Page 125 of Viripotent

“You’re developing a bad habit of using me like a tissue.”

Nodding as I sniffle, my voice comes out too quiet.

“I know. I’m sorry for going through your things, I didn’t have a right to invade your privacy when you don’t want anyone to know.”

Working with the kids at Steorra and Dr. Haigh, I know the damage it can do to force people’s trauma out. Make them relive it without warning and send them to the dark recess in their mind.

“And I’ll replace the carpet. I threw up on it.”

My offer is met with his chest shaking against my ear and he curls his lip between his teeth to stop the sound coming out.

His laugh brushes my skin as he kisses my forehead, and he acts normal.

“Is that what the smell was? I thought you’d bought a new perfume.”

He folds his arms around me as I swat his chest without any real heat. I love when he does it, cocoons me, and squeezes. It’s comforting even if it feels like a snake is coiling around my body.All my desire to protect him spans decades before I was even born, and I thread my arms under his to hold him with a silent promise.

I press my ear to his chest so I can feel his heart beating steadily and I try to match my sinking organ to the same pattern. Without the tears blurring my vision, I can see him clearly. There’s an angry red mark on his cheek, and my hand moves automatically. I wince as I touch it, like I can feel his pain, but he moves his face away from my hand and presses his lips to my palm. Warmth blooms in my chest, and I try to push everything else away.

My voice is haunted with what we’re ignoring.

“Did you win?”

He moves his head back, insulted and acting like an asshole.

“You think those fucking imbeciles could beatme? Even with weapons?” Shaking his head, he repositions me so I’m straddling his thighs and holds my nape. “I’m the biggest fucking monster there is.”

I hold my breath as he pauses, and I fix on his twisted smile, knowing what’s going to follow will be horrible.

“I was a killer at seven. Over thirty years later, it hasn’t dulled that in me.”

My vision blurs again and I throw myself forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. Vlad rocks back from the force, and he tightens his arms around me.

“From pawn to king,” he whispers darkly.

His play on words are horrific. His need for shock value makes me shut down, it’s not a mental one. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Deciding on both, salty tears roll into my mouth as I laugh.

I’m not capable of doing anything other than apologizing and my whisper makes him harden.

“I’m sorry.”

He sighs into my skin as he kisses my shoulder, and there’s no lie in his voice.

“I don’t care that you’ve seen that shit, it’s had millions of views and downloads.”

He tries to soothe my anger at the sick fucking pricks enjoying his pain by stroking up my back. I do the same and cup the back of his head as though the pain is still there. He copies me and strokes my hair while I bite my lip to stop it from shaking. Then he gently pulls me away and there’s nothing but softness on his features for once.

“Are you okay, meelaya?”

Under all the bad is pure gold. He’s good underneath it all, and I hate that he had to become anything different to survive.

Cupping his face in both hands, I deflate, “I should be asking you.”

I focus on his lips, so I don’t see any demons haunting him, but he tips my chin up with his busted knuckles and speaks easily.

“Not really. That kid isn’t me, he died, and I was put in his place.”

I hate the world, I thought I’d never hate it more than the moments the groups of children are dropped off with a file. But it’s burning inside of me, and I can’t stop the venom coming out.

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