Beep

f the ECG machine dragged S

as dry, her throat raw, and her entire body throbbed

her was black - to

thing wa

quiet. Too quiet. No doctors rushing by. No beeping machines save the one beside

ftly, Serap

a

her chapped lips. Her hand twitched and she glanced down at the IV drip in he

... w

side her gut. "Where am I?" she w

e memory crashed in,

he gunfire. Th

ith horror. "Nate-!" she looked

ly made her he

s, she reached to rip

do that if

ld. Dominant. Like velve

hina

her head toward the

shadows,

black tattoo that snaked from his collarbone to his neck. His black pants were fitted,

a's brea

de the air feel heavier. Like he owned this spa

eak but defiant, "What do you want from

give only one answer." He paused as he tucked his two hands

art st

nt

"D-Dante?" she sta

reaction. "You say my name like it's f

, unwilling to show fear-but every n

ok a slow step closer, now directly near her. "You didn't flinch.

eraphina muttered, "whe

kled softl

t at him. The glob of saliva

sti

im!" she spat. "You killed Nate! Your own

finish, Dante mov

throat, squeezing-not enough

st the bed. Her finge

his cheek with his free hand. "To wake up from a week of

air, her voice hoar

close, his lips

he moment he thought he could take what was mine. I

lease

ed, coughing and choking as

ped back,

he said. "Fear lo

tched her neck, tear

rby table and picked u

not the first to challenge me. But you might be the first I have

er voice was raspy but full of

r his shoulder. "You sho

rabbed her neck and said she called Nate's name before

on the screen, and Dan

made her h

st a dozen - surround

ents' a

window. Jude was on the couch,

s?" Seraphina choked

n was slow.

inder that I alway

. "What are you doing?! Leave them o

or their safety," Dante raise

you want

, placing the tabl

said simply. "One who

e he was mad. "And how the

It is very much your bus

itterly. "I'd

s, and your parents live out the rest of their pathetic lives in peace

's stomac

her fixing the curtain, her father sipping a cup of

sane," she

I'm powerful. And yo

pered, "Why me? You could have gotten a

d and began to wa

he stepped o

our 'f

a blinke

, eyes gleaming. "-ask Jude.

appeared into t

the apar

ly against the cr

s sunken, her collarbones stark. Her arms, wrapped ar

frustration oozing fr

is time. "You haven't eaten. Not a drop o

didn't

er your

wild. "My daughter is in the hands of the devil and you're talking to me about m

inst the window so hard

Jude cried, rus

ed from he

re you out of your mind?! What are you

ed her h

ost everything,

lenched. "Me

he suddenly screamed. "Why

ff, his gaze

issues with him-you should have come! She

hat followed

parted-but n

u knew, didn't you? You kn

er, her bleeding

u part of this? My daughter got shot! They woul

is fists clenched.

whispered, "Seraphina.

ntire wor

at.