Xia strained her ears to follow the sound as she pushed the dead weight of her body off the floor. The sounds weren’t coming from under the door.
So where, then?
She turned her head in every direction, quieting her breaths as she waited for another sound to drift her way.
Aclinkof glass and a low rumbling voice sounded near her bathroom vanity and she rushed on quiet feet to get closer. Placed in the ceiling right above the mirror was a vent and, from the vent, filtered in a low conversation.
There was the smooth voice of a man and a sultry feminine tone drifting through.
Xia had never heard the female’s voice, but she would recognize the male voice anywhere.
The Devil.
“I told you I’ve got it handled,” he said, low and dangerous.
“Forgive me if I don’t trust your intentions, pet.”
The woman’s voice made Xia’s blood curdle. It was so beautiful but so… poisonous.
The pause was so long that Xia wondered if they’d left before the female said, “Where is the song? Do you have it?”
“Of course I fucking have it,” he retorted.
Her tone was low and deadly when she responded, “Do. Better. This isn’t enough.”
“Fuck you Mel–”
A loud crash sounded followed by an ominous gurgle.
“You listen to me, you piece of shit,” she spat. “You aremine.Do you understand that? You do as I say and you do it as you’re told. I fucking own you and the moment you stop being useful to me I will paint these walls with your insides.”
Another thump, this one smaller, before she continued, “This doesn’t work without her. I cannot hold him without her song and we are not finished. Do you get that?”
He spit and Xia hoped for his sake that it wasn’t toward that terrifying woman.
“Yes.” His voice was pure venom.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, mistress.”
A satisfiedhmmfiltered through the vent before the woman purred, “That’s a good pet. Now, make your mistress happy and get on your knees.”
Hishearthammeredinthe empty moments before the entrance of Dr. Kore. A cloy smile filled her face and there was a spark in her eye that made his stomach churn.
Her red hair was in a neat chignon with a pencil stuck through the back. Black square glasses covered her face and a dainty chain hung from either side disappearing to the back. The beauty mark above her lip rose with her smile and he could have sworn her brown eyes flash red. She had a clipboard tucked into her arms and a pen at the ready. The perfect image of a professional.
Brooks knew she was anything but.
She looked first to the orderly who’d opened the door but then directed her stare toward Brooks. It lingered, their eyes glued together and he grew more panicked as hers gleamed with excitement. She was like a rabid animal on the hunt and, by the looks of it, was finished stalking her prey.
She looked ready to pounce.
“What’s happened?”
The orderly nodded in Brooks’ direction.
“I can’t be sure, Dr. Kore, but I think treatment may have failed on Patient Zero.” The orderly’s voice is low, meant for Dr. Kore’s ears only.
