Distorted Affliction

Chapter Thirty Five

The chill that settled into my bones at the sight was uncomfortable, to say the least. My stomach twisted and my heart pounded inside of my chest, threatening to break free and fly away without me. The questions spinning inside of my head were plenty, but the sudden shock left me without words. Seline seemed to have plenty, though, as Lucas grabbed a hold of my hair, yanking me from the trailer and into the dark night beyond.

"Oh August," she cooed, her smile twisting her natural beauty into something more sinister. "Don't look so surprised. Lazarus has so much more to offer than you ever could, it can't be that astonishing. I mean, what did you expect when you turned him into a Mouri? That you would just add him to your collection?"

"Silence," Lucas demanded, Seline slinking back ever so slightly as fear flashed in her eyes. "Where is Silas? Kettelie already told Lazarus all about the coven in Wyoming, but when we looked there, none of your coven knew where he was. Where did you take him?"

It occurred to me then that he had refrained from making contact with my skin, which would have been the easier way of getting the answers he was looking for. The fear of my magic was far greater than his need for answers, I realized. That must have been why Lazarus had sent Lucas instead of charging in himself. The idea that I elicited fear in the dead brought a certain level of satisfaction that was unparalleled. 

"Why don't you touch me and find out for yourself?" I spat, which earned me nothing more than a swift slap across my cheek from Seline that sent me toppling to the ground. The dark magic the Priestesses were using still weighed down on me, suppressing my own power and halting me from protecting myself.

The Priestesses had formed a half circle around the outside of the trailer, chanting in a tongue I didn't recognize. At their feet, Demidicus and Sin were writhing in silent pain, and the urge to help them surged through me, though there was nothing I could do. Kettelie, the only Priestess not joining her sisters in the chant, was smirking as she watched me try to pull myself to my feet again.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, letting out a small whimper of pain as the dark magic seemed to slice through my skin like blades.

"To personally oversee the punishment the Bishop name deserves," she spoke, her words carried to me through the space between us. "See, Lazarus came to us first, offered us a deal I couldn't refuse. Not only do I get to watch Demidicus finally suffer for the things he did to me, my Priestesses and I will be the only witches left with magic when Lazarus is done with Silas. He's going to get his information from you one way or another, if you tell your Mouri friend here where you have him stashed, I can promise you a quick death."

"I'd rather die," I spat, grimacing in pain again as another wave of darkness descended upon my body.

"That's something I can facilitate." The air shifted as Lazarus stepped forward from the shadows, a wry smile creasing his face. His dark brown eyes, so similar and yet so dull compared to his brother's, glared down at me as he watched me writhe before him.

"Then do it yourself," I challenged, putting as much power behind my words as I could muster. "You can't possibly be that scared of me that you wouldn't personally want to see to my death. Come kill me then."

The laugh that filled the air sent chills down my spine, and there was nothing humorous about it. My skin felt like it was crawling, and I couldn't tell if it was the magic or just my body's response to him as he took a step toward me.

"Ah," Lazarus sighed. "You must think me a fool. I'm not like my brother Demidicus, so enthralled by the charm of witches that I've allowed it to lead me to my death time and time again. He can be so easily...manipulated by the sexual appeal of a beautiful woman, a great weakness that will be his downfall."