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Despite my exhaustion, I seriously doubted my brain would allow me to sleep. An idea stirred in my mind, and a renewed determination bubbled to life inside me. Shadow Whisperer was fucking with the wrong girl.
Chapter 14
Death
“Whoever becomes a lamb will find a wolf to eat him.” ~ Vilfredo Pareto
Iglanced around the dimly lit room, shadows dancing on the walls as the flickering candle in the center of the table cast an eerie glow. The air was heavy with the scent of roses in Ella’s yard, mingling with the metallic tang of blood still lingering on my hands. I took a deep breath, savoring the quiet moment before the storm.
As I peered through the window, a twisted grin crept onto my face. There she was, Ella … my Ella, unaware of my presence as she moved about her kitchen. Once she’d arrived home from the hospital, I crept through the darkness and identified my secret spot. I wanted to watch when she spotted the gift I’d sent her. But her reaction wasn’t what I’d expected, and it took me an hour to rein in my fury when she’d tossed the box in the trash.
“Don’t worry, little lamb. You can’t get rid of me as easily as you did my present,” I whispered into the darkness.
When Ella had disappeared into her bedroom, Cami had made her way to the guest room and retired for the night. Not long after, Ella returned to the kitchen unable to sleep. Her movements were graceful, almost hypnotic, as she prepared something to eat. The soft light from above illuminated her delicate features, casting a halo around her dark hair.
With my grim reaper mask in place, I watched with hungry eyes as she carefully chopped vegetables, her brow furrowed in concentration. The knife in her hand gleamed, a deadly dance partner in her delicate hands.
A delicious thrill rippled through my body as I imagined the blade slicing through the flesh of my next kill, Ella by my side as the blood splattered, staining her porcelain skin. I would paint her naked body with crimson as I forced her to kneel and worship me.
I would savor every minute of our encounter. A perverse sense of pride rose as I thought of the intricate plan that had led me to this point. It wasn’t just about the thrill of the hunt or the taste of the kill. It was about the artistry involved, the perfect execution that elevated it from mere violence to an exquisite dance with death.
Ella paused momentarily, a faint frown marring her features as if sensing something was wrong. I held my breath, willing myself to blend into the darkness outside. But then she returned to her food.
The time was near. A surge of anticipation coursed through my veins. Soon, Ella would be mine, to mold into my masterpiece. My heart raced as I imagined the terror in her eyes when she finally realized the danger lurking around the corner. Her year had been filled with the ups and downs of her father’s illness, but my little lamb had no idea how much her life was really about to change. My hands tingled with excitement, the muscles in my fingers twitching.
Ella strolled to the cabinet, removed a Tupperware container, and loaded the vegetables in it before she sealed the lid and placed the dish in the refrigerator. She returned to the sink and washed the knife and cutting board. As she grabbed a paper towel and dried her hands, her shoulders slumped with exhaustion, and she rolled her neck, stretching. Ella adjusted to the darkness at that moment, and she gaped as her attention landed on me. Time froze as we stared at each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.
Terror flashed in her green-eyed gaze as she struggled to speak. “What do you want from me?” she yelled, her voice trembling.
A twisted, menacing smirk slid into place, “your soul,” I mouthed before I disappeared into the night.
Chapter 15
Sebastian
After I left Dope’s place last night, I thought I’d be able to sleep, but it had eluded me. Ella’s video was on replay in my mind, but her text had taken me off guard. Was some other guy sending her gifts? It wasn’t any of my fucking business, but I wanted to know if I had competition. Most importantly, I had to tuck away my ego and remember that she was going through hell with her father’s medical issues. If anyone understood parental struggles, I did. Something about her soothed me, and I wanted to be there for her as well. We would see if she would let me help or let me off the hook.
The next day, Ella greeted me with a soft smile. Her hair was up into a high ponytail, and she wore a light pink tank with black running shorts. She looked good enough to eat, but I had to remember why I was here, and it wasn’t to fuck her senseless on her kitchen counter, but it wouldn’t stop me thinking about it.
The weight of fatigue was evident in every inch of her face. Her eyes were shadowed with dark circles, and her once-lively gaze seemed dull. Had she slept at all?
“Hi. Thanks for coming over.”
“Of course.” I reached over and gently moved a loose strand of hair off her cheek, then pressed my forehead against hers. She leaned into my embrace, and the tension in her body melted away as she relaxed against me.
She broke our hug and took a step back. “You just missed Cami. She stayed over last night.” She tipped her head toward the window. “As you could see from the truck in my driveway, the guys are installing a security system. I figure with the serial killer running around, it would be a smart idea. I also took this week off, so I could spend time with Dad.” Her voice lowered, and grief shadowed her expression.
“I certainly don’t disagree with that. Have them install multiple emergency buttons in your house. There are several in the club. If you want, I can make sure they’re doing a good job?”
Ella’s brows raised. “Really? I don’t know anything about installation or camera angles.” She rubbed her bare arms as if she were warding off an evil spirit.
Something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it … yet. Maybe inspecting the men’s work would allow me to piece some things together … like what she was so scared about.
“Of course. I want to make sure you’re as safe as possible in your home.” I gently squeezed one of her biceps.
“Would you like any coffee? I can make some more.”
“I’m good, thanks. Point me in their direction, and I’ll take a look at the cameras.”
