by Susan Bliler
Her own emotions were tumultuous as well. She was worried about Odium’s reaction, and it wasn’t to her kidnapping and absence. No, she was worried for Bellis. If this didn’t work, if Odium didn’t believe he was a demon, then Bellis’ odds of survival were slim. Sam knew that if Odium went after Bellis, she’d go down defending him, but she had no intention of letting her Wal…the Walker know that.
The sound of running water filled her ears and the putrid scent of the sewers made her eyes water. She’d forgotten how much she despised this place. A light clinking caught her ears, and chills blasted up her spine. Odium. She always knew when he was near, because of those damn halos he wore secured to a belt at his waist. They were his trophies and they never ceased to make her want to puke. Who carried reminders of women and children they’d murdered? What kind of monster could be proud of that?
“Sissster.” Odium’s voice drifted over her skin like sandpaper on satin. Involuntarily, her shoulders lifted as her skin crawled.
“Your monsters are fucking morons,” she spat, turning in a slow circle to gaze at several tunnels, waiting for her brother to show himself. “They shot me during their rescue attempt.” She filled her voice with as much disdain as she could muster. “Fucking idiots!”
Movement to her right caught her attention, and she turned to find Odium standing there in his typical long black trench coat, the bottom soaked with foul sewer water. In the darkness of the sewers, his white skin practically glowed, and she could tell from the fine dots of moisture on his skin that he was his old, disgusting, clammy self.
“Whossse thisss?”
She flicked a glance over her shoulder at Bellis and grinned. “I brought you a Demon.”
“Demon?”
“He was a captive at StoneCrow too. He helped me escape.” She started walking towards one of the tunnels with a flippant, “Keep him or kill him. I’m free, so I don’t really give a fuck.”
Odium’s solid black gaze slid from Bellis to her. “You let yourssself be caught.”
Sam’s feet slowed in the knee-deep sludge. “I’m aware.” She shot him a dark look, swallowing hard to hide her shiver when he grinned, revealing rows of razor sharp, shark-like teeth.
“Punishment.”
He spoke only the one word, and she understood immediately. It’s all he had to say. “Yeah,” she muttered. “Punishment. Let’s get this over with. I have shit to do.”
Sam disappeared into one of the tunnels.
***
The urge to lunge up onto the raised platform where that fuck Odium stood was almost irresistible. He studied Bellis, and Bellis studied him right back, but all he could think about was how he would gut the fucker if he hurt Sam.
Watching her in action was impressive. Hell, she didn’t even scent of treachery or deceit when she lied to her brother. At least, Bellis hoped it was a lie when she’d directed her brother to keep him or kill him. He hoped it mattered to Sam.
She disappeared down a tunnel, and Bellis wanted to follow, but he wasn’t giving Odium his back. Slowly, he let the beasts inside roll through him. He knew how it affected him when they did. His hair moved as if he were underwater, an inky black flag that looked unnatural as he twitched his head and let the blue pinpoints of his eyes dim to practically nothing, until his eyes almost matched Odium’s. Bellis didn’t need to let his incisors elongate, because unlike other Walkers, his never retracted. Pushing his brows down, and peeling back his upper lip, he let a hiss seep from him as he eyed Odium. “We fighting?”
Odium watched him, his face an almost comical mix of fascination and dislike.
“What are you?” Odium asked.
Unable to stop himself, Bellis took a step closer, lifting his head and flashing his sharp teeth before boasting, “DEMON!”
Odium looked almost delighted as his eyes drifted up and down Bellis’ large frame. Before they’d left StoneCrow, Sam had approved his outfit. She’d drummed up black leather pants that were too snug and squished his nuts. Matching thick-soled biker boots and a sleeveless shirt with a high collar had him feeling like a fucktard, but Sam was adamant that his apparel be nowhere close to the BDU’s of the Walkers and Keepers. “I killed a Skin Walker and they captured me. I didn’t realize they numbered so many. They were running tests on me to determine what I am, but I’d found a way out when they brought Sam in.”
“What do you eat?”
Bellis frowned harder. What kind of dumb question was that? Clearly, one that held some weight, because he was watching Bellis intently. He tried to think of a hideous response, and oddly enough wondered what Sam would say if she were him. She’s say something crass and offensive. The words were out in a flash. “Souls and pussy.”
Odium’s eyes lit with amusement and he backed up, keeping on until he was swallowed up into the darkness, the pale bulb of his head the last to disappear. Weird, Uncle Fester looking motherfucker!
Bellis stormed down the tunnel where Sam disappeared, his ears pricked for any sound, his eyes flicking back and forth, unsure whether or not this was a trap.
Ahead, he heard a sound and slammed to a halt. It sounded like fists on skin followed by an exhalation and then a feminine grunt. Sam’s punishment! And this is where his hell started.
Stalling in the tunnel, he listened to her mock whoever was hitting her. She was goading them. ‘Is that all you got?’ and ‘Fucking Skin Walker children hit harder than you.’ She was taking her beating. She was brave, and Bellis was a coward because he couldn’t bring his feet to carry him any closer. He knew what would happen if he walked in on what was happening. He’d lose his shit, blow their cover, and get them both killed.
Sam laughed, a humorless sound, and then grunted again when a loud smack was heard.
“Sissster.”
Odium joining the fray changed the deal, and Bellis’ feet were moving before he could stop himself. He’d be good goddamned if a group of Megalya monsters were going to gang up on Sam while he stood idly by. Fuck that!
Before he cleared the tunnel, he lifted the palm of his hand and bit into it hard. Seconds later, he stepped out into an open room much like the one where they’d first encountered Odium, only this one was larger, with twice as many tunnels leading out of it. Sam stood in the center of the room, in the middle of a group of Megalya that looked exactly like Odium. All of them had their hands balled into fists, and when Sam looked up, her nose and lips were bleeding and there was a bruise forming high on her cheek.
Because it was dark in the tunnel, no one saw Bellis until he was two steps from Sam. No one but Odium. Their leader stood on another concrete platform, staring down at him, with his pale hands curled over the bar railing. Bellis only flicked him a glance before he used his super-human speed to get to Sam. He jerked her hard to him, and she gasped, her eyes rounding in startled surprised. Without hesitation, Bellis cupped her jaw with both hands and pulled her to him, making a show of flashing his wicked incisors before slamming his head forward, his teeth going for her soft flesh. Just before he bit into her, he gave her a command with the faintest of words so none of the Megalya would hear. The demand was simple. “Scream.”
His teeth sunk into the flesh at the base of her neck, and whether it was for show, or from actual pain, Sam screamed. Tiny hands lifted to his biceps and she fought him, but he had her locked firm.
He inched his palm closer to her mouth and forced her head down, praying she would understand his silent direction. Thank the Gods she did, because she screamed one last anguished sound that he knew would torment his soul forever, before she let his blood flow into her mouth.
They stayed like this, and all the while, Bellis kept his eyes on the Megalya around him. They watched with shocked expressions, confused eyes shooting to Odium then back to him.
When he felt the familiar tilting of Sam’s body, he continued to feed her until she finally went lax in his arms.
Odium bellowed, “DON’T KILLL HER!”
Bellis jerked back, keeping
some of Sam’s blood in his mouth and letting it spill out of his mouth and pour onto the bottom half of her face to hide the fact that she’d drank from him. “You said to punish her,” Bellis accused. “I eat souls.”
“Not hers!” Odium barked. “I still need her.” He jerked his head toward one of the tunnels. “Take them to the pit!”
Bellis tensed as the other Megalya circled around him and Sam. With nothing else he could do, he lifted Sam’s unconscious frame into his arms as the Megalya ushered him toward the tunnel.
Chapter 28
Bellis sat on the filthy concrete floor, locked inside a cell with Sam still unconscious on his lap. His fingers absently ran circles on her thigh. He wondered if he’d screwed up by pretending to attack her. It’d landed them in a cell, after all, and here he was, nestling her tighter to him when she’d warned him that affectionate actions weren’t demon-like. Too bad. He had to hold her close, keep her safe. His beasts were still riled up from the sounds of the Megalya beating her.
Sam stirred, and because he was already studying her face, his eyes met hers when they slowly blinked open. She tried to mask it, but he caught the flash of relief that came and went. She tried to squirm out of his arms, but he gripped her tighter. She was still weak, and couldn’t put up much of a fight. Looking around their cell, her gaze came back to his.
“Why are we locked up?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. They brought us here then disappeared. Odium told me not to kill you, said he has plans for you, and then ordered the others to bring us here.”
She squirmed again, shoving at his chest and spoke quietly. “You shouldn’t be holding me. The action belies your…attack. Let me go.”
“No. The ground is filthy.”
Her voice was tired when Sam responded, “It’s not the first time I’ve had to lie beaten and exhausted on the dirty floor. Doubt it’ll be the last.”
She jerked in surprise at the grumbled, “It fucking is,” before Bellis slid his hands under her thighs and pulled her up his body from where she’d slipped down as she’d tried to get away.
Sam tensed. “You can’t get all soft on me,” she whispered. “You’re going to get us killed.”
“I’m not letting them hurt you again.”
Sam’s fine brows knitted at the anguish she watched play across his handsome features. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why she felt bad for taking a beating. Her hand itched to reach up and stroke his cheek—to reassure him—and she had to fist her hands to keep from acting on the desire.
“It’s alright, Demon.” She attempted to sound flippant. “I’m expendable. It’s what I’m here for.”
“No, it’s not!” he whisper-yelled his enraged response.
He wasn’t looking at her eyes anymore, his own had drifted to her lips. “You’re not expendable. You’re a woman. You’re my…”
“Your brother wants you.”
The words startled both Bellis and Sam, and their eyes shot to the Megalya who stood on the outside of the cell. They hadn’t heard him approach, and Bellis half expected Sam to scramble from his lap. She didn’t. Instead, she turned cold eyes on the Megalya and asked, “Can you tell this Demon to stop trying to feed from me. I’m not a fucking snack tray!”
Ignoring her plea, the Megalya opened the cell and held the door open, waiting. Sam got to her feet and Bellis followed, but after Sam passed through the doorway, the Megalya slammed the cell door in Bellis’ face.
“Just her.”
He fisted the bars as Sam was led away.
***
Bellis paced. He’d gone over every inch of the cell and surmised that the Megalya hadn’t had many prisoners. They probably didn’t keep enemies alive long enough to need use of the cell. It’d explain the flaws that hadn’t been repaired. Getting out wasn’t going to be a problem, but he wanted to wait until they brought Sam back before he made his move.
She’d been gone for about an hour, and he could hear nothing aside from the rushing of water and a constant irritating drip. Attempting to scent the air only produced tears in his eyes from the wretched scent of the sewer.
Hearing the scuffling of feet, he stilled and strained to listen harder as the steps drew closer.
When Sam came into view, his eyes shot to her face. There was blood coming from her nose and lip and it wasn’t from earlier because he’d watched her heal in his arms and he’d cleaned her while she’d slept. Now, the other side of her face was bruised, she had an arm clamped to her ribs favoring that side, and the Megalya escorting her had a grip so tight on her arm that her shoulder was hunched up like she was trying to fight against the pain of his hold.
He wanted to threaten the Megalya, but refrained when Sam peeked up at him and gave a near imperceptible shake of her head.
The cell was opened and she was shoved inside before the Megalya left them alone. Bellis took a step toward her, but she turned away and went to the corner, where she lowered herself slowly, drawing her knees to her chest and resting her head against the bars she still gripped with one hand. A sigh left her and she winced.
“Sam?”
She ignored Bellis until he stomped closer. A long shadow cast her into darkness when he hovered over her. Shrugging one slim shoulder, she didn’t look at him. “He didn’t like you interrupting my punishment. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad, but I fought.”
“He hit you?”
She glanced up to pin him with angry eyes, “I said, I fought.” She turned her gaze to the wall, “And I lost. It happens.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him, Sam. Odium, he’s dead.”
She clicked her tongue behind her teeth. “Tsk, you keep saying that. You don’t need to kill anyone on my behalf, Skin Walker. I…”
She didn’t get to finish, because Bellis grabbed her arms and had her hauled up off the floor so fast that her belly dipped.
Nose to nose with her, he snarled, “Bellis! Fucking say it, Sam. Say. My. Name!”
Her shock at his sudden outburst was evident in the way she blinked rapidly.
“Say it!” he commanded.
Still too sore from her beating and weary of the fight, her lips parted. The word left her on a mere breath, “Bellis.”
“Again!” he commanded, and shook her once.
“Bellis,” she repeated more loudly, and watched as his head fell back and he inhaled deeply, as if hearing his name from her mouth had soothed some long held ache in him.
“You’re hurting me, Bellis. Let me go.”
His head jerked back down, his eyes snapping open as his hands instantly relaxed their tense hold on her. “I’m sorry, I…”
“Yeah,” she shoved off his chest and out of his hold. “No worries. That’s how it works for me. When a male wants something from me, he takes it by force whether I’m hurting or not. You’re just like them.”
If she’d been facing him she would have seen the look of agonized self-disgust that washed over his features. She was right. Since they’d met, he’d never been soft with her, not like he should have been, not like a female deserved. Because she acted hard, he treated her hard, even though he knew it was just that, an act. Now, the scent of her blood and pain filled the space between them, and it had to be damn strong to overpower the putrid scent of the sewer. She’d come in injured and bleeding, beaten by Odium, and he’d grabbed her, snatched her up off the floor and demanded she say his name. Her welfare should have been his first concern, but it hadn’t been. No, he’d needed something from her and he’d taken it. “Sam?”
“Don’t.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them tight. “I’m tired, Dem… Bellis,” she amended. “I need rest. Gotta heal before the monsters come for me again. Please, leave me alone.”
He’d never heard her use the word please, or heard her voice sound so defeated, and the thought that he’d contributed to this sudden weakness was crushing him. He needed to do something, give her something. “Fuck the monsters, Sam. I’ll
kill them all.”
“Stop making promises you can’t keep.”
“You’ve never met a beast like me. You have no idea what I am capable of, and worse,” he squatted down beside her, lifting a hand to her shoulder but stopping just before he touched her. “You have no idea the lengths I’m willing to go to for…”
When he didn’t finish, she slowly looked over her shoulder at him. “Don’t say for me. You have no idea what fealty to me would cost you. It’s a price you won’t want to pay.” She looked away. “Leave me alone.”
Fuuuuuuuuck! He hated this, hated their situation, hated the way she was always dismissing him, hated the way she thought she wasn’t worth fighting for. He wanted to fist his hair, rip the cell bars, and grab her up in a bear hug all at once. Instead, he stood and paced the cell. Hearing movement he turned back to find Sam lying on her side facing the back wall. The scent of her turmoil was gutting him, and for the thousandth time since he met her he wondered what her joy would smell like. He hadn’t scented from her anything even close to the emotion. No, she’d only ever reeked of hate, deceit, pain, and betrayal. Watching her now, he wondered if she even knew anything else. She’d said she hadn’t, but somewhere, sometime there had to have been good in her life. Right? Hell, even he, who’d had what Doc Jenny called one of the worst upbringings she’d ever heard of, still had moments of light. His life wasn’t all bad, and he wanted to believe that Sam’s hadn’t been either. No, he didn’t want it, he needed it. He needed to know that she had experienced some good in her life.
“Sam,” he began quietly. “Soon, this is going to end. When it does…”