Page 47 of Queen of The Reapers
Jessie slides the metal chair out and takes a seat across from us. She levels her eyes on us and it’s the first time I’m able to get a really good look at her. She looks like hell. Her once shiny, wavy hair is now wild and frayed. Her once vivid eyes are dull and lifeless, lacking all the emotion they used to have. Her skin is different too, bruised, sullen, and littered with fresh scars.Looks like she’s made some enemies here, too.For a second, I almost feel sorry for her. Fighting for your life in a cage is no way to live. Then I remember why we’re here, and just like that, my sympathy vanishes. She deserves everything she’s had to endure, and then some.
Jessie rests her hands on the table and my eyes flick to metal cuffs securely fastened around them. “Like what you see?” She taunts, noticing me staring. “They're on my ankles too, in case you're worried I'll finish what I started.”
“I doubt you'd be so stupid.” Dimitri notes, leaning back in his seat. “But if you try to hurt her, you won’t live very long to enjoy it.” Jessie's eyes flicker from him to me and a smug smile spreads across her face.
“Wow.” She says, stifling a laugh as she shakes her head. “You're fucking him.”
Heat rushes up my neck as I feel Jessie’s pointed glare burn into my skin. The accusation in her eyes is ridiculous. There’s nothing going on between me and Dimitri besides some weird mutual understanding.That’s it.
“Do The Reapers know?” She presses.
“What? No. I mean —” I hesitate and her green eyes light up. “No. There's nothing going on between us. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Jessie smirks at me. “Whatever you say, Pet.”
“Time is almost up.” Dimitri chimes in. “Get to the point.”
“Look, I came here to ask you about my sister.”
“Sweet little Alex?” She asks, flashing me a smile. “How is she, by the way?”
The way she asks the question feels off. Like she knows a lot more about Alex than she’s letting on.
“Why don’t you tell me?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at her.
She cocks her head and glares at me, but says nothing.
“Enough with the games Jessie.” I hiss, slamming my palm against the metal table. “I know you’re lying through you fucking teeth. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but I know you’re the one who took her.”
Jessie doesn’t deny the allegations, so I continue. “It’s never a crime to steal from a thief? I got the message you left loud and clear. I took your family, so you took mine.”
Jessie just stares at me.
“Look, it’s not too late to fix this.” I add. “If you end this now, I’ll talk to The Reapers and try to get them to forgive you. Just give her back to me.”
Jessie pauses for a moment and studies my face. Maybe my words are reaching her. Maybe she wants to make this right.
“It looks like we’re both shit out of luck.” She says, sitting up higher in her chair. “Because giving her back is the one thing I can’t do, not unless you have a time machine.”
My heart falls to the pit of my stomach as I stare at her unflinchingly.She took her.“What do you mean?” I ask, peering into her soulless green eyes. “Why can’t you give her back?”
“She’s dead.” She deadpans, smirking at me. “I killed her hours before I nearly killed you.”
All the air in my lungs rushes out as I stare at her in disbelief. “No.” I say, shaking my head. “You said you let her go. You said you broke her phone and let her leave.”
“God Stevie, you’re so fucking naïve.” She scoffs, sliding her hands to her lap. “I lied. I thought I was doing you a favor by sparing you the truth. You were going to die, anyway.”
“You’re lying.” I spit through my gritted teeth. She’s just trying to fuck with my head. The takeout containers were fresh. And what about the message on the glass?
“I wish I was.” She presses on, casually shrugging her shoulders. “It’s sad, really. It wasn’t a peaceful death and the poor thing never saw it coming. But you want to know what the saddest part was?” Jessie asks, leaning forward in her seat. “While I watched my men rape her over and over again, she never once cried out for help. Never begged for someone to make it stop. That was surprising, but I guess she knew no one would come to her rescue. I mean, even her own sister was too preoccupied to help.”
“Liar!” I scream, shooting up from my seat.
Dimitri wraps his hand around my elbow to stop me from moving any further. “Relax.” He says, trying to pull me back to my seat. “You’re playing right into her game.”
I shake my head indignantly and pull out of his grip. “No. I’m not. I know she’s lying. Everything she’s saying is impossible.”
“You’re right.” Jessie taunts, inching her face closer to mine. “Someone is lying, but it isn’t me. Why would I lie? I have nothing left to lose. I watched her die. Saw her take her last fucking breaths. It was kind of pathetic, really.”
