Page 102 of The Hunger
I snorted and pulled back enough to see that she was staring into the bathroom over my shoulder.
“That is not high-end redecorating in there. That’s Piepen sparkling all over the place.”
She made an ew face before looking at me again.
“Is that why Mrs. Quill called in a panic, saying that you needed me and asking if I was worthy? Do you need help cleaning?”
I frowned at Megan as I recalled how I’d spoken to Mrs. Quill after feeding on her through the door. Apparently, she’d taken my command to find someone for me to feed from very seriously.
“I should probably find her and apologize.”
“Eliana!” Merri cried from the bathroom. “Piepen needs rest. Please.”
Megan’s brows shot up.
“Keeping brownie prisoners?”
“No. He made the mess, so I told him to clean it up. There’s no way I’m touching that.” As I spoke, I moved to the bathroom door.
Piepen, still naked as the day he was born, had managed to leverage himself into a standing position. His entire body quivered with effort as he attempted the simple act of lifting his arm to wipe the mirror with the tissue he held. However, before he managed to make contact with the mirror, his arms fell to his side. Shaking harder, he tried again. His reach on that try was lower than the previous attempt.
He bowed his head when he failed. His shoulders quaked, and I realized he was crying.
“Piepen, Merri’s right. You need to take a break.”
He didn’t stop trying even as he turned his head to look back at me, tears streaming down his face.
“I can’t.”
Guilt flooded me.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, Piepen. I know this wasn’t technically your fault, and I think it’s really admirable that you tried to abstain for Merri. Take a few minutes to reset, and I’ll get you both something to eat. When you feel better, you can clean some more.”
His body jerked like he did when he was thinking about touching himself in front of me. However, this time he groaned, and tears started streaming faster.
“I’m trying to stop, but I can’t.” He lifted his arm again even as his knees buckled.
“Eliana, please take it back,” Merri begged.
“I just did.”
“No, you said he couldn’t stop until it’s done. And now he can’t.”
I stared vacantly at Piepen’s struggling form and remembered the night in the club. How Mom had commanded the humans to protect me, and the way they’d done just that until the shaking had ended. She’d stolen their will so thoroughly that they’d been dazed and confused afterward.
Panicking, I looked at Megan. “It’s like at the club.”
“That’s what I was just thinking.”
“I don’t know how to undo it.”
“I think the easiest way would be to get a few disinfecting wipes. It shouldn’t take us long to clean this up.”
I grabbed the cleaning supplies from under the sink. Megan pitched in without a complaint. It took a bit of elbow grease and a lot of mouth breathing, but every surface was sparkle-free in less than fifteen minutes.
Piepen collapsed on the fresh towel and immediately closed his eyes.
“I’ll get you two some food,” I promised, guilt clawing at me.
