"Thrane, where are we and who is Barron?" I ask, trying to sound pleasant but failing, I’m sure.
He sets me roughly on the bed and walks to a cabinet against the far wall to pull out a bottle of some kind of dark liquor and a small glass. "We are in the middle of nowhere, almost, so don't even bother trying to leave. You’ll die of thirst or hunger before you find other humans.
And, as for Barron, he is a very powerful demon that wants you, much the same as me." He pours the liquid in his glass and then makes his way back over to me.
"Why does he want me? How does he even know who I am?" I ask.
Thrane sips on his drink. "I was interested in your friend when I could see how sweet and pure her little soul is, but when you started getting in the way, I noticed that you weren't quite like the others. I mentioned you to some of my acquaintances and your name set off some red 57
flags in my community." He sits uncomfortably close to me on the large bed and I keep my eyes trained on the rug under my feet. "I guess Barron has some history with your family and wants you dead." He places one of his hands on my thigh. "I made a deal with him, though. I bring you somewhere that he can get to you easily, but you and I have our fun first."
I shiver from the chill coming off of him and from the disturbing insinuation in his tone. I try to remain calm but my voice shakes. "Do demons even like human women? I thought you guys just enjoyed killing and stealing souls."
"We take human form when we visit the ground, and these bodies have needs of their own. I'm not one to suppress my needs when they arise."
"Why not just keep me for yourself, then? Why do you have to hand me over?" I ask, hoping that he will keep talking.
Thrane shrugs. "He is more powerful than I am and a demon like that is not one to argue with and keep your head."
I try to imagine a creature more intimidating than Thrane but have a hard time believing something like that exists. And it wants me dead. "Did you find my friend? Kassy?" I ask, needing to be sure that she is unharmed somewhere.
"I have lost interest in her for now. Maybe once I hand you over, I can pick back up where I left off with that one."
His words cause anger to flow through me again, but I keep it in check this time, hoping to conserve my energy. I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to make him angry again.
Thrane leans into me and I pull away, my pulse beating out of control. I try to figure out another way to keep him distracted, but my mind is still a little fuzzy and I’m drawing a blank.
He reaches up with the hand not holding the glass and grips the back of my head, forcing my lips against his cold ones. I whimper and try to pull back, but his grip is too strong. I punch at his chest with my small fists, but he keeps his position as tears stream down my cheeks.
A phone starts ringing and Thrane pulls away from me with a low animalistic growl, obviously not happy about being interrupted. He throws his glass across the room and it shatters against the antique dresser. He stands up and goes to answer a cell phone sitting on the bedside table.
My watering eyes burn hot from the fear of what could happen in this room when he gets off the phone. I feel so helpless and alone here. I can't help but see Gavin's face in my mind.
Even though he doesn't want to be with me in the way I want him too, he is the one that keeps me feeling alive.
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I hear Thrane hiss through his teeth and he shoves the phone in his pants pocket. He turns back to me and grabs my hand, placing another disgusting kiss on the back of it, as if he were a gentleman. "I have business to take care of, but I will be back here before it gets dark." He looks me up and down and then kicks me hard in the ankle.
I scream out in pain and any unshed tears start pouring over as the dam breaks. "Why did you do that?!" I cry out, knowing that my ankle is most likely broken.
He smiles wickedly at me, showing all of his teeth. "Just making sure you don't get any ideas about running. That should keep you here, not that a new little Seer like you could escape this room anyways. Everything locks from the outside, including the windows." He points to the two windows on the far wall.
Thrane turns and leaves through a hidden door by the liquor cabinet. I hear a jingling sound in the door handle as he locks it from the outside and then everything is quiet. Now, I am truly all alone.
Chapter 10
I have tried every lock in this room with no luck and I am starting to feel extremely claustrophobic. I can't break the windows because I am too weak and there are no objects for me 59
to handle anywhere. The room is void of any personal items and I am panicked. I’m also tired but I'm too afraid to fall asleep, knowing that when I wake up next, Thrane will be here.
I don't know where I am except that Thrane said it was in the middle of nowhere, and from what I can see outside the window, he is right. There are just trees and sky surrounding the house. At least, I'm assuming I'm in a house, and
