Page 39 of The Reaper's Vice

Vee tuts, her eyes crinkling with sympathy as she reaches out, squeezing my shoulder in a weathered hand. “Are you remembering?”

I stare at a spot on the floor, a rush of emotion welling behind my eyes. “I don’t… I don’t know. The dreams… they don’t make any sense. And when I wake, I can’t remember a single thing about them.” I hold my head in my hands, exhaustion curling my shoulders inward. “I’m worried, Vee. I’m worried I’m slipping. Things keep happening—things I don’t even know are real. I’m scared—I’m scared that…” The rest of the words won’t come.I’m scared I’m going crazy.

Without a word, Vee pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight as a sob threatens to break free. She rubs her palm over my back in soothing circles, a gesture I know is taking its toll on her. But she doesn’t let up—just keeps holding me, giving me something to ground myself.

I don’t realize when it happens, but eventually, I drift off in Vee’s arms. It’s not the sleep I long for, but it’s something—and for that, I’m grateful.

Although, that masked man lingers in the shadows of my mind. Waiting to pounce.

And I know it’s only a matter of time.

15

SERAPHINA

“SLEEPWALKING”

Cold…it’s so cold.

I wrap my arms around my chest as the wind whips my bare skin, the scent of wet earth and cypress heavy in the air. Cicadas chirp their song, lulling me into—wait, that’s not right.

My eyes spring open at the same time fear grips my chest, icy fingers curling into my mind as I look around at the forest clearing.How… why am I here?

I look down and gasp in horror at my lack of clothing, at the bloody cuts oozing from my bare feet. I don’t feel them, though—don’t feel much of anything other than sheer and complete terror.

I must have sleepwalked… it’s the only thing that makes sense.

When I was younger, I would sleepwalk nearly every night. I’d wake in random places—sometimes dangerous—with no clue or reasoning as to why I’d moved from the bed.

But this… this is something new. I’ve never stripped my clothes and gone for a romp in the woods at night. Not willingly, at least.

A shudder runs the length of my spine as I recall the man in the plague mask. Ifhe’sout here, then I could be royally fucked, especially since I have nothing to protect myself with.

Of course, no sooner than the thought passes does that creepy-ass whistling start again.

“Motherfucker.” My eyes go wide as I spin in a slow circle, surveying my surroundings. I come to a halt when I see him peeking out from behind a tree, the sight of him causing my blood to heat as my flight mechanism takes hold.

“Whoareyou?” I don’t bother covering myself—he’s seen it all by now. Instead, I take a step toward him, ignoring the shooting pain in my soles as sharp twigs crunch underfoot. “What do you want from me?”

The whistling halts, only for the sound to be replaced with a malicious chuckle.

“I. Want.Everything.”

He moves faster than I can blink. In a moment, he’s upon me, wrapping his gloved hands around my arms and tugging me flush against his chest. Smoke and cloves assault my senses as I breathe him in, though it’s not unpleasant. On the contrary, it's one of the most intoxicating things I’ve ever breathed in.

His hand wraps around the back of my neck as he holds me there, his breathing rapid in the still of the night, no sound save for the slice of his dagger as he unsheathes it.

“I forgot to give you something.” His voice is all sin and seduction, the sound causing a blanket of fog to rest over my mind. “Something to rememberwhoyou belong to.”

Searing pain bursts from my hip as my mouth pops, my lips spread in a silent cry as he drags the tip of his blade deeper into my flesh. Warm blood pools down my leg, the sensation heightened by the cold blast of air on my exposed flesh.

“Mine,” he growls, pressing his face to my neck and taking a deep inhale. He pulls his hands from me like it pains him, his movements erratic as he takes a few shaky steps back. I can only stand there and watch, my mind at war with my body, with the sensations he’s able to draw from it.

He retreats to the shadows he came from, leaving me with one singular thought swirling through my mind.

What the actual fuck?

16

---