brain.
Something I realized earlier. They are all human. Each one of them.
It makes no sense. I know there are more of us here. I heard their wails in the Pit…
I close my eyes. No.
No way.
An image of the equal armed cross, a symbol these people piss all over, bobs inside my head.
What did Jaxass lie?
We can’t live divided.
Yet, here we are.
I’m still deep in thought as the cafeteria empties. When I finally move again, I gaze over at Colonel Jax and point at him.
“I have words.” I smile. “They want some alone time with you.”
I tap my fingers against my knees in the empty cafeteria. All that remain are the Colonel and Juliet. They stand several feet away, speaking in low tones. By the time they stop I’ve tapped two hundred and thirty eight times. I force myself to quit, then wrap my hand around my thigh to lessen the temptation.
I glance over just as Juliet starts heading toward me, fingers rested lightly on her side arm. She pauses in front of me, peers down, and reaches into a pouch on her belt. My eyes widen when she pulls out a syringe.
“Pike, I need you to hold out your arm.”
I shrink back. “The hell for?”
Her eyes flicker back to my face and she waits.
Gulping down a dry patch of nerves, I study the liquid swimming inside. Light blue, and it is in no way getting into my veins.
“It’s an infusion of monkshood.” She swings her hair over her shoulder.
I raise an eyebrow. “And… why would I let you inject me with that?”
While she stares down at me, unmoved, I try to burn her with my gaze. For people that want nothing to do with us, they know their shit.
Well, I guess that shouldn’t be a shocker. Know thy enemy and all that crap. I hesitate because a monkshood injection will magically sedate my black ass. It’s not a good time, not as bad as nightshade, but that’s not exactly a silver lining.
I shake my head. “No thanks.”
“It’ll wear off in ten minutes.” She sniffs. “And I’m sure you can understand that I can’t leave you alone with the leader of this compound without taking precautions.” Her head tilts to the side. “So, take it or this conversation doesn’t happen.”
Fuck my life.
I shoot a hateful look at Jaxass, then glance back at Juliet. My jaw clenches as I nod and pull up my right sleeve. She squeezes a latex strip around my bicep, taps my arm at the crease of my elbow, and then slides the needle in.
I wince when she pushes in the infusion. An icy burn tears up my arm, then ripples of pain burst to the rest of my body. Tears pool in my eyes. I struggle for air that burns my chest.
The room swims in front of me like a bad acid trip.
“That’ll give you ten minutes.” Juliet’s voice warps in my ears. I shut my eyes as her feet thunder away from us.
I feel like I’m buried under a crap ton of ice. Reaching up, I cover my eyes and try to pull it together.
My head starts to steady, not much, but enough. Jax clears his throat. I drop my hands and try to turn my head. After a few minutes, I finally manage to twist my body in his direction.
He’s seated in a chair across from me, leaned over, hands clasped in a ball.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Richards?”
I struggle to keep my eyes open. To meet his calm stare. This, I manage, but the only other thing I seem capable of is panting and sweating.
I hold up my hand and fingers streak across my vision. I blink, then stare. As I lower it, Colonel Jax leans back and crosses his legs.
It’s a warped, alpha dog move.
And that’s the point. I shake my head again and force my thoughts pass the burn.
“You can… Arrange for us to be in a room without this shit in my veins.” My voice slurs, but insulting him helps clear the infusions effects, namely to repeal curses.
Might not be able to hurt him, but I can do something else. The thought presses a weak smile to my lips. I clear my throat loudly.
“Eight more minutes, Mr. Richards.”
I nod. Right. I get to it.
“Unless you
Something I realized earlier. They are all human. Each one of them.
It makes no sense. I know there are more of us here. I heard their wails in the Pit…
I close my eyes. No.
No way.
An image of the equal armed cross, a symbol these people piss all over, bobs inside my head.
What did Jaxass lie?
We can’t live divided.
Yet, here we are.
I’m still deep in thought as the cafeteria empties. When I finally move again, I gaze over at Colonel Jax and point at him.
“I have words.” I smile. “They want some alone time with you.”
I tap my fingers against my knees in the empty cafeteria. All that remain are the Colonel and Juliet. They stand several feet away, speaking in low tones. By the time they stop I’ve tapped two hundred and thirty eight times. I force myself to quit, then wrap my hand around my thigh to lessen the temptation.
I glance over just as Juliet starts heading toward me, fingers rested lightly on her side arm. She pauses in front of me, peers down, and reaches into a pouch on her belt. My eyes widen when she pulls out a syringe.
“Pike, I need you to hold out your arm.”
I shrink back. “The hell for?”
Her eyes flicker back to my face and she waits.
Gulping down a dry patch of nerves, I study the liquid swimming inside. Light blue, and it is in no way getting into my veins.
“It’s an infusion of monkshood.” She swings her hair over her shoulder.
I raise an eyebrow. “And… why would I let you inject me with that?”
While she stares down at me, unmoved, I try to burn her with my gaze. For people that want nothing to do with us, they know their shit.
Well, I guess that shouldn’t be a shocker. Know thy enemy and all that crap. I hesitate because a monkshood injection will magically sedate my black ass. It’s not a good time, not as bad as nightshade, but that’s not exactly a silver lining.
I shake my head. “No thanks.”
“It’ll wear off in ten minutes.” She sniffs. “And I’m sure you can understand that I can’t leave you alone with the leader of this compound without taking precautions.” Her head tilts to the side. “So, take it or this conversation doesn’t happen.”
Fuck my life.
I shoot a hateful look at Jaxass, then glance back at Juliet. My jaw clenches as I nod and pull up my right sleeve. She squeezes a latex strip around my bicep, taps my arm at the crease of my elbow, and then slides the needle in.
I wince when she pushes in the infusion. An icy burn tears up my arm, then ripples of pain burst to the rest of my body. Tears pool in my eyes. I struggle for air that burns my chest.
The room swims in front of me like a bad acid trip.
“That’ll give you ten minutes.” Juliet’s voice warps in my ears. I shut my eyes as her feet thunder away from us.
I feel like I’m buried under a crap ton of ice. Reaching up, I cover my eyes and try to pull it together.
My head starts to steady, not much, but enough. Jax clears his throat. I drop my hands and try to turn my head. After a few minutes, I finally manage to twist my body in his direction.
He’s seated in a chair across from me, leaned over, hands clasped in a ball.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Richards?”
I struggle to keep my eyes open. To meet his calm stare. This, I manage, but the only other thing I seem capable of is panting and sweating.
I hold up my hand and fingers streak across my vision. I blink, then stare. As I lower it, Colonel Jax leans back and crosses his legs.
It’s a warped, alpha dog move.
And that’s the point. I shake my head again and force my thoughts pass the burn.
“You can… Arrange for us to be in a room without this shit in my veins.” My voice slurs, but insulting him helps clear the infusions effects, namely to repeal curses.
Might not be able to hurt him, but I can do something else. The thought presses a weak smile to my lips. I clear my throat loudly.
“Eight more minutes, Mr. Richards.”
I nod. Right. I get to it.
“Unless you
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