Page 7 of The Demon

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The icy chillseeps through my limbs until it freezes the blood inside me. My breath is slower, more labored as I struggle to survive the night because it’s as if my organs are shutting down one by one. Hunger left me hours ago and was replaced with an ache inside that tells me I don’t need food anymore. My body is now intent on staying alive and even my loud screams have turned to tortured moans as I struggle to breathe. I sense life drifting away from me, searching for a warmer place to rest and as my frozen body struggles to cope with the night air, I drift in and out of consciousness while I hover between life and death.

I’m not certain if I fall asleep or pass out because the first sensation I have is of a delicious warmth spreading through my body. I begin to relax as my blood starts flowing freely again and as my body wakes up, so does my mind.

I am not alone.

A large object is positioned close to my side, a barrier of sorts, and something is lying heavy on top of me. My eyes flicker and the voice from my nightmares says in a whisper, “Are you ready to talk?”

My eyes snap open and I turn in the direction of the voice and two dark eyes stare at me in the glow of lamplight and I register that his body is naked against mine.

“What the…” I struggle to move, but for some reason I can’t. It’s as if I have lost all movement in my body and he laughs softly. “A little trick that has served me well over the years.”

“What is?”

“Pressure points. I study them and it amuses me to gain control of another person in this way.”

“Then you’re a sadistic bastard with a sick mind.”

“I’m pleased to meet you.”

He laughs softly and for some reason it transforms him completely. If anything, it makes for an interesting distraction because I can’t move, so I may as well stare at the face of my captor. If anything, I like what I see and the fact he is naked beside me isn’t even concerning me as much as it should because the warmth from his body is extremely welcome right now.

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper against the silence, and his dark eyes glitter with amusement.

“For pleasure usually, but this time it’s a little closer to home.”

“What is?”

“The knowledge I seek.”

I clamp my mouth tightly shut to protect my secret and I regard him with curiosity and whisper, “Tell me your reasons.”

He props himself up on one side and stares at me with interest and, if anything, I see a deep yearning in his eyes that I never noticed before.

“Frankie is family.”

A cold hand clutches at my soul as I think of Frankie’s family and I say fearfully, “You are related to Massimo?”

His eyes flash and the anger deepens as he hisses, “No. I have no relation to that man at all except the need to eradicate him from life.”

“So, he’s alive.”

The fear returns and I’m positive if I could move, I’d be tearing these bonds apart and diving for cover.

To my surprise, he reaches out and touches my face lightly, and I’m amazed that I lean into it and relish the comfort it offers me. Affection isn’t something I’m familiar with and if he knew that, it would be the most powerful weapon he could wield against me.

“He may as well be dead. He can longer hurt anyone.”

His dark voice holds a violent edge and I shiver inside. “You did that?”

I’m curious and have a strange yearning to know the details, hoping like hell it was long and painful.

My captor looks angry. “I had nothing to do with it as much as I wish it had been by my hand.”

He studies me carefully. “Why are you so afraid?”

I wasn’t expecting that, and I push against the wave of terror his words bring.

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