Stake You

Chapter Twelve

School was a nightmare. Mam still hadn’t come home, and I waited as long as possible in case she returned. But she never showed, and she didn’t answer any of my calls, so I headed out late, still exhausted from the lack of sleep from the night before.

I got to school halfway through the first class, and as I hurried through the hallway, I saw Sully and Aoife standing outside the room as if waiting for me. He appeared to be purposely parading a dead-eyed Aoife in front of me, and I had to wonder why.

“What’s your deal with me?” I asked, and he seemed startled by the question. “What’s your obsession? Are you trying to show me what I missed out on because, wow, looking at her, I’m thinking lucky break.”

He gave a wide grin, and I had to blink a couple of times because I was certain his teeth elongated in front of my eyes. Base and his vampires… Now I was seeing things.

“I know what you are,” I blurted on a whim, and he flinched visibly. He quickly recovered, his mouth contorting into a dangerous expression as his fingers twitched.

“Good. Maybe, when I’m finished with her, I’ll give you a try, too,” he said. “Maybe I’ll even let you watch. I might not be satisfied with just one this time.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means be very careful, Devlin O’Mara. It means however scared and frustrated you feel now will only make the end sweeter. It means that you’ll know you could have avoided this, and that it didn’t have to be this way for Aoife. It means a smart mouth like yours never wins in the end. You know, don’t you? You know how this will end. The only question is when, and I like to take my time. I’m looking forward to enjoying your despair.”

He took off his glasses, and I saw his eyes clearly. Too clearly. Too close to me. Dark eyes, tinged with red around the pupils. Terrifying eyes that promised nightmares and horror. I realised I was shivering, and when he spoke again, his voice sounded thicker, as though his mouth was full.

“It means that if I feel like finishing you off, nobody could save you. Nobody can save Aoife either, but perhaps you can protect your own mother if you stay out of my way.”

“What do you want with us?” I whispered.

“I want your pain. You’re all such beautifully broken creatures, Devlin O’Mara. Even your nightmares are delicious.”

He pushed Aoife forward, and she shuffled out of the hallway, but he moved in on me, his fingers around my throat before I could blink twice. The chill, the pain. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, and darkness surrounded my line of sight as I tried to choke in a breath.

“You know what I am?” he hissed. “You also know what you are, don’t you? And that’s why you mouth off. Because you’re nothing. You’re a nobody. You’re a disgustingly pathetic little girl with nothing going for her. Even your mother never loved you enough to protect you. Did you know that’s what she sees in her nightmares? How she wasn’t woman enough to look after her own child? You have to take care of her, and for what? What thanks do you get? I could end your pain, Devlin O’Mara. All of that sweet suffering that never goes away. I could take it. Bring you peace.”

I stared into his eyes, hypnotised by his words. He was right. I had nothing. I was nothing. I didn’t have anyone I trusted. I kept my life a secret from the people I called friends. My mother had more interest in finding a boyfriend than she had in spending time with me. Even Base was only wasting his time with me to get Aoife back. Deco had cheated on me. Shauna did everything she could to put me down. Maisy put up with me until someone better came along. Only Sully understood. Only Sully knew the truth. Only Sully could end the pain.