Page 6 of Vengeance Becomes Her

“I wouldn’t. I’m not like you. I have a conscience. You called me arrogant, but I’m not the one who believes my life is more important than others.”

“I don’t kill just anyone,” he scoffed. “I only kill those I deem deserving of being put in their place.”

“What the fuck did I ever do to deserve this Silas?”

That got a reaction out of him, snapping him from his casual indifference. He hated when she cursed. He closed the distance between them so quickly Rhiannon felt as if her heart had nearly leaped out of her chest.

“It’s the fact that women like you have no respect for men. You use men as you need them—whether it’s for status, security, or sex—and then discard them without a second thought. It’s despicable,” he spat the words at her as his shadows descended upon her in an angry flurry, the snakes winding tighter around her thighs and up her torso.

“I bet you’re the type of woman who would leave your family for another man who made you sweet promises. Yes, you’re just like her.” He was muttering to himself now.

“As if you’re any better. You use women too.” She could feel terror and anger warring within her as she stared down the gruesome monster before her.

“I wouldn’t expect someone as simple as you to understand. It doesn’t matter anyways. The thing about being as powerful as I am is that I don’t have to rationalize my choices to anyone, especially not the likes of you.”

“How many, Silas?” She tensed.

“You’re going to have to be more specific?” He hissed, brow arched in irritation.

“How many women have you killed?”

The smile that spread across his face made bile rise in her throat. He stroked his chin, mimicking deep thought. The moments ticked by, a slow torture on her conscience. “Seven?” He counted on his fingers. “Yes, seven.”

“You’ve killed seven women?” she gritted out.

“Would have been more if I hadn’t gotten held up so long here.” He released a heavy sigh. “No matter, I’ll make up for lost time when I’m through with you.”

He dragged a clawed finger down the side of her face, gripping her jaw painfully when she tried to whipher head away.

He breathed in deeply, running his nose along her neck and up to her temple, his lips resting against the shell of her ear. “Your unique cocktail of fury and fear is intoxicating. I do wish I could keep you around longer. But alas, I can feel you slipping away and I have other places to be. I wouldn’t want to have to deal with your sister if she discovered us.” His blood red gaze lingered on her another moment. “Goodbye, Rhia.”

Before Rhiannon could protest, Silas’ figure melted away and was swallowed within the shadows. Everythingfaded to black.

Rhiannon woke up on the cold, hard floor. Her sister was leaning over her, shaking her shoulders roughly. Jade was saying something but Rhiannon couldn’t make it out. Her hearing was muffled, the words echoed into an indecipherable string of sounds.

She tried to open her eyes, but the light was harsh and bright, causing tears to rise to the surface. A roll of nausea hit her and she was able to shift to her side just in time to empty the contents of her stomach on the floor. She coughed as it burned her throat, which was raw from dehydration.

Her sister’s face shifted into focus, blurred edges clearing to reveal the worry set deep into her delicate features.

“Rhiannon! Rhiannon, can you hear me?” Jade was frantic.

Rhiannon reached up, grabbing her arm. Despite the dryness of her throat she managed to wheeze out two short words. “What happened?”

The last thing she remembered was getting ready for the day while Silas read.

“Where is Silas?” She asked.

She tried to sit up, but the movement caused searing pain to flare through her battered body. She dropped back against the floor, cradling herself.

“Everything hurts.” Rhiannon couldn’t help the sobs that pushedpast her lips.

Her sister moved so that she could rest her head in her lap, running her fingers gently through her hair. It was one of her favorite things in the world, under any other circumstances she would be enjoying it. But right now it was simply grounding her in the moment, helping her slow her sobs enough to catch her breath.

At some point, she must have fallen asleep. She’d been out hard enough for her sister to move around. A pillow had replaced her sister’s lap and a blanket was thrown over her. She had no idea how long she’d been laying there.

Finally, she opened her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light. It was dark out now, nearly an entire day had passed while she was unconscious. The fireplace roared, but she didn’t feel any heat, just cold emptiness as she looked into the flames that should have been comforting.

Her sister was reading quietly next to her. When Rhiannon caught Jade’s attention, the intensity in her gaze told her something was very wrong. Jade gently stroked her hair, but instead of her thick, dark hair, pale, brittle strands slipped through her fingers.

Rhiannon’s breath hitched as she reached for her hair.

“No, no, no, no. What is happening?” Rhiannon’s voice caught in her throat, coming out strangled. Her hair had always been one of her favorite features. Even on her most self-conscious days, she could feel beautiful with her thick brown waves laying just perfectly. Now, that comfort was gone.

She tried to convince herself she must be dreaming. That she would wake up next to Silas any moment, this all having been a terrible nightmare. The longer that she laid there on that cold tiled floor feeling empty and broken, the more she came to terms with the fact thatthis was real.

The truth sent a shiver through her as she tried to sit up. Jade had to support her back, she didn’t have the strength to pull herself into a sitting position. Rhiannon worried she would snap what felt like glass bones if she put any weight in the wrong place. Her body felt wrong and frail. A husk of what her ample figure used to be.

Another sob escaped from her lips as the truth of it washed over her in full.

Jade wrapped her arms around her from behind, drawing Rhiannon’s favorite blanket around her shaking shoulders. The two of them sat there until the flames became wisps of smoke and then turned to ash. Her sister’s head rested on top of hers, doing her best to hold Rhiannon together asshe came apart.

---