Page 22 of The Reaper's Vice

“Seraphina…”

“I’m fine, Vee.” I move to stand from the couch when Vee’s grip on my arm stops me.

“Seraphina,please,” she whispers, her eyes filling with a deep sadness. “Let me help you.”

I think about refusing for a moment, but the raw look in her bloodstone eyes has my words dying in my throat. “Okay.” I rest my shoulders back against the cushions. “Okay. I’ll take some of that tincture.”

Vee rushes out of the room toward her alchemy chamber, reappearing only a minute later with a hissing purple liquid. I scrunch my nose as she shoves the dropper toward my mouth, and I take a deep gulp of air to steady myself before opening my mouth and letting the tincture coat my tongue.

I fight the gag that tries to force its way out as I choke down the awful, bitter liquid, dutifully ignoring Vee’s little chuckles as she sits front row to my struggle.

“Better?” A smirk tugs at her mouth as my eyelids begin to droop against my will. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

I only manage a weak nod as I fall sideways onto Sviato, barely registering as Vee places a handknit blanket over my shoulders to tuck me in for the night. I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep as Vee rustles around the space before retiring to her bedroom.

As soon as I’m sure she’s gone, my eyes pop back open, and it’s an intense battle against the drugs coursing through my veins. But even as sleep tugs at my consciousness, whispering sweet nothings to lull me into its clutches, I resist.

Because it’s better to go without sleep than risk having the same cursed nightmare twice.

8

ORION

“REMEMBERING”

It’s quiet out here.Too quiet.

A frown pulls at my mouth as I stop dead in the middle of the clearing, nothing but the chirp of cicadas to break the silence of the still winter night. Earthy notes of wet dirt and cypress zest the air—a strange scent after being locked in a concrete prison for the past eight years. My boots crunch against the blanket of dead leaves as I delve deeper into the Moriton forest, the waning moon doing little to guide my path through the dense underbrush. But it matters not. I know the way by heart.

As I walk, I can’t help my mind wandering to that beautiful girl by the lake. The same one who was at the bar. She was… ethereal. The way the light bounced off her silver hair, drawing out the molten gold in her eyes—just the thought has my cock hardening.

A growl tears from my chest as I force those desires from my mind. I’m a bad man—a sick man. My darkness will infect her as it does everything that touches me.No. The golden girl is better without me.

Although, no matter how much I say it, my cock never gets the memo.

It takes several hours by foot, but I finally make it to the cabin as the sun begins its ascent into the sky, coloring the land in vibrant hues of orange and pink. I wrinkle my nose at the sad state of the structure I once called my home, gazing upon the sagging foundation and wondering if it’s even safe to enter.

With a glare at the bright ball of light daring to highlight all of its shortcomings, I move toward the place I once called home. The rotted wooden steps squeal as I ascend the stairs to the front door, and the main deck is no better off. I press my wrist to the small divot in the wood, half expecting nothing to happen. But to my surprise, the panel that serves as the door slides open at the first brush of contact with the key nestled in my wrist.

A heady blast of mildew and condensation smacks me in the face as I step into the cabin, and my eyes are immediately drawn to the corner of the room where a small bed lies, a ratty patchwork quilt layered lovingly over the plain gray bedspread.

I move toward the bed in a trance, pinching the blanket between my fingers and bringing it toward my chest to… what? Snuggle it?

With a huff, I lay the blanket back on the bed and move toward the opposite end of the room, where a large wooden safe is located. Pleased to find all my equipment safe despite the state of the rest of the cabin, I lock the safe up tight and move back to the bed, plopping down with a heavy sigh.

It’s quiet here. Too quiet.

Filled with restless energy, I stand and move toward the door, needing something to distract me from the thoughts trying to batter their way to the forefront of my mind.

I stare out at the glassy lake, watching the way the moonlight ripples off its surface. The color reminds me so distinctly of something. A pair of eyes from years ago. The little life I was unable to save.

A weight presses down on my spine, causing me to fall to my knees as a searing pain builds behind my eyes. It takes me a while to realize actualtearsare streaming down my face, and when I notice, I can’t find it in me to care. No one is around to see them.

And if that's the case… are they even falling in the first place?

I press my forehead to the dewy grass, allowing the coolness dripping from the blades to take away some of the fire blazing beneath my skin. It’s a tornado of flame and fury. An uncontrollable wildfire, eating everything in its path. Burning me up from the inside out.

My mind falls prey to the scorching heat, and before I know it, I’m falling.

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