Page 1 of Killer of the Bells
Chapter
One
VALE
“Get Vale to do it. I’m busy.” Gareth’s shout was muffled due to the flashlight clenched between his teeth.
Baz’s small face screwed up in annoyance, and he said, “If I wanted it done after a ten-minute argument, I would have already asked Vale. However, I need this door open now, and Vix isn’t around to hack it open. That leaves you, sweet cheeks. Bring those muscles over here and pop this baby open for me.”
“Vale is stronger and faster. Do it without argument, Vale, and I’ll forget about what happened yesterday.”
I’d had worse offers, so I shrugged and walked over to the door in question. Gareth was far too creative with his payback for me not to take him up on the deal.
“It’s almost two feet thick,” Baz warned, “So, you might need to put in actual effort for once.”
I tapped the door with a single finger, and it fell inward with a loud, ear-splitting shriek of rending metal. I shouldn’t have given in to the childish urge to overperform, but my impulse control was shit because it was December 1st.
December 1st is the absolute worst day of the year.
“Can I go now?” I yawned.
“No.” Baz and Gareth said in unison. It was automatic for them, likely because I’d already asked them three times in the past hour.
“I’m not doing that again,” I announced. “Physical exertion is disgusting.”
“Yes, I can see how much that took out of you. The collective thanks you for your efforts,” Gareth said dryly without looking up from the control panel he was half inside.
I rolled my eyes even though I knew Gareth wouldn’t see it. He’d still know.
He claims not to be psychic, but I’ve seen his test results. His external awareness is off the charts. If a mouse farts in the yard down the street, Gareth will know.
“I don’t know why you complain so much when we ask you to do the heavy lifting,” Baz said as he fished around in his pocket. “I’ve never seen you strain to do anything, so I know it’s not hard for you. Found it! Vale, this is for you.” Baz pulled his hand out of his pocket and showed me his middle finger.
I scoffed and turned my head away.
People only think about what they can see. The strength, the speed, the body count. No one asks about the toll it takes on me to do such things.
All my abilities come from the same well of power. If I use strength to bulldoze through one problem, it rouses the source of my power—the monster. When the monster inside me is dormant, I can handle it far more easily than I can when it’s boiling away, restless and aching for action.
The only reason I help the collective at all is because Gareth allows me access to all his resources in return for my help.
I didn’t bother explaining any of that to Baz.
He’s one of the dumbest people I’ve ever met. He’s got a tight little asshole and one of the most talented mouths I’ve hadthe pleasure of using, but there’s nothing going on upstairs. The contrast between him and his genius partner in crime is staggering, to say the least.
Vix. A familiar combination of irritation and loss came over me, and I shrugged it off. What was done was done, and there was no point crying over it. If, on occasion, I wanted to punch a certain giant, dumb ox in the face until he was nothing but a distant memory, then it was no one’s business but mine.
“If you don’t need me anymore, I’m leaving,” I said, already making my way to the edge of the roof. Baz had access to the building, and Gareth was tits-deep into the control panel for a machine I knew nothing about. If a project wasn’t mine, I didn’t bother learning the specifics. I just did what I was asked to do—within reason—and then fucked off the second I got the chance.
Especially during a mission on December 1st. I was running out of time if I wanted to make something inevitable somewhat less humiliating.
“Actually, I do have something,” Baz said. “I need you to hold something for me.”
I didn’t even get a chance to complain that my talents were better utilized doing literally anything else when Baz grabbed his crotch and elaborated. “Hang on to my dick for me and keep it safe.”
I sneered and was about to say something so horrible even Baz’s feelings would be hurt when the church bells began to toll the hour. I was miles from them, and they still had the power to make my nervous system go berserk. It was like being battered repeatedly by a stick made of pure insanity, so instead of letting Baz have it, I stepped off the building to fall into the darkness of the alley below.
I landed heavily and leaned against a brick wall until the bells were done. It would have been much worse if the job hadbeen closer to the bells. Distance helped mitigate the effect that the tolling of cold-iron bells had on the magic inside me.
