Emphasis on the ‘almost,’Eva thought, wondering what other ways she could kill him. Not many things could live without a head.
She finally released Hana, who immediately snarled, holding her wrist to her chest. “You’ll regret that,” she hissed, and the pain along Eva’s tattoos doubled.
Eva let out a shriek, rubbing down her arms as if she could remove the tattoos by force, but nothing stopped the agonising ache as if serrated, rusty blades were being sliced over and over along her skin.
“Hana!” Dutch growled, and the pain stopped immediately.
“When do I get a little fun?” she purred, strutting over until she could stroke her hand down his chest, her fingers dancing along his belt. “Will you play with me?”
Dutch leaned down to kiss her viciously, his fangs tearing across her lips as she moaned, pressing herself closer. When he pulled away he licked across her face, collecting the blood that had pooled along her jaw.
“Show Augustine’s fledgling how it’s done, or you’ll be the one in the chair.”
Hana pursed her lips, the small cuts still bleeding. “You promise?” After one more kiss Dutch left, locking the thick door behind him.
Hunter groaned, his head rolling on his shoulders.
“Looks like it’s time to start,” Hana said in her ridiculously high voice. She brushed her hand along the instruments on the wall, almost caressing the shiny metal until she stopped at a small scalpel. “Shall I carve some pretty lines? I know he’s a shifter, so if we add salt after I’m done, he will permanently scar.” Her eyes brightened with excitement. “What do you think?”
“You’re not touching him,” Eva hissed.
Hana smiled as she raised her hand, and something tickled Eva’s nose before pain so strong it forced her to her knees with a gasp.
“Did you really think those runes I tattooed meant nothing?” she giggled, gripping the scalpel in her other hand. “They give me complete control over you.”
Eva cried out as the pain changed, twisting and turning beneath her skin. It started in her arms, slowly sweeping across her body until everything hurt. And just as suddenly as it started, the pain stopped.
Eva collapsed, body trembling as she recovered.
“Please, no!” Hunter’s scream echoed around her, the scent of his blood piercing the air as Hana sliced a deep, thin line down his thigh.
“Your turn,” Hana said, arrogance frosting her words. “Or not, either way I get to do this.”
The pain renewed, lasting only a second, but it was enough to tear a screech from Eva’s throat.
“You really should have taken those wishes, because now I’m going to have to show Augustine how truly weak you are.” Hana’s heels tapped as she approached, her long black hair sweeping over her shoulder as she kneeled. “And once he sees, I’m going to watch him break you apart, piece by piece.”
Eva arched her back off the floor, arms no longer trembling at her weight. “How long have you wanted Augustine?” she whispered, her voice throaty from the screaming. “And how long has he not wanted you?”
Hana’s mouth twisted, violet eyes flashing before Eva felt the pain shoot through her body once more, muscles rigid as if they were forced to hold an electrical charge. This time there was no relief, the pain seeming endless as it almost pushed her into oblivion. There were no more screams, her vocals shredded as the pain finally receded. Eva kept her eyes closed, her chest barely moving for a breath as she sensed Hana stand.
“Pathetic.”
Eva counted in her head, her loss of sight allowing her to concentrate on her other senses. She could sense the blood thickening, the sound of each individual drop hitting the floor. Hunter’s heartbeat gave away his pain, despite not one sound leaving his lips. His breathing was staggered, and Eva wasn’t surprised to see his face scrunched up tight when she finally opened her eyes to slits. Tears wet his face, taking every slice of Hana’s scalpel in silence.
His hands had partially shifted, his claws useless as they tore more at his own skin than the straps and metal that kept him contained.
“Do you know,” Hana began as she sliced, her back arched over his thigh as she slowly and carefully cut. “There’s a spell that can stop you from shifting ever again. I wonder how quickly you’ll lose your mind? Your animal forever trapped inside the body of a boy.”
Eva slowly climbed to her feet, knowing it was her only chance. She needed Hana to lift the blade, to get away from Hunter. “Hey, Hana!”
Hana turned, hand held out as the beats of a drum pounded in the distance.
Eva launched forward with all her strength, tackling Hana to the hard concrete. The scalpel stabbed into her side, but the pain was an insect bite compared to before. With little effort she broke the faerie’s neck, her strength pulling a little too hard as the skin began to rip, and then her head separated entirely.
Her fangs punched down, the urge to continue to tear and shred until there was nothing but an indistinguishable mess of red an instinct she couldn’t ignore. She would have been lost in her rage if bile hadn’t burned, forcing her back to reality. Swallowing it down she threw Hana’s head so hard it clattered into the instruments displayed on the wall, impaling itself on one of the horror movie props.
A low moan, Hunter convulsing violently.
