Page 8 of Of Mercury and Mist

Micha

Ashley’s eyes were shut so tight they began to water under the pressure. The girl was absolutely terrified, and I exhilarated in the cloud of fear hovering over her head. It was delicious and no longer was there anything to stop me from taking my fill of the exotic treat.

The circumstances were rather unfortunate; this wasn’t what I’d had in mind. But I’d take advantage however I could, for as long as the fates would allow.

To think at one time, I’d strongly considered acquiring her as a human ward. I’d even thought about making her my personal assistant. The box cracked and I switched my grip, flexing my fingers.

As a vampire it was my right to keep her, if I chose to. As a demon, I had the extra bonus of not only drinking her precious blood and feasting on her flesh, but also that of devouring her soul.

Josiah and I mainly operated as vampires, as we felt it was our truer calling, but that didn’t stop me from indulging in my full range of powers and living the most abundant life possible. We were superior and took full advantage of that fact.

Ashley’s betrayal seared through me again and I thrust the container in her face. “Look inside the box,” I ordered. I hated repeating myself.

“You can't make me,” Ashley said.

I grabbed a fistful of the soft hair at the top of her head, weaving a clump through my fingers. She screeched, but opened her eyes, her pupils dilated. The hatred in her gaze mingling with want turned my cock to steel. A vision of shoving the organ between her lips made my pulse race and I parted my lips, sucking in her darker emotions.

The fucking girl was turned on. I’d been so angry I’d missed that beautiful truth.

Twisting my fingers in her tresses, I pulled some more. Soon, the scent of her desire drifted around my face, and I opened my mouth wider. Her eyes widened when her gaze dipped. I grinned.

Her legs kicked out when she saw my teeth and I laughed before I dragged my tongue against a sharp point, hard enough to draw my own blood. How I wished I could feed it to her—but she didn’t deserve that. If I’d let them fully descend, oh what fun that would’ve been. For now, she’d question what she thought she saw. I’d make sure of it, letting little things slip, just to feed off her reactions, before clouding her mind and destabilizing her sanity Her fear made it easy, opening the door wide for me to torment.

When it was clear she wasn’t going to cooperate, I let go of her hair and held my hand out. Her breath turned shallow over the realization she couldn’t move. I’d paralyzed her.

Perhaps she thought her own fear immobilized her? The sensation could pass for a panic attack. Not my problem if that happened but this was what she got because she bewitched and fooled me. I shouldn’t have trusted a human—they were as bad as the Collective, taking whatever they could seize. She hadn’t even attempted to lie about her actions. She was utterly shameless.

She looked deceptively cute, frozen as she was, her eyes darting around like Ping-Pong balls. She was trying to look anywhere except where I wanted her to.

“Did you ever meet a man named Mister Boccelli?” She would’ve shaken her head if she could’ve and I chuckled at the bewildered look in her eyes. “He was employed here, once. Until he stole from me. He’s still here but under different circumstances, conveniently. See? You’ll have to spend some time with him, I’m sure you’ll get along fantastically.”

I dipped my hand into the box and gathered the bones I’d saved from his fingers, dangling them in her face. “I’d show you his heart, but I couldn’t save it. It was a bit bitter, going down, but I’m not a wasteful man.”

This woman had wasted herself, thrown away what could’ve been something good. My heart twinged in my chest, thinking of all the time I’d spent watching her, wanting her. She’d been completely unaware, but I’d monitored for months, hiding in the shadows of her life and her dreams. I’d never interfered, but perhaps I should have. This all could have been so very different.

“Are you going to be a good girl for me?” I asked her, tilting my head. Her answer couldn’t come, not while I had her locked down like crown jewels. Snickering, I released the hold.

Ashley gasped, making noises like she was hyperventilating, fluid leaking from her mouth. I’d almost reached for her, but I refrained. She needed to realize the seriousness of her situation; she was strong enough. She could take it, I knew she could.

She lunged forward and I flung my arm out, instantly wrapping a hand around her neck. Her spit drooled down to my wrist and I quickly switched hands, forcing her to watch as I licked the saliva off my skin. It was salty and sweet, a mixture of her tears with a hint of cinnamon and apple, remnants of her morning coffee, I assumed. Her eyes dimmed in submission. Or maybe shock.

“If you fight me, you will die,” I whispered against her lips, letting my canines press against her succulent flesh. The woman whimpered at my warning and then remained silent.

“You know the conditions of your employment here; we’ve been very clear. You signed the documents. I am very disappointed in you,” I told her, though the latter words didn’t truly reflect how deeply she’d affected me.

I let go and leaned back against the dresser, gripping the edge. “What’s going to happen now, is you are going to do everything I tell you to. Without question, without hesitation. If I tell you to suck my dick, that’s precisely what you will do.” Her thighs pressed together, her aura glowing a deep red around her waist.

I was going much too easy on her, if I was still somehow turning her on. What the fuck was wrong with her? She wasn’t taking me seriously enough. I shook my head and caught the trepidation in her gaze.

“Would you prefer the other option?” I rubbed my chin for emphasis. “Or maybe I let Josiah know...”

My words had the desired effect.

“Please no! Leave Della alone, she doesn’t know.” A fresh wave of tears coursed down her cheeks, and against my better judgment, I was in front of her in a single stride. “Not Della,” she begged, trying to skirt to the side.

She fell backward on the mattress, and I bent over, pinning her and leaning on my elbows to lick the salt from her face. I just couldn’t help myself. For good measure, I tucked into her neck and suckled at her essence, noting the way her hands fisted the sheets. The woman wanted to flee; I could feel it, but she also wanted me closer and hated the fact that she did.

Her confusion, her desire, and her fear were all bundled together in a bright, shiny package like Christmas morning.

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