Page 39 of Demons and Debts
‘Get Sie in here,’ he orders Theo, but his eyes don't leave me.
He's looking for my reaction, I realize, so I don’t give him one. I just sit in front of him and it's not until a few minutes later, when I hear footsteps coming to the door, that I’m out of my seat without even realizing it and backing away to the far wall.
As Sie enters the study, he doesn't see me at first, giving Vic a small incline of his head.
‘Time for the fight?’ he asks.
‘Not quite yet,’ Vic says, glancing at me.
When Sie follows his eyes, his fists close at his sides, and I look away from him, my arms hugging my middle tighter.
‘She can't fucking stay here,’ he snarls, spitting the words at me.
I'm tired and I can't hide everything when I'm tired. Before I know it, I'm backed into the corner trying to make myself small on the floor, not looking at any of them. I'm trying not to rock, but I’m not sure how successfully.
‘Get out,’ says Vic.
At first, I hope he’s talking to me, but the massive presence that was Sie disappears instead.
There's a shadow over me and I glance up to see Vic. Dread courses through me. What’s he going to do?
‘Get up,’ he says.
I don't obey, just curl my knees closer into myself. I know he and Theo share another look, and the silence is palpable. I wish they'd all just leave me alone.
‘Get her back in the chair,’ Vic says, going to sit behind his desk again.
Theo picks me up and I don't fight him. He sits me where I was before. I'm still watching the floor.
‘Look at me,’ says Vic.
Why do all these guys keep telling me to do that like I’m going to just give them power over me? I’m not stupid! I grit my teeth and stare at the books behind his head again.
‘No, not fucking behind me,’ he commands. ‘At my face.’
I shake my head.
‘If I wanted to use my power on you, I don't need your eyes to do it,’ he says. ‘That’s a human myth.’
My eyes focus on his face, snapping me out of my haze, and I gape at him. ‘Is that true?’
‘Yes,’ Theo says from behind me. ‘Some incubus started it to fuck with you.’
‘Me?’
‘Humans,’ he clarifies.
‘I don’t give a shit who started it,’ Vic says. ‘When I tell you to look at me, fucking look at me. Now, what did hedo?’
He means Sie.
‘Nothing,’ I say too quickly.
He stands up and leans over the desk, but I meet his eyes this time. I don’t say a word.
‘It doesn't actually matter what he did,’ Theo mutters. ‘What matters is what she will say once she leaves.’
‘I won't say anything,’ I vow. ‘There's nothingtosay.’
