strength with which Seth holds me in his arms,I’m next to receive my sentence.
“You did good. So good. I know you are strong.” Seth murmurs in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. I wish I was a normal person, and his words wouldn't race somewhere between my thighs. I can't believe he manages to send my mind into the gutter at a time like this.But he also manages to quickly get me out of there with his next gesture. His hand digs into his pocket for the knife again. He gets it straight out with the blade open. “Now it's time for me to do something I’ve been itching to do for days.” I don't have any time to react before the metal is glued to Nick’s left cheek, slowly digging into his skin and leaving a red line behind. “Is this how it feels to hit a woman, Nick? Because you are my bitch now.” The fear I feel is almost replaced with stupefaction. That's exactly the place where Nick hit me. Deep down, I cannot help but feel that Seth is taking revenge for that.
I wonder how he knows, and more importantly, why he cares enough to take revenge?
Nick seems as shocked as I am, but he doesn't make any rash reactions, just tries to face the pain, grinding his teeth while the knife splits his flesh open.
Without warning, I feel Seth's lips gently touch my temple. He's giving me the softest kiss, like he's wanting me to know that cutting Nick’s face was like a gift for me.He's giving me some sort of revenge although his next question implies that the rest is on me from now on. “What are we going to do about him?” He looks at Nick like he's waiting for me to decide his fate.
If he's expecting me to decide what happens to Nick we'll probably die of old age. I deeply hate him, but the only thing I want to happen is to see him gone from my life. Still, I don't think asking Seth to free him and send him far away from me is an option. That makes it impossible for me to answer him. I feel Seth is aware of that. His hand moves on my lower stomach again. My body jolts, not only because of his touch, but also because of one of my injuries. I can't stop my body from reacting to him no matter how hard I try, and no matter how badly it might hurt.
Since I can't reach a decision, Seth seems to come up with something in my place. “I can't let him go free after trying to steal my artifact, while you on the other hand... maybe I could overlook you walking away.”
Is he offering me my freedom?
It can't be that easy, can it? No, it never is with someone like Seth. There is a condition I must fulfill, and I'm just about to hear it. “If...” he continues, “if you kill him.”
This must be a joke. It has to be, even if judging by the look on Nick's face he's terrified, rather than amused.
Is Seth really serious about this? The man doesn't really expect me to kill Nick, does he?
I can't even think of an alternative where this is serious, but Seth seems determined to go on with this madness. “It's very simple: you kill him, and you walk away. You’ll be free. This is what you’ve wanted for a while now , isn't it?”
“Fuck you! You’re insane!” I shout, but I want to take back the words the moment they leave my mouth. Instantly, I feel Seth tense behind me. One of his hands grabs my hair into a ponytail. He’s gripping it so tightly that I'm afraid he'll pull my hair out.Moving my head like a marionette, he pulls me next to his face, making sure his lips touch my ear. He has a message to send me, andhe wants it to be loud and clear. “Next time you curse, I will cut your tongue out. I think we both know you pissed me off enough for one day.” He keeps me there for another moment like he wants to say something more but stops himself.
His hand releases my hair, turning my head to look at Nick. “All you have to do is pull the trigger.” Seth slips a gun in my hand. “Think of it as a game show. This is a very short time-limited offer. You don't want to learn what happens when the offer expires,” he lets out a diabolical laugh. “Or maybe you do...”
I can tell he's serious. He will let me go if I kill Nick. This might be a game, but he's also a man of his word. He's giving me a chance to win back my freedom. The only problem is I can't take it.
My hand is loose on the gun. It feels like it's only Seth who’s holding the piece of metal in place between my fingers. I don't even want to touch it.
“Don't do it, Serena, please,” Nick begs like the coward he really is. A real man would have taken responsibility for his actions. A real man would have asked me to save myself, admitting I was only a pawn in all of this. “Listen, it's true. I don't know what I was thinking, hooking up with her. But last night at the casino, I realized I still love you. It wasn't a lie. You were the one I wanted to run away with, to have a family with a future…you.”
I want to curse at him, but I remember Seth's warning and stop myself. Still, my grip tightens on the gun, but not enough for me to actually ever use it and save myself. “I don't want to hear any more of your lies,”I cry out.
“End him and I guarantee you walk through the door,” Seth repeats his promise, helping me raise my hand and point the gun at Nick.
I only need to squeeze the trigger, and everything will be over in a second. But “I can't,” I choke out, knowing I'm sealing my own fate.
I hear a groan of disapproval coming from behind me. Seth doesn't seem to agree with my decision, but as I’ve come to know him, he has a solution to everything.“Tell me, Nick. How does a man end up cheating on a woman like her?” Seth asks, squeezing me tighter against his body until the hard shape of his cock seems to mold somewhere on my lower back. From what I can feel this shit turns him on, or maybe it's just the closeness of our bodies. Despite everything, I can't help myself from focusing on his question. What does a woman like her really mean? Is he attracted to me?
I can't even deal with the fact that I am thinking of these things right now when I should be focusing on staying alive. Chances are, I hit my head in the car crash too hard because there's no other way I can explain what's going on inside my mind.
And to blur things out even more for me, Nick comes out with the dumbest excuse I've ever heard. “You said it yourself; I am a man . That cuts it. The opportunity presented itself, and I just grabbed it. Human nature pretty much took control from there on. You are a man. You get me. Sometimes you can’t help yourself, just like you're doing now with Serena. I've seen the way you look at her.” I feel like Nick is throwing me to the wolves to save his ass again.
Besides, I'm pretty sure he's hallucinating, but Seth seems to convince me of the opposite. “How do I look at her?” Seth asks a rhetorical question, moving me to just one of his arms so he could really take a look at me. His eyes are so intense that I feel he's staring straight into my soul. “Like I want to fuck her?” His question comes out seductive, it's like he's confirming it with every word that leaves his lips. His gaze already doing it—fucking me. He doesn't even care that Nick is there; to him, Nick is just a useless piece of shit. “Pull the trigger, Serena.” This time, he orders me, as if his command holds a hidden meaning. He'stesting me to see how dumb I am when it comes to Nick. And I've always flunked at this subject.
He knows I won't go through with it, yet suddenly, his eyes fixate on my lips. It's probably at the blood smeared on them because I feel my bottom lip is bruised from the blow, and judging by how bad it hurts, it's still bleeding.
Seth tilts his head, closing the distance between us. I thought he would be somewhat disgusted by my rough appearance. Instead, I feel his tongue tracing my lips, having a taste of the blood covering them. I can't even tell if he's kissing me or tasting me like prey, but his presence on my lips ignites something incendiary within me.
Yet, he's a killer and I won't let myself forget that even for a moment. My eyes are trapped by his for long moments. He’s sending me a message. I need to dispose of Nick and take control of my fate, even if the near future might lead me straight into his bed.
“Look at him,” Seth suddenly stops, demanding that I look at Nick. “He doesn't even care that I'm touching you. All he wants is to save his own ass.” I know he's right—Nick would let Seth have me right there just to save himself. But that doesn't justify killing him.
Our interesting conversation is suddenly interrupted by the sound of a ringtone. Seth's phone vibrates. Then, the next second he digs his hand into his pocket and answers it. “What?” He barks, then listens for a few moments to whatever the man or woman on the other end has to say. “I'll be there by the morning,” he groans in frustration, like someone just fucked up his plans, then hangs up, sliding the phone back into his pocket. “Well, it seems we have to make this short. Serena, I'm giving you one last chance to decide. You either kill him, and you're free to go, or you die with him.”
The word die encrypts itself somewhere in my mind. I know he’ll follow through with his threat. I'm gonna die if I don't kill Nick.
Still, I can't do it.
My hand goes slack and the gun clatters loudly to the floor— a sound that seals my fate.
I see Seth's nostrils flare in annoyance. He looks like a raged bull, and next thing I know he's setting his distance from me, keeping just one of his hands on my arm to help me stand.
“Pick it up, Nick,” Seth orders, his tone cold enough to freeze everyone in the room on the spot. Everyone except Nick, who dives to the floor to take the gun. He sees it as the last chance to save his life and Seth’s next words encourage him to take action. “How badly do you value your own life?”
Nick doesn't even wait for Seth to say another word. He just murmurs, “I'm sorry baby,” and I see his fingers clinch on the trigger pressing it to fire the weapon.
It's like my whole world collapses in a second. The same second that it took Nick to decide his life was more important than mine. I brace for a loud bang, maybe even welcome the pain that might follow. My eyes close, waiting for it to happen. But there’s no sound—just a few more clicks as Nick’s finger presses confused on the trigger a couple of more times.
I look at Nick, trying to understand how could he ditch everything we had so easily. I want to scream, but all I can do is let tears flood my eyes. This was a test, and he just failed it miserably.
“It's empty,” my ex-fiance dares to observe like he feels sorry he couldn't complete his mission.
“It was empty all along,” Seth confirms, revealing it was only one of his games.
Still, Nick doesn't seem to understand. “But I've done what you've asked me to. Am I free now? Can I go?”
“Did I say you could go if you killed her?” Seth asks. And the truth is, he just asked him how badly he valued his own life—no other promises were made. Nick just filled in the gaps in a way that would benefit him... in a way that just destroyed me.
Seth pulls me close again. My body sags against him, drained of strength. The problem is he doesn't want to see me weak, especially because of a man like Nick. “Now you understand?” he whispers in my ear. “Do you see who you just gave up your life for?”
That was it. I gave up my life for a man that didn't hesitate to kill me.
I'm lost for a few moments, and soon I'm about to be forever gone but Seth doesn’t let me go that easy. He slips another weapon into my hand. This time it's his knife which he helps me open.
Strange but my fingers don't release to throw it on the floor this time. Instead, they lock onto its handle, imagining how badly Nick deserves me to finish the job.
“Please, let go of the knife before you do something that you'll regret,” I hear Nick plead, horror coating his voice.
“I've already done something I regret. I didn't pull the trigger,” I ghost out the words, but I can't bring myself to ever kill him. Still, I can't bring myself to let go of the knife either. “I can't,” I whimper again in Seth's arms as I feel his hand closing over mine, helping me keep the knife firmly between my fingers.
Tears blur my vision. I want Nick to pay for what he’s done, but not like this.
“Shush,” I hear Seth whisper in the back of my neck. “It's so easy,” he says, like taking a life doesn't mean anything in his world. His hand moves mine along with the knife under Nick's chin. “Look at him, Serena. Do you have any last confession to make? Maybe tell him who's really been owning your dreams for the last few days?” His question makes me freeze. How could he know? But somehow, he knows! “Do you want him to know before he goes, how when your fingers were deep into that pretty pussy of yours, you were thinking of me? How you were calling out my name?”
Seth is now just showing off to Nick, hurting what little was left of his man-pride since he already gave it up when he tried to kill me. I can't even tell from where Seth knows.It's almost like a shock to me. At least I can’t feel the full embarrassment, as it’s blending with the fear that's already dominating my mind.
“Show him you're strong,” Seth guides my hand toward Nick’s heart. I know what I have to do, but I can't. Still, he gives me no choice. “He broke your heart. Let us take out his.” I feel him pushing my hand to plunge the knife deep inside Nick's chest. I want to pull my hand away, but Seth doesn't let me do it until the blade is fully sunk inside Nick's flesh.
Gasping for breath, I try to get away, but Seth holds me in place to watch the confused flickering in Nick’s eyes as he is living out his last moment. Henever thought I had it in me to do it. No matter the circumstance.
The truth is, I didn't have it in me. Seth guided my hand, making a killer out of me. He made me a monster just like him.