“Ah, fuck. Are we in for another long villain monologue? Is that what’s happening right now?” I look from Kip to Lisette. What is up with every villain doing this shit?
“You see—” Lisette begins.
“Yep, called it. Here we go.” I roll my eyes. “Kip, maybe you shoulduhhh…deal with this, so we don’t have to listen to another person’s life story?”
“I think not.” Lisette pouts, flicking her wrist towards us. As she motions with her hand, rope appears out of thin air, winding around us and binding our arms and legs so we can’t move. “There, now no one moves until I say what I need to say.”
Kip and I watch as she does the same to Tyson, making sure he’s immobilized for when he eventually wakes up.
She begins pacing around the three of us. “You know what, this will be better with Tyson awake. That way I don’t have to explain myself twice.” Another flick of the wrist, this time green light surrounds Tyson, particularly around his head.
It takes a minute, but suddenly Tyson’s eyes snap open and he gasps in a breath. “Whaaaa the fuccckk?” He groans, trying to sit up, but unable to because of his bindings.
“Ah, welcome back. Now, where was I?” The wicked smile that Lisette is no doubt sporting is evident in her tone. “Tyson, I’d like to introduce you to the council member who washelpingyou all these months.” The way she says ‘helping’ makes it seem like that wasn’t her goal at all.
“That makes no sense. You told us that the council members were taken care of, and that the threat was gone.” Poor, sweet Kip sounds so confused. He’s too pure for this.
“Keep up, damn.” Lisette snaps. “Obviously that was a lie, because I am the evil council member, and I didn’t get rid of my self. I wanted you three to have a false sense of security and all that. And, not to mention, it all worked out in my favor because it drove Tyson bonkers, which in turn brought the three of you all together in a secluded location. It’s perfect, really.”
“So our plan is still on?” Tyson says hopefully. “Can you untie me, that way we can finish this, together.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Lisette exhales loudly with impatience. “You like to think you’re smarter than Kip, but you’re really not, Tyson. If it wasn’t for that soul bond between Kip and Charlie, I’d think you and Kip would be perfect for each other.”
“I’m not sure I’m following…” Tyson hedges.
“Clearly. If you’d shut the fuck up, I’d be able to explain in a way your little brain could understand. In fact—” Another flick of her wrist, and black cloths wrap around each of our faces, gagging us. “Much better. Now, there will be no more interruptions.”
Jesus Harold Christ. If I never have to hear another monologue I’ll die happy. Although…I really hope that doesn’t mean I’m dying today. It has been a whirlwind of emotions, and I’m ready to get off the rollercoaster.
“I was never going to help you, Tyson.” Lisette speaks like she’s talking to a toddler, in a fake sweet voice. “Nor was I really helping Kip and Charlie. My plan started out pretty simple. All I wanted was to become leader of the council. With that position, I could shape the supernatural world to whatever I wanted. And I want power. Your role, Tyson, was to become my thrall all along. And as a bonus, your obsession with Kip would make him mine as well. Double bonus, Kip and Charlie developed a soul bond, which was enhanced when they shared blood. That’s what really triggered it in fact, was when Kip fed Charlie his blood in order to help him.”
While Lisette continues being busy with her monologue, I scoot slowly in front of Kip.
“Soul bonds are incredibly rare, so it was really kismet when the two of you developed one.” Lisette says, turning towards Kip and I, and I freeze my movements, hoping she doesn’t notice.
Fortunately, she doesn’t, and instead keeps talking. “No one can predict when they will happen. But, by sharing blood, it solidified it. And once it’s there, there’s no escaping it. So for the price of one, I got three. How lucky is that?” She turns back to Tyson.
I continue shuffling my body until it’s in front of Kip. I wish this soul bond came with telepathy so I could tell Kip what I’m thinking right now. I wiggle my body in front of him, trying to gesture at the ropes. Since my hands are tightly bound at my sides, all I can do is try to point my finger to the ropes and then to his teeth, praying he takes the hint.
“Mmmphhh…doing?” Kip mumbles around the gag, leaning forward so his mouth is next to my ear.
“Bite. The. Rope.” I murmur back, trying to enunciate clearly around the fabric.
I’m honestly not sure what good it will do, me being freed of my bindings, but it’s better than just sitting here and letting Lisette do whatever she has planned.
“So, anyway, here we are. My three little thralls, lined up and ready for taking. And once you’re mine, I’ll be able to weed out the members of the council who are…opposed…to my power.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kip
Once Bitten
How did I end up with the smartest guy alive? Like goddamn.
There’s no knot in the magical ropes binding us, meaning there’s no way to untie them. But Charlie is onto something. I mean, I have these sharp as fuck fangs, which could easily bite through the rope and free at least one of us.
The plan once he’s free? Hell if I know. But I’m sure he has one.
