“He’s good at what he does. He’s got hundreds of years of knowledge at his disposal. He doesn’t sleep. He likes a good challenge. I don’t know how we’d get through a day without him. Hell, an afternoon…”
Jack nodded, understanding. Feeling more confident by the minute that he’d made the right request in his letter to William.
CHAPTER FOUR
Morning had come, and with it clouds and drizzle. It also arrived without rescue. Melinda sniffled in exhausted despair. She’d thought her brothers would have come for them by now. Why hadn’t they?
She’d obeyed William’s last words and kept her eyes shut all night. When it had started to lighten through her lids, she dared to open them, but kept her gaze down at her feet.
She had not heard any sounds coming from William in hours and wished desperately his voice would enter her mind again, so she’d know he was still alive. At the same time, wishing they’d just let him die and end his torture.
She shivered uncontrollably, fighting a level of cold she’d never experienced before. Her hair had never quite dried after Riley’s icy bucket of water, and it now matted to her face.
Her voice was nearly gone from screaming and sobbing throughout the night. Her eyes swollen and head pounding incessantly. Her arms and legs had gone numb from exposure and being bound to the stake.
You deserve every bit of it… it’s nothing… nothing compared to William…
She’d taken a chance glance at the iron cage and noticed Emily had awakened. She just leaned against the bars of the cage looking as weary and dead as Melinda felt. She’d heard when Lucas awakened, a few hours earlier. His shouts had momentarily drowned out William’s, begging his brother to stop. Calling out to Melinda.
She did not reply. No words would form when she tried. Shouting would take such effort if it wasn’t just mindless desperation…
Lucas had gotten so desperate to get out and stop his brother that he attempted to use magic. It hadn’t worked. Not because he failed, but because the cage he was imprisoned in was a magic-proof cage.
Melinda had listened to the Feyk named Stricker, explaining it to Eva. It was a creation he was quite proud of. Magic could get in, but not out. Any spell Lucas tried fizzled and died.
Riley ignored his brother’s pleas, and Lucas was forced to give up after Stricker threatened to knock him out again. Lucas decided he’d rather be conscious.
But they were all helpless.
Stuck.
Unable to do anything to help William, or escape. Or reach out for help.
Inside the cage, Lucas rubbed Emily’s arms trying to warm her.
“No one knows we’re here,” she whimpered.
“Someone will come,” he tried to comfort.
Emily leaned against the cage bars, staring into nothing. Her eyes a blank slate. The beautiful, light in the room, Emily… broken.
He sucked in, sitting down on the ground next to her.
There was nothing else to do.
But wait.
And watch.
And listen.
All things that drove him mad.
He couldn’t believe that his brother was capable of such terrible acts. He knew it was a spell, but how could magic turn him in such a horrific manner? And not just towards William, but Melinda, too. Riley was a lover not a fighter.
And yet he’d left her bound to that stake all night as he tortured William.
Lucas thought he was having a nightmare. When he’d first regained consciousness after getting knocked out by the Feyk. To awaken locked in a cage, his brother shooting fireballs at the vampire. Feyk hanging around watching like it was an afternoon sporting event. Eva Jordan, goading his brother… delighting in every strike.
Try as he might, he had to look. After, it had taken everything not to hurl. How was William even still alive? How did evil like this exist? If this is what magic did to people, he wanted nothing to do with it.
He’d turned his attention to keeping Emily awake and conscious. She was in shock, and denial, he guessed. He was also growing more concerned about Melinda with each passing hour. Even from his cage, he could tell she needed serious medical attention. She’d been out in the cold all night and was wet, exhausted and traumatized. And if like him, had a nasty gash on her head from being knocked out by the Feyk.
If only Riley would speak to him. Alone. Maybe he could talk him into freeing her. But Eva Jordan and Stricker were always just a few steps away.
Emily looked like she needed medical attention as well. She was in shock over what Eva had done to her father and he wasn’t sure how else to help her, other than talk to her and try to keep her warm. Emily hadn’t been able to tell him what had happened. However, Eva made sure to rub it in on more than one occasion.
Now that day had come, the summer heat would return.
“This is why I despise magic,” Lucas uttered from inside the cage. If he ever got out, he was taking his brother away from this place, for good. Coming to the Demon Isle had been a mistake.
Melinda’s eyes closed, her head dropping fast. The movement startled her awake. She didn’t think she was actually falling asleep. More likely passing out. Maybe, if she was lucky, she’d just slip into a coma and live her remaining hours unconsciously.
She had no one to blame other than herself. It was her fault she was bound to a stake. It was her fault that William was being tortured, barely clinging to life. He suffered beyond imagining because she loved him, and Riley knew this, which sparked a jealous rage thanks to the Feyk.
No, thanks to me. Because I didn’t tell him.
Melinda jumped when Eva Jordan’s cutting voice taunted William. Her hatred for this woman was much deeper than anything she ever thought possible of herself.
“William, William,” Eva sang in gratified song. “You’re looking so... no, make that smelling, nice and toasty. Nearly done, I’d say.”
Melinda thought she might vomit.
Eva’s heartless laugh forged its way into Melinda’s brain, getting stuck there, replaying over and over.
“You ready to beg for death yet? We can get the little witch lit up in a jiff, fry her, and end your pathetic existence.”
Melinda couldn’t take anymore.
William’s torment would continue until Riley either shot an accidental deathblow, or until the pain became so excruciating that William gave in, and begged for release. He might not have been human, but even a vampire could only take so much.
Melinda’s breath hitched when footsteps approached her. She kept her head down and refused to look. Someone climbed her pyre.
“Hi, Baby. You look tired.” Riley lifted her head.
He never called her Baby. The way it slipped off his tongue made her cringe.
Like it was some form of possession. Or ownership.
He pushed the hair out of her face; she shuddered as his fingers crawled down her cheek.
“Don’t touch me.” She turned her head away, uncaring if he got angry. It wasn’t her Riley touching her. It was a psychotic stranger.
“Oh, so you can tie me up and have your way with me, but I’m not allowed to do the same?”
“No,” she stammered. “I was trying to help you. You’re just…” she couldn’t say it.
“I’m just what?”
She didn’t answer.
His fingers drew against her chin forcing her gaze on him. “Last I recall you wanted me to bend you over a chair in the vampire’s study…”
“I think you’re remembering wrong,” she gasped out.
“Playing innocent are we?”
She said nothing.
“You’re not innocent at all, are you?”
She said nothing.
“How many guys did you give it up to before I came along?”
Melinda opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. This rage spell was so much more than just being angry or jealous. It was amplifying every emotion, insecurity or thought Riley had. And all topics
that were private. And secret. And personal. So very personal.
“You… you know it wasn’t like that,” she attempted to argue. “There was just the one guy and he…” she didn’t finish. This was too much. Too personal. And what was the point?
“Right, the guy that hurt you…”
“Why are you doing this?” Riley had some serious trust issues. “You had a girlfriend before me.” She tried to change the subject, to talk about anything other than Jerkwad.
“So what did the guy do to you?” Riley ignored her attempt. “I want you tell me.”
“Why?” she cried. “Why does it matter what he did to me? He hurt me, isn’t that enough?”
“Did he? Maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe it was you. You’re just like my ex-girlfriend, can’t be happy with just one guy. Maybe he asked you to be honest with him, and you promised you would… but then you lied. Did he really hurt you, Melinda? Or did you hurt him?”
A part of Melinda knew this was her fault. She’d planted these seeds and now she was sowing the repercussions. He had needed honesty from her, and she had promised knowing she would not actually be honest.
But she was too tired to care. Too angry. Too hurt. Too worried about William. Too scared for her family and friends. Too everything…
“You want the truth, Riley,” she replied flatly. “He treated me just like you are, right now. Like a cheap date. Like he did me a favor by sticking his dick in me… is that what you want to hear? Is that honest enough for you?”
“And what about the vampire? How many times have you been with him since you started dating me?”
“What?”
“Really, playing innocent again?”
“Riley… please… just stop.”
He let out a dark laugh. “Still, even now, you try to protect him. It all comes back to William. Dear, almost dead, William… you just don’t want the vampire to hear how I fucked you in the quarry. How I had my fingers buried deep inside you in that cavern. How it was my name you called out-” he was cut off.
“You make me sick. You will never touch me again.” The words shocked her and at the moment she said them, they felt true. The thought of being with Riley after this was sickening.
A sharp sting slapped against her cheek. Melinda gasped, her breath caught.
Lucas had seen Riley hit Melinda and shouted from his cage. “Don’t hurt her! You love her, remember?”
Melinda peered at Lucas, their silent exchange fixated on the helplessness of their situation. There was nothing either of them could say, or do, to change Riley’s actions at this point.
And God, could William hear all of this?
His torture wasn’t barbaric enough without listening to this?
Riley turned and eyed his brother, hatred rising. He turned back to Melinda, with a convicting stare.
“The vampire’s almost dead, so what? You just move along to the next guy?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I saw how you looked at Lucas. I’m not blind!”
“Riley… Please…” Melinda had no fight left. Even if the spell was broken and he was suddenly himself again, and remorseful, she saw no future with him. This thing, this spell, her fuckup, had killed any chance they had. The idea of him close to her, touching her… she forced the thought down deep.
“It doesn’t matter what I do, does it?” Riley shouted madly, vaulting off the pyre.
Melinda lowered her gaze again.
“I could rid the entire world of every single man, or vampire,” he bellowed, “and there will always be someone else you love more than me.”
“Enough of this,” called out Stricker. “Puppy love is so…” he shuddered, indignantly. “It’s time to get things moving along… Eva,” he called expectantly.
“Everything’s ready,” she advised. “If they’re not going to attempt rescue, or voluntarily open the door… and the vampire’s not going to beg to die, we’ll just have to move things along ourselves.”
‘Not going to attempt rescue’… were they waiting for this? Maybe her brothers were still free somewhere? If so, why hadn’t they come? Why hadn’t they tried to rescue everyone? Probably don’t know where we are…
Melinda wanted to have hope, but more footsteps approached her pyre.
Feyk.
This was it.
There would be no rescue.
They were out of time. She was out of time.
A painful death awaited her.
As Eva promised, she’d make William watch her burn before they ended his life.
This is how her brothers would eventually find her. Burned to a crisp.
Melinda held her breath. Waiting to see a torch or flame.
She closed her eyes tightly; she didn’t want to see them light it. When the heat reached her feet and the fire crackled, she’d know it was the end.
Two arms came up behind her. Her bonds loosening. Her hands remained bound to each other, but her body was freed.
She nearly toppled down the pyre, unable to stand on her own.
The Feyk dragged her down to the ground. Another coming up alongside her; they propped her up between them. Her legs refused to hold her weight.
Were they not burning her?
In her dream, she’d been on the same pyre as William. Perhaps they were simply moving her to his pyre, to burn them together.
She felt no hope in this action. Only delay of the inevitable.
Melinda kept her gaze down, knowing William was close. She couldn’t look at him or she’d lose it, completely.
She overheard Eva talking to Stricker.
“I’m properly satisfied. The vampire’s practically dead, and definitely suffering. Bargain kept,” she told him.
Stricker let out a requited hiss.
Eva’d already come to this conclusion hours prior and had informed Stricker where the power source was located. But she made it official.
Stricker set into readying a trap for the Howards. But her satisfaction over William’s suffering made the bargain officially fulfilled.
He’d still die. But not until the right moment.
The Feyk held Melinda firmly in their grasp. Her body shook uncontrollably. The feeling returning to her legs in painful spasms. The cold and dread, burrowing into her bones.
When she could stand on her own, the Feyk let go.
She wobbled some, but remained upright.
Another arm grabbed her, forcing her to walk. It was Eva.
“Hey! Where are you taking her?” Riley shouted after them. Suddenly concerned about her again.
“Someone please knock him out,” implored Stricker. “He can finish off the vampire when we’re done with the baby Howard,” he directed at Eva.
“Fine with me. Give dear old William a little more time to sear, and ponder his miserable end.”
Melinda let out a disgusted grunt.
They stopped.
Eva forced Melinda to look at her.
“This is all your fault you know. You guys have no one to blame but yourselves. If you’d just let my mother live, my father would never have become obsessed by this place. We never would have come back here. He wouldn’t be dead. Charlie never would have become a werewolf. And your vampire wouldn’t be a crispy critter. But all those things did happen, and will happen... because of you.”
Melinda didn’t argue. All she could do was agree.
“Let’s get this done,” said Stricker, impatiently.
They shoved Melinda so she was standing in front of another pile of wood. William’s pyre. They spun her around, her back facing William.
She knew what was coming. She’d seen it in her dream. Her teeth chattered, she never remembered feeling so cold. I won’t be cold in a few minutes her delirious mind joked.
Lucas shouted from inside the cage. She did not dare lift her head to look at him. To see his fear over her impending death would be too much to handle.
He went silent quite suddenly.
Ha
d they knocked him out again? She refused to look.
Melinda had but a moment to steel herself. And a moment to say goodbye to William. She had no idea if he was even still alive enough to hear her.
“I’m so sorry, William.” Her voice wavered, but she whispered to him anyway. She needed to tell him before it was too late. “So sorry I didn’t tell you everything. Sorry that I’m always afraid. This is happening because I was too afraid to tell you the truth. Now I’m just afraid to lose you. You’re dying because of me. And…” She let out a sob, biting her lip to stop. “I love you… I love you, William. I know I shouldn’t… and I was trying very hard not to. I should have just told you but I…” she gasped, unfriendly hands yanking on her body to spin her around so she was facing William. She closed her eyes, refusing to look.
She wondered how they would burn her.
Would they tie her up with him, or just douse her in gas and light a match?
This was not ending like her dream vision at all.
William would not save her life, nor she his. Instead, they would both die.
“Perfect lighting,” she heard Eva saying.
Melinda couldn’t stand waiting any longer and almost screamed for them to just do it already. She wanted it to end.
“No, this is no excellent,” Eva spoke. “She needs to open her eyes though, so we can get her reaction. That’s the priceless part.”
This made no sense to Melinda. She jumped when someone came up behind her and yanked on her hair, pulling her head up.
A hand snaked around her neck pulling back her matted hair. Stricker’s insidious slither drilled into her ear. “Come now, open your eyes like an obedient little pet.”
She shook her head stubbornly, keeping her eyes firmly closed.
His bony fingers dithered across her neck.
She tried not to shudder, giving him the pleasure he so obviously sought in her discomfort, but she could not control her body from flinching.
“How about I take one of your little friends out of the cage and kill them? Does that change your mind, Baby Howard?”
She let out a cry. He knew he had her.
Melinda was going to have to open her eyes. They were going to make her look at William before they killed her.
Bite Me Baby! (Wicked Good Witches Book 7) Page 4