Page 14 of Sound
“Fuck me.” Huffing a breath out, I rub my face.
I better find that damn cat.
11
Melody
Waking up to find Étienne gone was a relief. I had the strangest dream to date where his beautiful face was looming over mine and fangs as long as my pinky were poking out of his lips. His too-blue eyes glowed from within like lanterns and his cheekbones had a sharper edge to them, giving him an even more perfect look. And he was kissing me like he was trying to fuse his mouth to mine and stay like that forever. He kissed me because I asked him to. No, scratch that, I begged him to do it. My face feels hot enough to fry an egg on it at the thought.
My fingers reach up, rubbing my still-swollen lips and telling me it wasn’t really a dream. Well, not all of it at least. I’m sure he didn’t sprout fangs out of nowhere or flip a switch to make his eyes glow. The drugs mess with my head; I know that. No matter what, though, I can’t wipe the stupid smile off my face.
“He kissed me,” I tell Salmon, who is glaring at me from across the room.
Not even the bad-tempered cat can sour my mood. Right now, I don’t think even Seraphina can kill the buzzing in my chest. Flopping back on the bed, I sigh. I might not have much experience, but that kiss was out of this world. I think he messed me up for any other guy. The expectations went sky high with this girl. I’m no virgin—although the memory of my non-virginhood is better left forgotten—but I’ve never felt like that in my life. Like he was trying to leave a stamp on my soul to say he has been there. Another sigh follows as I stare at the cracks on the ceiling, my arm limply hanging off the bed. A wet nose bumps at it and I roll over to peek at Salmon.
“You are not upset with me anymore?” My fingers wiggle under his chin and the purring starts. “I should say thank you, Salmon. He said you brought him here.”
The cat grumbles and I pick him up, setting him on my stomach, which tightens as he kneads the shirt before nesting against me and curling in a ball. One hand gliding over his silky fur, I just breathe. It feels like a long time has passed since my chest hasn’t been weighed down with fear or worry. I don’t know if it’s because he promises he will be back, or from the kiss. Maybe a mixture of both? I don’t know and I don’t care. Either way, I’ll take it.
The door flings open so suddenly it slams the opposite wall bouncing off it. I bolt upright, dropping Salmon on the floor. Thankfully he lands on four paws, but I’m not sure where I’m about to land. Seraphina, her face twisted in rage, stands at the threshold, hands fisted at her sides. I recoil from the hatred burning in her amber gaze.
Salmon, arching his back and tail sticking up like an antenna on his butt hisses at her.
“I knew you were not talking to yourself.”
Spitting the words like venom, she marches inside. Before I can move, she kicks Salmon so hard the poor cat flies out the door with a shrieking meow. The loud thump against the wall in the hallway is like a hot poker to my chest. Ignoring the consequences, I bolt out the door and scoop the cat into my arms. The poor thing is shivering, clinging to my chest while his claws scratch my skin. My whole body is vibrating with tremors as well.
“Release him.” A hand grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back. “I said release him!” She is pulling so hard she’ll snap my neck. My arms fall limply to my sides on their own.
Fear chokes me. I have no control over my body and the cat is clinging to my shirt, his claws ripping the fabric as his weight pulls him down. With another loud shrieking meow, Salmon pushes off my body and drops a couple of feet away, bolting down the hallway. I’m yanked back inside the room.
Chunks of hair are pulled out of my skull while Seraphina guides me to the bed. Shoving me on it hard, I hit my hip on the metal frame so hard I see stars. Tears burn my eyes but I push them away. I will not cry in front of her.
“So, Alto thought it was smart to disobey me,” she says conversationally.
“Who?” Pushing the hair off my face, I look at her.
“He was not allowed near any of you. I see he needs a lesson in obedience.”
“The cat?” Afraid she will hurt the poor thing, I drop at her feet, pleading with her. “It’s not his fault. I tricked him to come here because I was bored. Please don’t hurt him.”
“My oh my, what have we here?” She glares down her nose at me. “A cat you say?”
“Yes, it was my fault. He didn’t want to come at first.” Not understanding her glee, I stay kneeling in hopes she will change her mind.
Seraphina strides to the door, stopping with one foot on either side of the threshold. “Alto! Get your furry ass in here now.” Her shout makes me cringe.
I guess that’s the cat’s real name and I hope he is hiding somewhere. No animal will come back after a kick like the one she gave him. To my shock, the cat appears, edging past Seraphina warily. She grins at it like a fiend, her foot twitching in a mocking kick. The cat bolts inside the room and stops near me, but this time he doesn’t hide.
“Melody here”—Her upper lip curls like my name tastes bad in her mouth—“thinks you are a cat. Shall we enlighten her?”
Salmon—or Alto as she calls him—shrinks back pinning his ears to the back of his head. I’m confused as all hell, so I gap at both of them. Sitting back on my haunches, I look from the cat to Seraphina. The bitch is enjoying this too much so I know whatever is coming next will not bode well for me … or the cat.
“You see, Alto here was just like you once. Weren’t you, Alto?” When no one answers, she continues. “After he served his purpose, I had no other use for him apart from turning him into my familiar. This way I can use him until the day he dies, which will be a long, long time from now if I have anything to say about it.”
“What?” Yeah, I know. Not a very eloquent question, but my mind is blank after what I heard.
“Let me show you.” Seraphina looks absolutely delighted, while I’m trying hard not to scream.
