Chapter 7 – IVY
Chapter
Seven
IVY
Another evening, another dinner Evelyn makes and serves while I sit at the far end of the long mahogany table from Venom.
Tonight, the meal goes by mostly in silence.
I’m surprised he can resist taunting me.
We make eye contact a few times, but I look away first every time.
When his eyes are on me, I can feel him studying, dissecting, like I’m some science project.
I’m not.
I just want to get out of here and start a new life for myself. Make the right decisions this time. I’m twenty-three and still have my whole life ahead of me. I could still have a great life.
“You’ve barely touched your food.”
“What’s it matter to you? Are you trying to thicken me up?”
“No need to hide my intentions. The answer is yes, so now eat.”
“Thicken the pig before the slaughter?”
“Perhaps.” He smirks.
Venom’s phone rings and he leaves the room to take the call. A moment later he returns, looking irritated.
“Now you’re costing me money. Just had to turn down an offer because I need to make sure you stay put and behave.”
“I thought you had enough money?” I taunt. “Besides, that’s on you. This is your decision.”
“I made one poor decision—agreeing to help you. I should have left you in that hole. Let your body rot, your bones become one with the earth.”
I slam to my feet; the chair scrapes back and clatters. Venom’s eyes snap to mine.
“I’ve done nothing to you! You’ve been an asshole for no reason. I just needed a damn ride!” I shout.
He strides forward, long legs closing the space.
“Well, you certainly got the ride you wanted. Maybe think twice before hopping into a car with a stranger—especially one who admitted to murdering people. Going off with strangers seems a habit of yours, darlin’.
Maybe look in the mirror next time you need someone to blame. ”
His words sting. Fury burns hotter than fear; I slam my fist into his chest. “Fuck you!”
He smiles that godawful grin. My hand flashes up to slap him, but he catches my wrist.
“Now, now, beastie. Rule one.” He rolls his sleeves, forearms taut and veiny.
I shove past him, aiming for the doorway, but his grip yanks me back. He slams me against the wall, one hand at my throat until I can’t breathe. Evelyn appears in the doorway, gives an unreadable look, then disappears.
“Forgot the rules? Testing me?” he purrs.
“Or maybe I don’t fucking care what you do to me anymore!” I spit.
“No, that’s not it. Lies. You need an anger-management crash course.” He smirks. “Seen anyone for that before?”
“Fuck you.”
“You keep requesting that, I might give in.”
I don’t think—I reach into my pocket, grab the small knife I swiped from the greenhouse, and drive it into his thigh. He grunts, releases me, and steps back. Blood darkens his jeans. For a beat, I’m frozen, staring.
“My, my. You actually stabbed me,” he says, amused.
“You deserved it.”
“Well, that’s debatable.” He groans as he pulls the knife free from his leg and hurls it at me. I sharply inhale as the blade grazes my ear with a sharp, burning sting and sinks into the wall beside my head with a thunk.
I reach for my ear, feeling wetness then look at my blood smeared fingers. “You know you’re an asshole,” I snap.
“You know you secretly love it.”
“Do I need to stab you again? And not miss this time.”
His brows lift. “You missed? And where were you aiming?” My gaze flicks down. “No.”
“Yup.”
“You were going to stab me in the dick? Brutal, even for you, beastie.”
“Well, stop pissing me off.”
“Are you sure it’s me you’re pissed at, or yourself because you can’t have me?”
I scoff. “I absolutely do not want you. I think I made that very clear,” I say, staring at the blood seeping into his jeans.
“No?” He steps in, thigh still bleeding, trapping me between him and the wall. He drags a finger across the cut and smears the dark streak over my cheek. “Still a liar. Tsk.”
“Venom! What the fuck!”
“You look good covered in my blood.” He wrenches the knife from the wall and drops it into my hand. “Want more, little beast? Take it.” A strand of platinum hair falls into his eyes as I search his severe blue stare.
“You’re insane.”
“Come now, darlin’. Don’t be shy.”
“I’m not playing your games.”
“Shame.” In a blur, he twists the knife from my grasp and presses the tip to my throat. “What if I still want to play? Maybe I want more of your pretty blood. You’ve got me all riled up.”
“You’re sick.”
“So I’ve been told.” He presses harder, and adrenaline rockets through me.
“Venom.” I force the word out.
“Scared?”
“No,” I snap.
“Liar. You think that makes you brave?” He chuckles before his expression turns deadly serious. “Perhaps you’re just a very stupid girl with a death wish.”
“Death doesn’t scare me.”
“No? Then what does the wicked little beast fear?”
“As if I’d tell you,” I growl.
“Whether you tell me or not, I’ll uncover your fears. I’ll discover everything there is to know about you, darlin’. Slowly but surely.” His grin is menacing and I wish I could slap him.
“Just let me go!”
“Tell me something true.”
“Fuck off.”
I feel a sharp sting against my neck as he breaks skin.
“Venom!”
“Don’t make me ask again.”
“Fine! You psycho.” I quickly rack my brain and blurt the first thing that isn’t a lie. “Dahlias… my favorite flowers are dahlias. His grin widens like a predator satisfied. “Happy now? Let me go.”
He pushes off me, looking calm and collected as if we hadn’t just drawn each other’s blood. He walks away without another word.
Asshole.
While taking a shower, I try to avoid water running over my neck where Venom cut me, but it’s proving difficult. How can a small cut sting so bad?
I give up and turn off the water. After drying off, I climb into bed, not bothering with clothes. Then I stare at the ceiling replaying every moment I've had with Venom so far.
I need to find his weakness.
That is, if the psychopath has any.