Page 5
Fitting, since I fucking own her now.
Small, fragile, not of this world. It changes nothing.
There’s no remorse left inside of me. Even as I watch her, alone in the dark, I want nothing more than to see her bleed.
She doesn’t know me, but I’ve spent years calling her name.
Her back is against the side of a brick wall, knees pulled to her chest. The only lighting is from the streetlamp to her left. It illuminates her soft features, giving a shine to her dark hair.
I make my way to her, hands at my sides as I cross the narrow street.
Looking up at me, her eyes widen. I internally grin at the way her entire body tenses with my nearness.
“I thought I told you to wait for me,” I say, stopping when I’m a few feet away.
She recovers quickly, masking her features with a blank face, giving away nothing as to what she’s thinking. “Yeah, I don’t take orders from you.”
Huh, so she can talk.
“Is that so? What was your plan then? Sleeping on the streets? Or perhaps you just enjoy freezing your ass off at one in the morning.”
She wraps her arms tighter around herself, fighting off a chill. “Yep.”
“And do you also enjoy flirting with death? Because as true as I’m sure that is, you really shouldn’t be out alone after sunset.” I take in her small frame, knowing just how easy it would be to break. While I may not have any desire to see this creature thrive, I can’t have her keeling over just yet. “Wouldn’t a little thing like you feel safer inside?”
No answer.
I move closer.
She scoots back, refusing to speak until I’m directly in front of her and the fear she tries to hide comes rushing back to prickle at her features.
“Look, I have no idea where I am. I don’t know who you are or what you want, and I don’t have any money for a motel. Not that I even know where one is. Besides, I’m actually quite content right here. So you can leave now.”
Feisty.
As much as the sight of her makes my skin crawl, leaving her alone out here isn’t an option. I kneel down, bringing my face level with hers. “On your feet. You’re coming with me.”
“Yeah, no thanks.”
Stubborn.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea the things that wander in the dark. Come with me, and you might live. Decide to sleep on the streets, you’ll be lucky to make it ’til morning.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“And yet I’m the only one willing to help you.”
“Help me?” She scoffs. “I’m like ninety percent sure you bit me.”
The response to that is easy. “I did.”
She looks at me like I’m insane, and that honestly pleases me. I am insane. The stray should know it.
Her brows pull down, eyes flicking over me. “You know that’s not okay, right? You’re not a child.”
I cock my head to the side. She really has no idea. Not only about who I am, but what I am. A little girl kept entirely in the dark.
That only makes this better.
