Page 88 of Demons in My Bed
My body broke out in a cold sweat.There’s no way.
“The reason I’m telling you this now is because I can see they’ve… affected you. Don’t let them into your head, Palmer. They’re killers, with no remorse or moral code. Everything they do is calculated to ensure it benefits them and nobody else. They’re not on your side. I am, and I always will be.”
My world spun on a new axis and my heartbeat roared in my ears, but I still heard him, somehow, even though his voice sounded small and far away.
“I have to get back to headquarters now, but I’ll want you to be ready with a report as soon as possible. I’ll be back when I can.” He walked over to me without hesitation, hugging me tightly.
I was pretty sure shock was setting in, because I didn’t feel it. Not really. I watched the water fall from the roof like a curtain, blocking the outside world from me. I couldn’t be sure how much time passed—could’ve been seconds or minutes—but when I finally opened my mouth to ask Asrael how he knew, I was alone. Completely fucking alone in a rainy city that reeked of lies and deceit.
They were the ones who’d broken into my childhood home and ransacked the place? The ones who’d killed my parents while I hid in a kitchen cupboard? A cupboard which I stayed inside of for days before I was found.
Water built in my eyes, wanting to fall heavy and hard just like the rain. But no. Absolutely fucking not. My stomach cramped as the words Asrael had spoken replayed in my head, like a sick soundtrack of my traumatic past.
And then, oh gods. I clapped a hand to my mouth, fighting the urge to retch as flashes of the things I’d done with them came crashing through my fragile mind. The way I’d moaned and thrashed around on their cocks, the way I’d secretly loved their attention and gifts, their possessiveness and craziness. Stumbling over to a trash can, I heaved and heaved, as though I could vomit up the memories of their touches on my skin. If I threw up my tarnished fucking soul in this gods damned trash can right now, I knew it still wouldn’t be enough.
And then the betrayal slammed into me. Asrael had sent me here, knowing that I’d probably end up fucking them? My parent’s killers?
My head was swimming, but I had to figure something out. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and took a few shuddering breaths. A hotel. That’s what I needed. I’d get myself a room, get cleaned up and refreshed. Make a new game plan. Get back in there and make them pay. Yes.
That was what needed to happen, and if Rhodes wanted to get all King of Hell on me again, I’d take pleasure in shooting him in the dick or stabbing him in the neck.
Resolved with my new plan, I darted out into the rain, trying to look for a taxi. Headlights were heading my way, so I got as close to the road as possible without standing in the street. Visibility was shit but I needed them to see me. I needed a fucking ride out of here.
The lights got closer, and I brushed the water off my face, only for it to be replaced a second later. I sighed at the sight of the lit up taxi sign on top of the vehicle and waved my hands frantically. The car slowed, and I hopped in.
“Oh thank the fucking stars,” I groaned, trying to get my soaked hair out of my face. “Sorry that I’m soaked. I kind of got stuck in the storm.”
“No problem,” the driver said.
“Can you take me to the nearest hotel just outside of the city, please?” I reached for my pocket to see how much cash I had on me when the locks on the doors engaged. Confused, my eyes flicked to the front of the car, connecting with a familiar pair of greenish-brown eyes.
The man turned in his seat to face me, and I was frozen. Completely fucking frozen. A black mask with silver spikes covered his nose and mouth. Just like it had at fight night.
“You know, I was a little hurt that you didn’t recognize me before,” he said, and I shook my head in denial. “But you know who I am now, don’t you, babe?”
My eyes widened as he lifted the mask and flashed me a smile that I’d seen a hundred times before. A smile that had fooled me. A smile that was actually sharper than any knife I’d ever handled.
“Oh, come on, don’t be afraid. You made me promise when we first got together that I would never let you lose me. I’m keeping my promise. I’ve missed you so much, and now I can show you. Didn’t you miss me? Tell me that you missed me and thought about me all the fucking time, babe.”
I couldn’t speak. It honestly felt like I was choking on my own tongue.
“TELL ME!” he roared, and I jumped.
“I missed you,” I whispered, trying to stop my body from shaking like a leaf.
He smiled again, making my blood run cold. “Say it again with my name this time.”
Tears were already trailing down my cheeks, but he didn’t care. He never did. “I missed you, Slade.”
He moaned and shifted in the driver’s seat. “I always loved hearing my name come out of your mouth, but I liked it so much better when you were naked and underneath me. Let’s fix that, hmm?” He turned back around, putting the car in drive. “Oh, and I have some exciting news. You can call me Slade or you can use my new name—I think you’ll like it. Has a certain sense of danger to it. Do you know what it is?”
Slade was taunting me. He’d always loved playing games with me, asking me questions I didn’t know the answers to and forcing me to answer, only to make me feel stupid when I got them wrong. But this time, I had a sickening feeling that I did know the answer. Pieces were shifting into place before my eyes, and little bells were going off like fireworks in my head.
“Oh, come on, Palmer. You know it… Fucking say it.”
My fingernails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists together. “Scorpio.”
Slade laughed maniacally and hit the steering wheel with both hands in quick succession. “Yes! Fuck, you’re so smart. Always were. Do you know how long I’ve waited for you? Mmm, my cock has been hard for you for years. I want you to know right now that while we were apart, I only fucked women who reminded me of you.”
