Page 34 of The Heir
She hums thoughtfully, inspecting the tissue that's quickly turning red. "I'll have to get a damn tetanus shot or something. But no, you're not getting out. Look at yourself, Melly-bean. You're going to stayrightthere. And the Nephilim is going to be here, and he's going to see you like this, andthenyou'll die."
"The what? Is that supposed to mean something?" I cock my head to the side. "Doesn't matter. I'll kill him too."
She scoffs. "They taught you nothing, I see. You're about as smart as that fucking husband of yours."
Dante? I swear, my ears perk up. "Where is he? I want to see him. Where's my husband? Dante!"
"Shut up. He's here, but you won't get to see him. Well, not yet, anyway. All of your little friends are locked up, right here." Ella grins through her pain. "And you'll all die."
"Funny," I sniff. "I thought you were a cop. Don't cops, like, uphold the law? Or whatever?"
"Detective. And no." She smiles even wider. "You're looking at the Beacon. I quit the force. My only goal is to eradicate the Goetia now."
I know that's supposed to be impressive, but eradicating us is laughable. So, I cackle again, my laughter only growing as she looks increasingly frustrated. She tries to say something to me, but I switch back to my incessant screaming. It must really irritate her because she whirls around and throws open the cell door.
Taking my only chance, I yank at my arms and legs, trying to free myself from these goddamn chains. Only then does her irritation abate, and she giggles as she watches me.
"Bye for now, Melly-bean," she laughs. "I'm going to have so muchfunwith you."
She slams the cell door shut and disappears down the darkened hall. As her footsteps fade, I hear metal moving somewhere nearby.
"Dante?" I shout.
"Melody!" My husband's muffled voice floats through the air, and I breathe a sigh of relief. "Melody, are you hurt?"
"No! I bit the shit out of Ella, though!"
My husband's joyful laughter fills me with pride. "Good girl, Melody!"
Looking down at the handcuffs keeping me attached to this stupid bed, I inspect the thin chain. If I get enough force behind me, Imightbe able to snap it. Maybe. I rotate my arm this way and that, watching the attachment for the chain twist along with my movements. It seems fairly clunky. Perhaps it's not as secure as Ella thinks. It's almost like a little D-ring with a nail through it.
I giggle again. Oh, Ella. You cheaped out onhandcuffs?Amateur hour.
"Melody?" A soft voice captures my attention immediately. Holy shit. It—it can't be, right?
"Helena?" I gasp.
"Oh, my god, it's you!" Helena's voice ratchets up an octave like she's trying not to cry. "Oh, my god! You're here! Oh—oh, no. You'rehere."
"Where is here?" I ask, still trying to fiddle with my bindings.
"Um. Mexico, I think. That's what Hannah told me."
"Who the fuck's Hannah?" Every time I twist the connecting chain, the D-ring pin gets a little looser.
Helena goes silent for a beat. "You haven't seen her yet? Oh, god. Oh, Melody. I'm so sorry."
"Helena—who thefuckis Hannah?"
I hear her take a deep breath. "Roman's sister."
What."What?"
"Roman's sister—she's usually here, and she'sinsane. Like, probably certifiable. I don't know—but she… ugh." It sounds like Helena retches, with the unsettling heaving noise bouncing around the concrete walls. "Just… be careful."
I trap my lower lip between my teeth and focus all of my concentration on carefully rotating the handcuff chain. Every time it makes a full rotation, the pin eases outward by a hair. If I can just get this one undone, I'll have one hand free. That may not seem like much, but I can be a dangerous bitch with one hand.
My pulse roars in my ears as I watch the pin wiggle out further and further, until itplinksto the floor. I gasp in a breath as I watch it roll in a circle around its flattened head. My left hand is free, but the cuff is still shackled on my wrist. Gently pressing on the shackle, I grin as it ratchets closed another notch. Fuckingamateur.
