Page 7 of Sound
Eyeing the cat, fast as a snake I snatch his tail and tug on it. Hissing, he swipes at me with sharp claws and tears three lines in the skin of my forearm. Blood, gathers at the scratches and the stinging, burning pain brings tears to my eyes. Not because it hurts. No, these are tears of joy.
“I’m sorry, Salmon.” Sniffing pathetically, I coerce him to come closer by wiggling my fingers, which he knows is a promise for a scratch. His eyes narrow but he slinks towards me. “I need to make sure you’re real. Otherwise, it means I’m losing my mind and that won’t be good for anyone. Especially me.”
My belly tightens when he gives me a look of pity. Can a cat give you a pitiful look? My brain rattles just attempting to think, so I push the thought aside.
“Last night was a rough one,” I tell my very-real and not-at-all-imaginary cat visitor. “She usually drains me a lot every time I play the violin but never to a point where my blood is too sluggish to move through my veins.”
The skin on my arms prickles with goosebumps at the intent look the cat gives me. If I don’t know better, I may think it understands everything I say. Shaking off the unease, I continue scratching the spot he loves and his purring increases in volume, filling up the quiet room. Keeping my breathing even and slow, I glance around the tiny space.
“How do you come in here, huh?” Gliding my hand over his back, I feel every ridge of his spine when he hunches up in an arch. “I’m pretty sure bitch face would’ve stopped you from keeping me company if she knew you could do that.”
I can’t stop the giggle when he gives me a smug look, as if saying, “Girl, you have no idea how smart I am. I’ll never get caught.” When I realize what I’m doing, I choke on a laugh. I don’t want to go nuts in this place. I will not talk to cats.
The rustling of fabric behind the closed door makes my heart lodge in my throat. I freeze like a deer caught in headlights as I stare at the door wide-eyed. Luckily, Salmon does not suffer from stupidity. One second, my hand is pressing on his back, and the next he is bolting behind the vanity holding the large mirror to the wall.
I blink.
There is no space there for a larger-than-your-average cat to fit. A mouse can’t even squeeze there, and I know because I left nothing unturned the first night she locked me in this room. A frown tightens my forehead right before the door swings open and I forget all about the cat and impossible spaces.
Seraphina sashays into my room. “You are awake.” I shrink back when she glares at me with hatred. “Good.”
Her skin is glowing in the low-hanging light, a pink hue on her cheeks giving her a youthful appearance unlike the first time I saw her. I thought she was middle aged then, but every time she comes she looks more and more my age. I’m only twenty-two. Noticing me staring at her, she grins with no humor.
“I look good, don’t I?” Spinning in place, the black dress that hugs her curves swirls around her bare feet, the blonde curls floating around her face. “I feel amazing.”
“That must be nice.” As soon as the words are out, I bite my tongue and taste blood. There’s no way she misses the snide tone. The scowl replacing her smile confirms it.
Stupid, Melody. You are so foolish for not keeping your mouth shut.Berating myself internally, I blink innocently at her as if I meant the words in a nice way.
She doesn’t buy what I’m trying to sell.
Snatching my arm, she yanks me up and off the bed. The world tilts on its axis, my stomach giving a hard lurch. I press my lips tight so I don’t puke all over her, although seeing that may be worth it. I laugh hysterically through meshed-up lips.
“Something funny, girl?” Shaking me like a dog shakes a bone, she sneers in my face.
Lips parting, Seraphina takes a breath. I steel myself, preparing for insults or pain to come, but she stops and frowning. Her head turns slowly to look around the room and I’m not sure how long I can hold the bile back. Fear sinks sharp claws in my lungs, raking over them and sucking the air out.
“No one has been in this room?” Since it’s a question, I shake my head frantically because I’m unable to speak.
“No way she found out what she is or what she can do.” Murmuring under her breath, she catches herself and closes her mouth with an audible snap.
I’m more confused now than ever before.
With a disgusted look, she throws me back on the bed—the woman is much stronger than she looks—and stalks around the small space like a caged tiger. I’ve seen one pissed off in a circus once when I was young. That wild beast can’t hold a candle to the two-legged one prowling in front of me in this moment. Seraphina halts, her gaze honing-in on me.
“You think I didn’t see him there?” Dumbfounded, all I can do is blink like a simpleton at her words. “You think one of his kind can save you?”
Knowing better than to not answer when she asks a question, I whisper a word through numb lips. “No.”
“Damn right he won’t.” A leer twists her face, and the blood stops circulating through my body at the sight. “I will suck him dry just like you if I see him sniffing around here again, do you understand?”
My heads nods jerkily. I can’t speak to save my life right now. A menacing smile pulls her red lips up, making all sorts of alarms blare in my head. The bedframe rattles, the metal headboard thumping on the wall from how hard my body is shaking. Seraphina’s hand lifts between us, her long fingers curling like she is gripping the air in the palm of her hand. Searing pain blooms inside me, my ears buzzing like a cloud of bees has invaded my brain. My back bows, my mouth gaping open in a silent scream. It’s all consuming pain that melts my bones. I can’t even whimper.
“I own your pathetic life.” Coming closer, she stares down at me. “I will take it if I feel like it, and you better remember that.” Her hands drop to her side and the pain stops.
It’s so sudden that I have no time to control my body’s reaction. Hunching forward, I get as far as the edge of the bed before vomiting all over the bottom of her dress and her bare feet. Sucking in shuddering breaths, I don’t dare look up. All my muscles lock as I wait for the punishment to come. To my surprise, she laughs.
The bitch laughs at me.
