Eleven
Callum
Pacing in front of her coffee table, my adrenaline is pumping, and I’m tempted to blow this whole plan to shit. Kallie sleeps soundly on the couch, and it’s unfortunate, really. I can’t even appreciate the delicacy of her features because I’m so pissed at her. Fuming, actually.
She felt something amiss. I know she did, and she just blatantly disregarded it. She stirs on the couch, and my blood rises with anticipation at the conversation we’re about to have. I watch in slow motion as she teeters on the edge, and I make absolutely no move to catch her before she bangs her head against the ground.
“Ouch. What the fuck?” she whispers to the ground, trying to push herself up. Rubbing her eyes, she scoots up against the couch, keeping her eyes closed.
For fuck’s sake.
“If you’re trying to ignore me, Princess, it’s not going to work.” My words startle her because she had no fucking idea I was here. Her eyes bug open in surprise, and her hand flies to her chest, followed by an ear-piercing scream.
“What are you doing here?!” But when the question leaves, her gaze swings to the front door instantly. “You…you broke down my door.” Her eyebrows furrow, trying to conjure up what happened next, but she comes up blank. “That—that’s the last thing I remember,” she stammers, staring back at me.
“Stephan. Where’s Stephan?” She looks around frantically, and I can’t resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Are you done?” I ask, tucking my hands under my arms.
“What do you mean, ‘ Are you done?’ What the fuck is going on? Why are you here? And where the fuck is Stephan?” So many questions. I’m highly considering putting her back to sleep. Her attempt to stand is pitiful, and she only gets as far as the edge of the couch.
“Your little boy-toy and I took a walk. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Eyeing me warily, a smile spreads across my face as I tell her what she’s missed during her long nap.
Snapping my fingers, they’re out like a light. Rage doesn’t begin to cover the level of pissed I am right now. I take my eyes off her for one day, and she goes off and gets herself what?
A boyfriend?
A quick lay?
Fuck. No.
Staring at their slumped bodies on the couch, I walk over and lift her off the scumbag that’s underneath her. I lay her down on the other end of the couch and cover her body with a blanket.
“I’ll deal with you later, my little fighter,” I whisper into her ear before gently kissing her temple.
Tearing my gaze from my girl, I peer at the low-life that is now slumped over to his left. Nothing I do will be enough for him touching what’s mine. Even if she doesn’t know it yet, I know. And there will be hell to pay.
I grip him by the roots of his hair and drag him off the couch. There is a satisfying thud that follows as his unconscious body hits the floor. Summoning my shadows, they surround us. Whisking us away through the darkness, my inner demons claw themselves free as I leave my light behind.
I’m arranging my toys on the tray when I feel him stir. The binds that hold him captive tug tight with every struggling movement he makes. A slow smirk spreads across my face.
He’s awake.
Turning to look at the piece of shit, his eyes grow wide as he takes in his surroundings.
My shadows wrap around his wrists and ankles, strapping him to the chair he sits in. He looks side to side at the four concrete walls surrounding us, and when he looks up, he is blinded by the light shining above him. A slideshow of emotions passes over his face. Terror, recognition, and finally anger.
“What the hell are you doing, man? I had that bitch! I know it was her,” he seethes, anger coating his words. He struggles against the binds, trying to free himself to no avail.
“It seems you have made a grave mistake, Steph.”
“I didn’t make a fucking mistake! That whore had magic oozing off her like a goddamn fountain. She needs to be taken back.”
I rake my eyes over him slowly, trying to map out the best way to get the most enjoyment out of today’s activities.
“Are you even listening to me? Seriously, Callum, let me fucking go!”
His words get lost in the corners as my attention is pulled to the movements of his hands, and a menacing chuckle escapes me.
“Tsk. Tsk. Stephan. Come on, you know you couldn’t get free of my shadows on your best day. And from the look of things”—I lazily look around us—“today is not one of those days.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but once I get out of here, I’m going straight to—” My fist connects with his jaw before he can finish his sentence.
“You’re not going to do shit. You should have just minded your own fucking business. Instead, you not only come here, but you infiltrate her life, fucking touch her, and have the nerve to talk about her like you just did. When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish you were dead, but I will not grant you that mercy.” With my last word, I take the scalpel that’s resting in my hand and slice it through his left ring finger. His screams immediately echo in the room around us, but I’m only just beginning.
“That makes one. How many did you graze against her perfect skin?”
“Motherfucker! Are you kidding me? After everything we’ve been through, you’re going to let a little lost pussy get between us?” he pushes out between agonizing breaths.
Setting my scalpel aside, a gleeful look plays on my face, and I snap his middle finger without a second thought. Screams of agony fill my ears as I continue to break every finger on his left hand and then on his right. Once I let the pain from the twenty-eight bones set in, I reach for the small saw resting on the tray. One by one, I sever each finger that is hanging on by muscle and tendons.
Satisfied with my progress, I take a step back and look at the puddles of blood that are pooling under his missing extremities.
“Is this what you wanted?” he hisses. “Are you satisfied? You are psychotic, and once they figure out what you’re doing, there will be no saving you. You just signed your death sentence, and I can’t wait to watch you burn.”
I take a step toward him, resting my hands on my knees as I bend down and look him in the eyes. “Psychotic? No. Obsessive? Absolutely. My death sentence was signed, sealed, delivered the day she became mine. I will happily burn, but I will be burning this damn world down alongside her, and we will walk through the gates together.” Bitterness coats my words, and I stare at him for a few more agonizing seconds as I let him absorb the magnitude of what he just unleashed.
Making my way over to my playthings, I reach for my eye speculum. The irritation that comes with keeping your eye open is horrible. The dryness starts to set in, and your natural reaction is to blink, to get any moisture and relieve the burning sensation that has taken over.
He starts gargling a string of incoherent sentences that I choose to not listen to. He starts thrashing and tugging, but it’s of no use. Curling more shadows around his limbs and throat to keep him still, I make sure the rings are in place and secure before I step back and look at my masterpiece.
“He’s on to you. You know that, don’t you? That’s the whole reason I’m fucking here! He knew something wasn’t right. What do you think is going to happen when I don’t return, huh? You’re a fucking coward. I just wanted to get my dick wet. She looked so fucking good in those leggings. The way they hugged her just right. You have seen her in those, right? I would have plunged my dick so hard into her—” The smell of burning flesh hits my nostrils at the same time his screams sound. I’m burning the symbol of betrayal on his upper left arm. It doesn’t matter how you got it; you are shunned from every realm. The Forest of the Forgotten is the only place to go until Hades takes you himself.
His jaw seals shut, swallowing whatever pathetic sound that was about to leave as I push the burning symbol in deeper. When I finally let up, spit flies as he pushes his next words through clenched teeth, “Do. Your. Fucking. Worst.”
Now, the finale of tonight’s show is one of my favorites. Reaching for the ice cream scoop that rests next to me, I place the edge around the socket of his left eye. The sound of muscles ripping free is music to my ears. Stephan thrashes, tugs and pulls to no avail. Once the eyeball is torn from the socket, I fling it onto the concrete floor, and his wails are the only thing left in the room.
I fail to keep my smile at bay when I finish reliving what I put Stephan through. I could easily fall asleep to the sound of his screams. But alas, my work is never done.
As I look at Kallie, tears well up in her eyes, and I roll mine. If she knew what he had planned for her, she wouldn’t be crying for him. She would be crying for herself.
“You’re insane. You’re a murderer! Get the fuck out my house! I’m calling the police.” She stands and tries to find her phone. She spots it on the island, but when she goes to turn it on, she will find the screen unresponsive.
“Something wrong?”
Fear paints her face when she looks up from her phone, and a smile rests on mine. “Look, I did you a favor, Princess. Now, I would say you owe me a favor.”
“You’re delusional! I don’t owe you shit. Now get the fuck out of my dorm!” How strange. I didn’t think she would react so…loudly. But I do quite enjoy her temper—always have to expect the unexpected with this one.
“Alright, Princess, have you gotten whatever that was out of your system?” The way her mouth hangs open in response has me wishing I could force her to her knees and drive my cock so far down her throat she could feel it in her stomach. I restrain myself. Our time will come. For now, the most important thing isn’t us. It’s her.
“Now that you are over your little dramatic episode, I only wanted to make sure that you were alright. Since you are clearly more than fine, I will see myself out. See you soon, Princess.” Sadness gnaws at my insides as I walk toward the exit, knowing once I step over the threshold, everything from the last twelve hours will be wiped from her memory. But I have plans to see her very, very soon.