Chapter 14
The Beginning
“I need… a break, I-I can’t keep—”
“Stop and I’ll kill you.”
There’s heat. Everywhere.
“It’s enough, I can hear her pulse quickening. Let the healer go.”
“She isn’t fully healed.”
“It’s enough, for now. We cannot risk killing a dualist, not now.”
The darkness is vast but echoes of their voices flitter in the void.
“You may go.”
The heat bleeds away but a soft warmth clings to my skin. I feel light, weightless, and safe.
“T-thank you.”
“I’ll finish the rest.”
“Be careful.”
I sink into the warmth, enjoying the melodic thudding now the voices have stopped. I don’t plan on ever leaving.
But a niggling, scraping feeling won’t allow me to stay here. It stings and itches and finally, I peer out of the darkness.
I see a small line of warm, artificial light.
The pain is instant.
As though it was simply floating above me, waiting for my return to the world, it leaps into my body. I wince, feeling the tight tugs across my skin where cuts and slices are knitting back together, bruises making every movement tender and raw.
It isn’t unbearable, I’ve had worse, but it makes me want to return to the dark…
No. The pain, I must focus on it and stay awake. Stay awake and move .
I stare out into the darkness, noticing the small sliver of light shining from beneath an unfamiliar door.
The panic that thought causes makes my body tense and when it tenses, my injuries cry out with me. I hunch over, cradling my stomach, hoping I didn’t rip anything open.
“She’s awake.”
That voice .
My gaze frantically searches the empty room, not allowing myself to believe where that voice came from.
I force my legs to move, cringing as they slide upon soft fabric and my feet slip onto the floor. Every small movement is painful. I try to use that emotion to fuel myself, pushing through the aches and finally standing, hunching over on my feet.
“She’s in pain.”
What the fuck.
What. The. Fuck .
My eyes are wide and wild as I try to make sense of it all, the room, the voice, the fact that I should be dead…
There’s something outside this room.
I feel it.
Him.
My heart pounds and the adrenaline feeds enough of my body to get me moving. I head towards the sliver of light, open the door and quickly close it behind me.
I’m thankful for the small sliding lock, although it could be broken by one hard shove, it somehow creates an illusion of safety.
I cast a wary glance around the new room, one fully lit by multiple dim yellow lights, all reflecting off a multitude of white marble surfaces. Everything is white: the floor, the walls, the towels. It’s almost clinical. It reminds me of a hotel room Alexis and I had when we spent the weekend at the beach, a much more luxurious version, and the fond memory somewhat eases my racing heart.
Unfortunately, the release is only momentary.
“Red, how you feeling?”
My brain and body seem to short-circuit. I just stand there. Unsure how to react to his voice in this new environment. Unable to determine if I’m terrified or somewhat relieved.
Better the devil you know...
I back away from the door, staring at the fragile wooden barrier like it’s on fire. It’s the only thing keeping him away from me.
My power goes wild, flowing out and around me in vicious waves. I wince at the pain it causes. I close my eyes, attempting to calm it.
“I’m gonna need a response, Red.” His voice creates violet crackles in the air .
I silently curse and fall further back into the room until I’m against the cold, tile wall. The sudden sensation seems to ground me slightly and I take a deep, shuddering breath.
My thoughts are frantic and I’m just about catching up with them. Where am I? What happened? Why am I here? Why is he here?
My breathing starts to become erratic, my heart thudding and deafening me as I search the room for an escape. There’s a small slit of a window just above the bath—
“ Red , before you try anything crazy, y’know, like jumping out of that window in there.” I freeze, my eyes snapping to the door again. His low voice filters into the room and my heart races. “I suggest you try listening to me first, or I’ll just break down the door.”
I swallow, pushing myself further back into the wall like I can somehow create more space.
The silence is unbearable now and I can feel the irritation leaking in from the other side. My heart pounds as I take another breath.
“I’m listening.” My quiet response is enough to break the heavy tension.
I think I hear Sai muttering something about breaking the door anyway, and I’m about to draw on my power, when he speaks.
“You can shower, if you want, but your injuries aren’t fully healed so take it easy. When you’re done, I have some painkillers for you,” he explains, his voice slow and cautious like speaking to a child. “Tell me you understand.”
“Where am I?” I ask, my voice hoarse and I cough to clear it.
“Not important right now, Red,” he admonishes as I hear him adjusting his stance and I imagine him leaning back against the door. “You have fifteen minutes, do you understand? You take any longer, I’m gonna assume you’ve passed out and I’ll be taking that door right off its hinges.”
I’m about to reply when a sickness begins creeping up my throat, which turns into a burning and suddenly, I’m hunching over one of the three sinks as hot blood splatters into the bowl. My coughing continues, the fire in my throat making tears fall down my cheeks, they drop into the sink and mix with my bright scarlet blood.
Slowly, I raise my head and face my reflection. The image is terrifying .
Hollowed cheeks covered by dull, translucent skin; remnants of marks, and dark clumps of blood and ash cling to me, barely camouflaging the injuries I can feel beneath them.
My hair sticks to my skin, filled with debris, and various substances I can’t name right now, but it’s my eyes which stand out the most. The pale red is emphasised by bloodshot whites, enlarged pupils and the fresh blood around my lips… I look terrifying.
“Stop wasting time, Red.” His words break my trance.
My gaze quickly flickers over my reflection a few more times before I hear him moving again. I drag myself towards the shower.
I struggle to clean myself at first.
My hands began to tremble when I turned on the shower, but I managed to stand under the intense heat of the falling water. At first, the pressure felt almost unbearable on my raw skin, but soon the room was consumed by hot steam, and the warmth seeped into my muscles, soothing the aches and tightness throughout my body.
Washing my hair is a workout of its own. Every time I raise my arms, another shock of fire races through me. I spend a moment leaning against the wall, gritting my teeth, before continuing. When I drop the shampoo bottle, my fingers shaking, I’m terrified Sai is about to storm in.
But instead, he declares, “Five minutes.”
It’s only when the water swirling around my toes is finally clear, no longer tinged by pink, that I turn off the shower and step out.
I do my best to dry myself, pain running along my ribs whenever I stretch too far. Over the sink, I twist my hair to rid it of excess water, running my fingers tentatively through it. My reflection no longer resembles a newly turned and malnourished vampire; however, new injuries have emerged and plague my skin. Dark purple bruises surround the puckered edges of cuts, and large red marks in the shape of a hand engulf my pale throat.
My fingers gingerly rub the skin there, remembering the man who grabbed me, dragged me across the floor and electrocuted my nerve endings. Remembering how I begged my power to return… and how the enforcers were the ones who saved me, like a damsel in distress.
We were weak.
That thought seems to ignite a deep, dark anger within me. I grip the counter and my eyes flare black for a moment .
“Times up, get your ass out here or I’m coming in,” Sai calls from behind the door. He seems further away now and I wonder if he really is preparing to barge his way in.
I shake my head as my eyes return, now grabbing the large, fluffy robe hanging upon the door. I try to ignore the scrap of fabric that once resembled a white dress, now cloaked in ash and death, crumpled in the corner.
I almost sigh at the pleasing sensation of the cotton robe as I quickly tighten the tie. Knowing it’s never wise to make these guys wait, I take another breath, and open the door.
The room is still in complete darkness, the only light is emitting from the bathroom behind me and the intense blue of Sai’s gaze as he practically strips me naked. His markings soon resemble his eyes, surrounding him in an ethereal glow of blue and I can’t help but look on in awe.
“That mark better be fucking gone.”
“Not quite, mate.”
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard I cause myself to wince.
I can fucking hear them.
“How are you feeling?” Sai asks, the genuine concern making my eyes widen, making my stomach feel warmer.
“Like hell.”
His low, pearly laughter fractures the tense silence and I feel my shoulders physically drop. Somehow, my response seems to pacify the intense emotion Sai was previously emitting, one of pure, unadulterated hatred.
I felt it the moment I stepped out of the bathroom, but what shocked me wasn’t the emotion, it was knowing it wasn’t aimed at me… but for me.
“Give her the tablets.”
“I’m working on it, big guy. Jeez.”
I stare at Sai, pretending it's because he isn't acknowledging the voices we can both seemingly hear now, but really because I’m enjoying the way his face looks when it isn’t contorted by an arrogant smirk.
“Where are we? What happened after the attack?” I ask, searching his face for any flicker of change .
He doesn’t answer my questions. Instead, he moves towards me and opens his hand, revealing two small ruby tablets. The other hand holds a glass of water.
“Later, take these first,” he orders, his eyes carefully watching me.
I pinch one between my fingers and look up at Sai. “What are they?”
“Painkillers.”
“Painkillers,” I repeat, rolling the pill between my fingertips. Memories of the last thing I ingested in their company make me hesitant. I hold it towards Sai. “I don’t need them.”
Sai’s careful gaze darkens slightly. “You’re in pain.”
I almost laugh, almost, just at the absurdity of it all. It’s as though he cares that I’m in pain, cares about someone whose life was— is , a game to them all.
Instead of laughing, I stare at Sai with a mixture of confusion, exasperation, and disbelief. “And you’re a dark fae who once caused me similar pain. Seeing as we’re pointing out the obvious.”
“Similar?” His voice lowers and he moves forwards. “You and I both know that was to prove a point. You were pretending to be fine when you were anything but, a little like now.”
“I’m not pretending to be fine. I am not fine. My place of work, my home , was attacked, people were killed, I have no idea where my family are or what happened to them and now I’m in a random room with an enforcer who plays games with my life.”
Sai has the nerve to look affronted by my words and, if I wasn’t in pain just standing upright, I would be tempted to give him something to really be offended by. But then his eyes soften, tracing over my face as I try to maintain an angry scowl. The pain must have shone through because I instantly feel his renewed concern.
"You’re in pain and need to rest, so I’ll make this quick.” Sai lowers his face to level his eyes with mine, and simultaneously, I feel his power surround me, providing some relief from standing. “Do I regret some of the things I said and did to you? Yes. And for that, I’m sorry.” His eyes don’t flare, his lips don’t twitch; he’s being completely... genuine.
“But do I regret the way you responded to me?” The smirk begins. “Do I regret you throwing me against a wall so hard my teeth rattled? How tightly you wrapped your power around my throat? The way you speak to me with that spicy mouth and sarcastic glare, like right now? Looking at me like you want to rip me to pieces.” I try to erase whatever look he’s referring to. He chuckles, and his markings flare intensely. “No, Red. I definitely do not regret that.”
I want to respond, I want to tell him how ridiculous his apology is but the aching of my ribs won’t allow it. I pinch my lips together from the pain.
I’m in his arms instantly, his power wrapping all around me and easing the aches. “But, most of all, I regret not being there when this happened to you,” he murmurs as he moves towards the bed.
I’m in too much pain to reply or even really consider his words. Sai doesn’t seem to want a response as he gently places me upon the edge of the mattress. He studies me carefully as I try to hide my wincing, before taking a seat beside me.
He holds out his hand again, the pills resting there.
“Now, be a big girl and take your medicine.” The hint of a smile begins to tug at his lips again and my normal frown is beginning to return. “I won’t force you, Red. But I will pester you all night long . And, if you really need help, I’m quite partial to a bit of role-play. I could be the seductive doctor and you could be my naugh—”
I take the pill, grab the water from Sai’s other hand, sip, and swallow. The action, thankfully, stops Sai talking.
A small, devious smile now fills his face as he watches me take another sip. “Good girl.”
I pause with the next tablet at my lips, his mocking praise completely catches me off guard. He seems to notice, his eyes and markings flaring as they move from my gaze to my lips. I quickly swallow the next pill rather than focus on the effect that phrase seemed to have on me.
Get it together, Jasmine. It’s because I’m injured, that’s why, I’m not thinking straight, I probably have a concussion and—
A deep warmth floods my entire body, I gasp from the pleasant sensation. I seem to look as confused as I feel because Sai is now coaxing me to lay down.
“Mission accomplished.”
“How, in the name of Light and Dark, did you manage that?”
I stare at Sai, waiting for him to answer the question we can both hear and to clarify on the word ‘ manage’. Why wouldn’t I want to take something that would help my pain?
“Do you not think my charming personality is enough to persuade her? ”
“No.”
“Fine… I may have omitted certain details, such as the ingredient.”
The warmth brings numbness and a foggy darkness begins to form around me. I try to force myself to stay awake, but I must surrender because now I’m staring up at Sai as I lay upon the softest pillow I have ever felt.
“What ingredient?” I whisper, losing his image when my eyelids keep drooping. I try to remain present but the lull to sleep is too strong.
He doesn’t respond, not aloud anyway, as I watch his face fade from view. His concerned gaze twisting into a mischievous gleam is the last thing I see.
“Guys, we may have a slight problem.”
“What now?”
Their voices are barely whispers, caressing my mind as I sink deeper into a comforting embrace.
“I can’t be completely sure but I think our little red may have just heard us.”
“Fuck.”