Page 59 of The Wickedness of Man

“Normal? My darling, you were never meant to be normal! Your parents may have tormented you into summating all sexual congress into something horrifying, but the need for it, for that energetic connection, has always been inside you. You werealreadya succubus. Now look at you! So lovely.” Dr. Lowe’s voice was filled with true satisfaction at this assessment.

“Enough,” Caleb barked as he closed and relatched the door. “You owe us some explanations. You orchestrated this whole thing—” Lowe turned on him with a glare that would have withered weaker men, but he only looked enraged.

I crossed my arms. Here was the woman who had turned my life—Caleb’s life, too—upside down. I might literally never be able to go home again.

“I need sustenance,” snapped Lowe to Caleb. “You’ll have to suffice. Come here, please.”

I could feel the pull of her power, spreading over him like a perfume, and I could see the faint reddish haze of her it pushing against him, but Caleb shook his head, dispelling the cloud.

“No dice, doc. Equal exchange. You want energy, we want answers. You first.”

Dr. Lowe blinked at him stupidly, like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She looked between the two of us, and then pointed an accusing finger.

“How many times have you had sex with him?” she demanded of me.

“What?” My face flushed. “That’s none of your business!”

“You don’t understand,” said Dr. Lowe, “there are things I didn’t get a chance to explain, and as you are awakening, I need to know. How many times?”

I felt heat enter my face; fury. How many people constantly needed to know my sex life?

“Twice,” Caleb supplied, with a quick look over at me. “We slept together twice.”

“Damn it,” said Lowe, rubbing her forehead. “I figured the once was inevitable, but I thought I’d be here sooner”—she looked to me with a faded smile—“I suppose it’s to be expected.”

“What the hell do you mean?” I demanded. “You ‘figured’ us sleeping together was inevitable? I didn’t even know him, and then I wake up here, and—just who are you?!”

My hands shook as I waited for her to speak; I paced like a caged tiger, afraid I was going to or throttle her if she didn’t answer.

“Did my parents set this up?” I spat. “DidKatie? Is this all some elaborate trap—or better yet, a joke?! I know he works for the university—” I pointed my finger at Caleb. “Did he pay you or something? Do you drug girls and sell them to perverts or?—”

“Magda, I wouldnever,” Caleb said, taking a step toward me, touching his hand to his heart as if making a vow. “I would never do that. Not to anyone—but certainly not to you.”

His hurt came through our connection to me, and I immediately stilled, breaking into tears. I sat down on the end of the bed. “I know,” I sobbed. “I’m sorry.”

Caleb approached and sat beside me, hugging me to him. I collapsed into his arms.

Dr. Lowe sat in the chair opposite us, looking weak and tired. She propped herself up on one arm and leaned her head against her fist.

“Listen… to the both of you… I’m sorry.”

“You better start explaining yourself,” Caleb said softly. “Why did you use us?”

At that, the doctor winced, but then nodded. “Yes. I’m afraid I have used you, haven’t I? You and many others like you—but this one took an unexpected turn of events.”

“What did you do to me—to us?” I demanded, dabbing at my eyes with the sleeves of Caleb’s shirt. “Why did you?—”

“Listen, I promise I have no issue answering questions for you. I intended to find you much sooner, but the organization waswellprepared this time, and I… find myself in need of a bit of a restorative.” She gestured between us with her other arm. “Seeing as you’re both flushed to the gills with sexual energy, I think one of you can spare a little.” The doctor’s eyes flashed over to Caleb, then she looked back at me. “Let me borrow some of his, hmm?”

I tightened my grip on Caleb’s knee reflexively; possessively. I was shocked at the fierce territorial beast that rose within me, and I leaned toward her, almost as if challenging—as if daring her to try. I blinked several times and tried to get a hold of myself.

“What do you mean?” I asked. “What kind of ‘sexual energy’ are you talking about?”

“Magda dear, I’m not going to fuck him. I’ll just take a bit of it from him in a kiss.” She looked to me with a knowing smile. “No need to get so protective. If I promise to give him right back, will it help?”

I noticed Caleb’s jaw, set into a grim line. Whether or notIminded, he certainly would. I did mind, however, which made me feel worse. I didn’t know this man—I’d slept with him a couple times, sure, but whowashe to me? Who was I tohim? I didn’t have the right to act so jealous, and the sane part of me seemed to know that, while the louder part of my brainsuggested that I should hurt her if she tried to so much as put a finger on him.

What the hell is going on with me?

---