Page 109 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

“Lorelei was injected with a strain of infection that hasn’t been seen in eight hundred years,” he says. “The same plague that only killed omegas is what someone shoved into her vein.”

“She’s not sick,” I deny.

“And we’re not dead,” Phenex adds. “I don’t know that we would still be here if it had worked the way it was supposed to.”

“Well that’s the thing,” Alecto says, stretching. “The doctor who analyzed the sample of Lorelei’s blood that I got her said that the strain she was given should have killed her very quickly. Dahlia on the other hand suffered for weeks before she died.”

I can tell he’s in lecture mode because there’s no emotion in his voice. I don’t blame him. He wants to get the facts out without falling apart. I can see he’s also been very busy while I’ve been attempting to tempt Lorelei out of the deep recesses of her mind.

“Whoever did this planned for her to die, not sleep,” I murmur. “I spoke to her just now. I don’t know if she realized it was me or she thought I was a dream.”

“How is she?” Phenex asks. “I can still hear her screaming.”

“I feel like I’m losing my mind,” Bast admits. “What did she say to you?”

“I promise to tell you,” I say. “Did you find out anything else, Alecto?”

I feel bad that I don’t have anything very exciting to tell them. It was such a small interaction.

“Dr. Heidi said there were some anomalies in Lorelei’s blood and asked for permission to do some more analysis,” he says. “I said that was fine as long as she was careful not to let anyone know what or why she was doing tests. She works in a private laboratory and said that was fine. Now what aren’t you telling us?”

Fuck, he shouldn’t know me this well.

“I was able to create a pocket of happiness in her subconscious,” I say. “It was warm, beautiful, and bright inside of it. I was able to draw Lorelei into it. It wasn’t for very long, and I don’t think she knew it was really me. However, I think it’s the best way to get her to wake up.”

“How so?” Bast asks.

“Reminders of what to hold onto,” I say. “Wherever she is it’s cold, windy, and terrifying. Respite periods of warmth and life will help her gain her strength. She needs to remember that we’re here, that we love her.”

“You created a date scene, right?” Phenex asks. “We could create anything, though, right? Things that are familiar to her.”

“Like class? Is that what you’re getting at?” I ask. “Yes, I suppose. Things like that may get her to stay longer, because she won’t be able to figure out that it’s not real. She may believe her mind created it.”

“How long are we doing this for?” Alecto asks. “I mean, fuck, I would do this forever if it meant that one day she’d open her eyes and rejoin the world of the living.”

“As long as it takes,” I say firmly. “It should be all of us, taking turns speaking to her, helping her gain the strength to wake up. Instead of killing her, this plague has thrown her into a healing sleep.”

“No one can know about this,” Bast rasps. “I think we should move her. Find a cabin or some shit and possibly take a leave of absence.”

“Yes,” I murmur. “We also need to figure out who this was. Maybe we can ask Lorelei if we can find a lucid moment. Madam Sera said it was someone in a position of authority. President Christa really wanted us at the carnival…”

“She also was pissed when I walked away from her that night,” Phenex mutters. “She’s been banging on the door of theapartment the last couple of days, Samael. Grab a shower and we’ll get the fuck out of here. I’ll book us a rental somewhere.”

“I got it,” Alecto says. “I don’t want her to be able to trail us in any way. I’ll book it under one of my umbrella companies that isn’t connected to my name.”

Raising my brow, I shrug. I doubt all of his business assets are legal, and I don’t give a shit about that. It comes in handy when you’re on the run.

“Shower,” Phenex reminds me, growling as I stand and nod. After a week, I smell like ass.

“Go sit with her,” I say. “Follow the tether of your bond to her mind, and then create something for her to remember her life. The darkness is a lie, Phenex. She doesn’t understand that.”

“I’m on it,” he promises, rising to move to the bathroom.

“Bast, pack up her things specifically, please. Her favorite lotion, sweaters she likes to steal from us, things that mean something to her,” I rasp.

Rubbing my eyes, I escape to the bathroom when he acknowledges me. Fuck, I just want her back! My tear ducts burn, desperate to release tears I won’t allow to leak free.

I’m on a mission. I won’t rest until her beautiful eyes open.

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