Page 24 of Sinful Obsession

My breath catches and I pull back before I can be seen. My mind races as I retreat down the hall, piecing together everything I’ve just heard. It all makes sense now—the way Vienna reacts to them, the way they carry themselves, the control they have over this place. They’re not just doctors. They’re angels, and this isn’t just a mental institution.

I burst into our room, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. The others look up, startled, but their expressions quickly harden as they see the look on my face.

“What is it?” Ewan asks, sitting up. He rubs at his eyes, Kaua groaning from behind him. The big guy glares at me and if this wasn’t important, I know I’d be on his shit list. I still might be.

“They’re angels,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop myself. “Michael, Raphael, Gabriel. They’re angels, and they’re running this place.”

Ewan stares at me, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “Angels?Are you serious?”

I nod, my hands shaking. “I saw them. They’re not human. This whole place… fuck, how did we not know? We suspected that someone was rounding up the players of the apocalypse. It’s a cage, yes, but it’s their cage. They’re keeping the darkness contained. And Vienna…”

“What about her?” Vito asks, stalking over to me. He cradles my cheeks in his hands, searching my expression for answers.

“They’re watching her,” I say, my voice trembling. “They don’t believe her story about Asmodeus, but they know she’s different. They know she’s with us and that makes her a target.”

The room goes silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Finally, Kaua speaks, his voice steady but grim. “We can’t leave her alone. If they’re watching her, she’s in more danger than we thought.”

“I’ll tell her,” I say quickly, already heading for the door. “She needs to know before her meeting with them tomorrow.”

“Go,” Ewan says, his tone commanding. “Before sunrise. She needs to be ready.”

I nod, hurrying down the hallway, my mind racing. The air feels heavier now, the walls pressing in as I approach Vienna’s door. I don’t bother knocking. I push the door open and step inside, my chest heaving as I drop to my knees beside her bed.

She stirs, her eyes fluttering open as she looks at me in confusion. “Nevan?” she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.

I reach for her hand, my grip firm but gentle. “Vienna, I have something to tell you,” I say, my voice soft but urgent. “And it’s more important than life and death.”

19 – Vienna

Nevan calling my name and something about life or death wakes me. Well, that and the sensation of lead pressing against my limbs. My body feels heavy, weighed down, and my head throbs as though I’ve been drugged—which I likely have. After a night with Asmodeus, where his touch unraveled and stitched me back together over and over, I feel hollow. Drained. Which doesn’t make any sense.

“Vienna,” he whispers. “Can you hear me?” His expression is dark, his jaw pulled tight as he jostles my shoulder.

I try to answer, but my voice comes out garbled. Frustration wells up inside me as I fight to move, to speak, but the weight of my body is suffocating. Nevan moves quickly, sitting on the edge of the bed and cupping my cheek with his hand. His touch is cool and grounding, his thumb brushing against my skin as he leans closer.

“It’s okay,” he says softly, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that’s unexpectedly tender. The connection jolts something awake inme, my mind snapping into focus even as my body struggles to catch up.

I blink rapidly, my surroundings becoming clear. The dim, oppressive light of my room, the faint hum of activity in the hall. Nevan’s concerned face inches from mine. “What… what happened?” I manage, my voice weak but coherent.

Nevan exhales, his hand still steady against my cheek. “The medication,” he explains. “I forgot that they administer it at night, when no one notices. It’s subtle at first, but after two nights, it starts to kick in. You’ve been here long enough that it’s in your system now. It doesn’t work on the four of us but it makes it easier for the staff to make sure we don’t slip out at night. Not that we’d get far. It went over my head, I’m sorry.”

The absolute despair in his expression would be comical if I wasn’t still drained from whatever they gave me. “What’s in it?”

“A mixture of things, I’m sure. How are you feeling?” I let out a little groan, Nevan running his thumb across my lips. “I’m taking it away, Vienna. I can give and restrict in doses which is one reason why we never feel the after effects. I’ve muted the effects so you can think clearly, at least for now.”

I stare at him, processing his words, before nodding slowly. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because you need to understand what’s going on,” he says, his tone growing urgent. “Vienna, I found out something. Something that explains everything.” He pauses, as though weighing his next words carefully. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, barely above a whisper as if someone is watching us. “The doctors here—they’re angels.”

I blink, the weight of his statement hitting me like a physical blow. “Angels,” I repeat, disbelief dripping from the word.

“I know it sounds insane,” he continues, his silver eyes locked on mine. “But it’s true. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel—they’re nothuman. I saw them. Their light, their wings. They’re the ones running this place, keeping us locked up.”

I lean back against the pillows, my mind racing. “I thought it was weird that the first doctor’s name was Michael,” I mutter, half to myself.

Nevan’s lips twitch in a grim smile. “It’s not just weird—it’s intentional. They’re here to keep us contained, to rid the world of evil. That’s why you can’t trust them. Don’t tell them anything more than you have to. If you say the wrong thing, they’ll lock you away forever.”

There’s a fierce concern in his voice that I’ve never heard before. “Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll be careful.”

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