Page 13 of Hell Hath No Fury

“Do you think he’s testing her?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we don’t know if her loss of memory is a result of more trauma or if he’s drugging her, or maybe both,” Darius responds almost carefully as if he has to force the words out. “Maybe he wanted her around some of her people to see any of her old memories would resurface.”

“That’s certainly a possibility.”

Darius smiles and then chuckles softly, and then it’s my turn to frown as I ask, “What could possibly be funny right now?”

His smile broadens, and he turns and looks at me as he replies, “The idea of Antoinette getting her memories back when this Dmitri least expects it.”

I tilt my head at him as I consider what he’s saying, and then I laugh because he’s not wrong. If Antoinette suddenly gets her memories back and Dmitri is not in a good position to defend himself, it’s highly likely he won’t know what’s hit him before he drops to the floor dead.

“I guess we can only hope we get to be a fly on the wall when that happens.”

The humor falls from Darius’s face as he once again glances over at Antoinette. Then he motions for me to follow him as he begins to walk slowly across the room. As we approach them, he turns to me and whispers, “You may as well come and make sure I don’t fuck up.”

I say nothing. I just follow behind him, and then stop beside him as he greets Camilla and Agatha, and then finally turns to Antoinette.

I feel for him. I’m no stranger to longing or yearning, the concept of unrequited feelings not at all foreign to me.

He manages to remain outwardly calm and cool as he extends his hand to Antoinette and says, “A pleasure to see you again, Lila. Are you enjoying yourself?”

Antoinette eyes him almost warily, staring at his hand as if she’s lost in thought somewhere. I clear my throat, and she startles, an uneasy laugh falling from her lips as she glances at me and then back to Darius, who’s still standing there with his hand extended.

After a few moments, she places her hand in his, and I don’t miss the subtle shiver that runs over her at the contact. And then she says, almost breathlessly, “Oh, yes. I do love a good party.”

Darius’s lips twitch, and I know he’s thinking the same thing we all are. Like the rest of her family, Antoinette fucking hates parties.

She moves to take her hand back, but his grip tightens, and she glances back down, her eyes widening as she realizes he’s not going to just release her. And then he steps into her as he pulls her closer, and I jump to attention, intent on kicking him right in the fucking ankle bone if he gets too out of line.

He leans down, his face right near her ear, as he whispers, “Wake up, baby girl.”

I groan loudly, immediately worried that I’m gonna have to do more than kick him in the ankle bone, but before I have to do anything, Darius steps back, releasing her.

He nods at Camilla and Agatha, then turns, walking swiftly away, and I follow quickly behind him. He doesn’t look back; he just makes his way toward the exit, where he pauses, obviously waiting for me. Right before I reach him, I turn, glancing over my shoulder to see Camilla and Agatha standing there, looking confused because they didn’t actually hear what Darius said.

I look more closely at Antoinette. She remains standing where we left her, her hand still extended as if Darius still held onto it. For a brief moment, her eyes widen, bright blue orbs sparking, but then she blinks and shakes her head as if coming out of a daze.

Camilla says something, and slowly, Antoinette turns her focus, and her arm lowers. She licks her lips, swallowing visibly, and she shakes her head again as Agatha says something else. Then, just like that, Lila is back.

Sighing in disgust, I don’t bother watching any longer. I continue to the exit, where Darius is still waiting with his back to the room.

I walk by him and out the exit, knowing he’s right behind me.

8

A Brief Debrief

Antonio

Thatfuckingassholewasnot right behind me.

I’m not even five feet from the exit when I turn around, only to find that Darius has once again disappeared. Cursing my own idiocy, I don’t bother going in search of him, instead returning to the van where I left Lilith.

I pound on the rear doors as I whisper-shout, “Lilith. It’s me.”

I pause and press my ear to the door, hearing some squeaking in there, but she says nothing, so I rap on the door again. “Let me in.”

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