Games of a Different Kind-{sequel to Toys of a Dangerous Mind}

Chapter 18

The night was a place where Renae could not light up my life and protect me from all the horrors that stalked the shadows. I had been expecting this visit into the underworld for a few days now, it was only a matter of time.

"Hello Ryan," I said calmly, facing the father of my hope. "I thought I would see you again."

"I would hate to betray expectations," he grinned, the familiar dark hair, the amused eyes, the twisted grin. Ryan was every bit the servant that Raxis could ever want. They were alike in so many ways.

"Well, let's get this over with," I said shortly, crossing my arms. I wouldn't be pulled into this tricks of spite and playfulness. I wasn't having any of it. "I had the child; you're well-informed.'"

"Raxis keeps me fairly well updated," he smiled. "Didn't provide much on the child- said you would be more than happy to oblige."

"Of course," I said icily. Diving straight into business, I listed the information. "My baby is a girl. Brown eyes. Pure, so unlike her father."

"Why, yes," Ryan smirked. "Name?"

I hesitated. Divulging the name felt like throwing my baby to the sharks; I didn't want Ryan thinking of her. I didn't want him musing of her name, her character, anything. Giving her a name to him was making it real- giving him a pawn in his games, just like Raxis liked to play.

"Renae," I offered hesitantly.

"Renae..." Ryan rolled the word around his mouth. "That's after the girl you used to like. Pretty face. Think I had dinner with her. Sadly, not dessert." He shot me a feral smile, subtly reminding me of exactly what dessert was. I responded with a stony glare.

"Pity she died," he mused, a smirk on his face. "Went to the torture-place after that. Not a very happy ending."

"She was everything that you are not," I spat at him. "Everything that this baby will grow to be."

"Well, I'm sure that is all well and good," Ryan laughed. "But I'm having fun and she's in an eternity of pain. Doesn't look good for little Renae."

"For now," I muttered, thinking of the future and how Raxis's death would impact the world: hell and all its torture included.

"How so?" he asked sharply, his sweet smiles turning to glass-sharp edges.

Alarm rang me as strongly as a bell. I hadn't meant to say that. "Nothing."

But now his expression was getting deadly. Ryan had already discovered I was planning something and seeing as this wouldn't help him, he would relay this all to Raxis.

"Tell me more," he commanded with a glint in his eyes that told me of nothing good. "Now." Ryan was smart, already scoping out information.

"Just wishful thinking," I lied angrily.

"You never wish for things that you have no way to make come true," Ryan said harshly. "What are you planning?"

He knew it. I couldn't stay here any longer; I needed to get away. Pure panic consumed me as Ryan began to advance towards me, to torture the information out of me? Shutting my eyes, I whispered three words over and over again.

"Let me out."

"Let me out."

"Let me out."

"Let me out."

The steps grew faster but Ryan's footsteps were already fading, his growl of frustration like a faint drop of water.