Chapter 9
Cain
Ipaced in my study, barely controlling the need to smash something, someone. Replaying the scene over in my head of Brian hurting Phoebe, his lips and hands on her body, sent my blood boiling.
With a quick lash of power, I destroyed the lamp sitting on an end table next to the door. Its glass pieces exploded and tinkled to the floor into a million slivered diamonds.
How dare he touch and abuse her.
The small whimpers of her pain had done something strange to my chest, stabbing little splinters deep inside. The only reason I hadn’t ripped the man to shreds was because I knew I’d have to perform another memory wipe on Phoebe. And for some unfathomable reason, I didn’t relish the idea of delving into her mind again. Performed too many times, a delve could shatter a person’s sanity. I’d mustered tremendous control by not using my power to twist his gaze to my mark, to inhale his soul and doom him for all eternity.
I closed my eyes and dropped into the chair next to the desk, bowing my head and focusing on my breathing.Why did I even bother intervening on her behalf?There had been many times I’d ignored people in pain, from rape and torture to murder, because those humans hadn’t been my assignment and I felt nothing for their plight. As a matter of fact, most of them deserved it. Who had ever helped me when I needed it most? Besides,Iwasn’t the one who’d performed the acts. Humans did a hell of a job torturing their own species. Luckily, I was there to collect the payment of their sins.
Was I proud of myself?
Not particularly, but I wasn’t ashamed, either. I had no delusions of what I did or who I worked for. Pain, fear, and death fed my power, giving me what I needed to ignore the cries of agony and pleas for death. Usually, I happily obliged their prayers for release.
Tonight had been different, and the deviation ate inside my skin like a hungry parasite. The unexpected concern I’d felt for Phoebe sliding through my blood made me want to shred my skin to pieces if it would bleed the feeling away.
“Fuck it. I should milk her for the information Lucian needs, even if it means inflicting a little pain, then the mission will be finished, and I can take her straight to Lucian.” I opened my eyes and leaned into the back of the chair, lifting my face to stare at the cold, metallic ceiling, tracing the metal rivets along the seams of the room. “It would solve all my problems, and I’d get my wings faster.”
Lucian had given me a week to tease info from Phoebe, but was there really a need to take so long? I couldn’t wait to crash into Heaven, find my father, and tear his world apart like he’d done to mine all those years ago.This is my true purpose, not entertaining thoughts of spending more time locking my lips to an intriguing, pink-haired woman.
I hardened my heart. Phoebe would not deter me. She was a convenient steppingstone along my path. The only reason I’d saved her tonight was from pure selfishness, not because she stirred any kind of compassion in my heart. Ihadnone, and I could prove it by forcing myself to face her, by breaking her piece by piece each day. I had a week, and I would savor the time and not rush anything.I’ve waited this long, a few more days will make no difference.
Smiling, I steepled my fingertips under my chin and rested my elbows on my knees. “Precious Phoebe, I will destroy you from the inside out.” I would take her to the silly masquerade because it pleased me thinking of how her enthralling, innocent eyes would turn to hate once she learned she’d been nothing more than a pawn. And a masquerade would be perfect for hiding my mark and allow me to blend into the crowd.
“I’ll eat you alive then throw you away.” Her immunity to my touch and curse intrigued me. After so many years of being alone, without any other human able to touch me without dying, caused a deep yearning to feel Phoebe’s mouth and hands again, to reassure myself it hadn’t been a cruel hallucination.
Her lips had been so soft against mine.I shivered. If her touch did this to me, how would it feel to bury myself in her, to claim her body...her heart?
Shaking myself, I rubbed my jaw, the stiff bristles creating a soft rasp. “Need to focus on getting information, not imagining a ridiculous relationship that could never be.”
Could the necklace somehow protect her from evil? Lucian’s obvious interest in the Word of Power seemed to lend credence to this idea.
No, it didn’t make sense. Such a level of protection could only be bestowed by someone like Lucian, and it was apparent he knew nothing about it, either.
She’s just a simple, trusting girl...a means to an end. There’s nothing special about her.
I’d play my part, wrapping her in safety and security to tease out her secrets, then I’d present her to the only person who’d ever cared about me, receive his blessing, and exact my ages-old bloodlust for vengeance.
I could almost smell the sweetness of victory. Strangely, it reminded me of rosesand the sea.
