Page 114 of Hell Breaks Loose

At this point, I’m not even sure I matter to her.

“This is different, because I am different. Different from Clive, or Devonde, or Mayor Vanderbelt. Or anyone else who was one of them, or an agent of one of the Seven.” Her words drip venom as she corners me. “I am the Seven now, Hellena. They work through me.”

“You’re a zealot,” I scoff, shrinking away from the ghastly mask of her insanity.

“No. They are my zealots!” She points to the masses below us. “And I am their queen! The embodiment of what the Seven were meant to be. And my birthright.”

“Then why did you ever need me? Why take me in, raise me?”

“Because your daddy took my place! And hid the truth from me. The wealth. The inheritance from our father. And he didn’t even have the decency to tell me who he was as he gave me orders disguised as one of the Seven, manipulated me, just like the rest of them.”

“Maybe it’s because he could see who you really were.” My lips quiver as I lock glares with her.

“He couldn’t see past his own front porch for his cowardice. Left his wife and daughter in the hands of a madman.”

“And left his sister at the mercy of her mental illness,” I mutter, my shoulders dropping.

“What did you say to me?!”

“I said I agree! He was a piece of shit for playing this game with people’s lives!” I shout. “Like you’re doing right now!”

Rachelle pauses, her eyes flicking from side to side. Silent words flutter across her lips.

Like she’s talking to someone else.

That’s not totally freaking creepy.

“Evan.” I look past her, hoping he can hear me.

“Do not speak to my Angel. He belongs to me now, loyal to the end.” And she’s back in control, her eyes clearing.

“You’ve enslaved them. No one is loyal to you.”

Her slap takes me off guard, stinging enough to bring tears to my eyes.

“Lay a hand on her again and I’ll snap your neck, you wacky bitch,” Gavin rumbles, taking a step forward.

“Threaten me again and they’ll tear you apart.”

“Worth it.”

“There’s no need for any of this. All you need to do is agree to give up Damon’s trove. I know you have access to his files.”

“Assuming I actually know where it is.”

“You must have discovered something. Otherwise, Marco would have never let you come back.”

“I was buying time,” I snap.

“Like you’re doing right now?”

“I thought you cared about me.” Turning the tables on her seems silly, but at this point, I’ll try anything. And I do want to know.

“You are the only family I have left, Hellena. The daughter I never wanted. But I did. And I do still care. But you have to understand what you represent to me. Every time I look into your eyes, all I see is him.” She points off to the side, and I’m starting to wonder who it is that she sees in her mind’s eye when she drifts off, talking to herself.

“There was a time you wanted to groom me for just that.”

“That was before I realized that I didn’t need anyone to take those seats. I just needed control over my agents. And more willing, or unwilling but unwavering, followers to see this through.”

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