The Monster Within

Honey

"Hollis?" Oberon urged, fingers gripping her shoulders. She tensed beneath him, eyes shut tight, face contorted in pain. He watched from his peripherals as her wrists began to curl inward toward her forearms at an unnatural angle, as though she were fighting against the pull of something—or someone. She groaned, slackening for a moment, before her body stiffened once more and her lungs forced another scream from her throat.

"No, no, no," he chanted, cupping her face, pinning her arms, pressing his forehead to hers as Cole's worried voice carried to him over Hollis' jumbled, pained noises.

"It's me, Hollis," he breathed as she thrashed, her eyes open but rolling back into her skull. He pinched his eyes shut, tuning in to the abhorrent images swirling into her mind. Oberon, killing Willow. Oberon, twisting her mother's neck, cutting her grandmother to ribbons. Oberon, choking the life out of Hollis with a sick smile plastered to his face.

He felt rage swell within him, stronger than the rage he'd felt as he'd witnessed the tidal wave barreling toward him, the last night of his life. Nostrils flared, he seethed as Hollis' eyes flew open, fixating on his, a simpering grin curling onto her lips.

"Stay the hell away from her, you bastard," he seethed, knowing he was listening. Hollis barked out a laugh, tensing once more, her strength beginning to rival Oberon's. Heart hammering, torn between harming Hollis' body or ridding her of the hold Tiberius had, Oberon felt stuck. She slackened, panting, tears springing from her eyes as she trembled and whimpered. It was working, but how long she'd have to fight him off, he knew not. And in the process, the harm done to her mind and body would be incalculable.

Oberon wracked his brain, sifting through options. Tiberius was ruthless, cunning—and so he needed to be even smarter. His eyes snapped to Cole, who was kneeling outside the circle, wide eyes fixated on the macabre scene before him. Hollis screamed again, fighting against Oberon's hold.

"I need your help," he hissed through grit teeth. Cole stood, nodding with urgency, the fire casting long shadows upon his face. Oberon prayed to the God who hated him that he'd be able to outsmart his brother.

"Do you have any...medical supplies?" Oberon panted, trying to keep Hollis pinned. Cole nodded, rushing off. The horses whinnied nearby, restless, as though a predator was pacing their camp.

"Fight him off, Hollis, dammit!" Oberon growled. She fell, whimpering, blue eyes finding his. She shied away, shaking her head, chin wobbling in her stark fear.

"It's not me doing those things, you know that, I promised you," he said, holding her cheek, keeping her eyes on his face.

"Obe—" she choked, eyes rolling back again. He gripped her arms, forcing them into the dirt before her nails had a chance to claw at his face. He heard Cole's return, and his eyes flashed to him. He jerked his head, indicating he enter the circle. Cautious, Cole approached, kneeling down, unfurling a bag with shiny, metallic instruments. Hollis weakened again, sobbing, and it was almost more than Oberon could bear. Now was their chance.

"When she tenses, that's how you know it's him, make him think you're doing something, to change her—"

"What? I can't...I..."

"Just make up some bullshit!" Oberon yelled, golden, enraged eyes finding his.

"Alright, alright," Cole nodded, dropping his gaze to his supplies, shaking hands shuddering over them as he sifted through his options.

"Hurry up!" Oberon roared, feeling her beginning to be overcome once more. Cole's hand shot down, gripping a syringe and a vial of sedative. Using his teeth, he yanked the cap off, pulling back the plunger, shoving it into the vial, and measuring out the smallest dose—half of what he'd normally use.