Hello Darkness

Chapter Fifty-Six

I wake to the sudden flash of Joe's face.

I shoot up, my chest heaving—sweat trailing my spine. Victor doesn't stir, just releases little puffs of air in his sleep. Not snoring—just puffing. I smile, even with that menacing scar, the perfect imperfection, he looks so innocent and content. I like knowing I'm the only one that gets to see him that way.

Slipping quietly from the room, I shower and change. Making my way outside, I step onto the porch and let the sun warm my skin. I would keep my word to Victor and perfect my speed and agility even if we're not at the beach house. It's more pressing now than ever. I miss my punching bag desperately, but I assume there is not a vampire-proof heavy bag. I'd probably tear down the beam or snap the stand in two.

A skinny path invites me into a grove of trees, just near the edge of the estates. The smell of moss and leaves puts my mind at ease. I round a curve to find a tree fallen across the path and glide over it, but quickly dig my heels into the moss and turn around, eyeing the fallen pine. I place my palms under its beastly trunk, little bits of wood and pine needles scraping my skin.

I wonder if I could—I focus the energy through my body. I lift—it hardly budges. I grunt, letting it fall the few inches back to the ground.

I clear my mind and focus. The tree raises from the ground, just inches—then more. My eyes widen as the weight presses in my arms. My smile grows as I keep lifting, until my hands are above my head, holding the tree at an angle. Legs shaking, I push it into a clearing, branches snapping as it collides with the ground.

Claps echo through the trees. "Nice work."

I know that voice nearly as well as my own. I spin to find Talum leaning against a tree.

My feet feel like they've sunk deep into the mud. "Why are you here?"

"Nice to see you too." He pushes off the tree. "I'm here to try one last time to talk some sense into you. You're in danger—"

"Danger?" Heat rushes my flesh, and I find calm in the steady beat of my heart. "The only danger I'm in is caused by you."

"Charley, you're living with him now."

"Because he doesn't trust your community—not that I have to explain my choices to anyone—especially you."

"Are you together?" The words came with a bitter edge.

"Does that matter?" I spit. His bright blue eyes were a dull grey—broken. I lower my voice. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave."

"Not this time. I'm not leaving here without you." He pauses. "And I don't want to force you."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I say through clenched teeth. I try to push past him, but he steps in my way. "I don't need you to protect me." My fists shake at my sides. Who does he think he is? I will never forgive him for what he's done and taking me away from here wouldn't change that.

"Demons, Charley. For once in your life, can you listen to someone who is trying to protect you?"

I scoff, crossing my arms. "I'm making decisions on my own. Isn't that what you said I should do?"

"Living with him isn't safe. Living here isn't safe. He's a monster, and so much worse can happen."

"You talk about safety. You're the one that helped kill my parents and all those people from the lab. The only monster here is you."

"What?" His voice goes soft, with almost a hint of confusion. What kind of game is he playing?

"You can stop the charade—or maybe you should ask your master. The monster in that house has been nothing but helpful since you tried to kill me." Fire burns under my skin, igniting a fury deep in my stomach.

"Charley, I don't—I would never hurt you." He furrows his brow as if he's trying to understand.

I roll my eyes. "Please, don't try to pretend. Just own up to what you did." I push past him, but he grabs me. I scream as he wraps me into his chest. I hate that something deep inside likes the feeling of his arms around me. Even after everything he's done.

"I didn't want to have to do it this way." His breath lingers on my skin, creeping into my core and shocking me back to reality. I squirm, trying to get him to release me, but he's pinned my arms at my sides.

Three dark swirling shadows woosh around us. I breathe a sigh as Julian stands cross armed in front of us wearing a tailored blue suit. The other two close in at Talum's sides, silver chains slung over their white gloved hands.

Julian clicks his tongue. "Silvano..." Julian scolds. "Now, Charley here doesn't look like she wants to go with you. Do you, Charley?"

I shake my head. Of course, I don't. Talum holds me tighter.

"Release her." Julian's dark eyes warn.

Talum's heart thuds against my back, heavy, quick. Five. Six. Seven. Good—he should be scared. He isn't getting away with this, not with three of them. Talum's vice-like grip releases my chest and I rip myself away before he can change his mind, stepping behind Julian.

"I released her. Now, let me be." Talum's eyes never leave Julian, but I'm certain he's acutely aware of the other two lurking behind him.

Julian smirks, picking at his nails. "Silvano, don't be a fool. You know as well as I that's not how this works. Especially, on your second offense." If Talum's eyes could shoot fire, Julian would be engulfed in blue flames. I expect Talum to combat with a wise retort about being part of the Authority, but he holds his tongue and flicks his eyes toward me. Is he not going to do anything? Fight—Run? Instead he just stares at Julian with hate-filled eyes.

He flashes to the side, but Julian's men are quicker. They mist and Talum hits them with a loud thunderclap. Talum collapses to his knees, screaming as they wrap the thick silver chain around his torso and wrists.

I glance down at my own wrists. The chains restraining them last night were much smaller, but still the pain echoes in the thin bracelet of pale pink gashes.

I step from my position behind Julian to where Talum kneels and bend down to meet his eyes. "For what you've done to me and my family, you deserve every bit of pain that's coming to you." I rise, looking down my nose at him. "I hope you rot in hell."

I turn back to Julian. "Take him away," I say, as frustrated tears fill my eyes. I cross my arms until I feel a woosh of air on my back, alerting me they left. My arms fall to my sides and I release an anxious sigh.

"Well, killer, that was pretty savage." Julian's voice breaks in a half-hearted laugh.

The nickname stings a bit more than it should.

He pauses shifting uncomfortably in the silence. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I sigh and step past him, working my way back toward the house.
Julian swings his arm over my shoulder and walks with me. "You know, if he's done everything I've heard, he deserves every bit of that and hell, I'd say he deserves to be shot from a cannon into a wall of spikes." I look up at him, his face lit with a crooked grin. The familiar warmth makes me return his smile.

"What will they do to him?" I'm not sure I want to know the answer.

"Well, he'll be sent to the holding chambers, then whatever Victor orders. But, I'd bet he'll wait and see what the Silvanos offer."

I stop, realizing what he'ssaying—now we have a bargaining chip.