Empty.
Slap!
The door behind the counter closed, and skittering steps sounded behind the wall.
In the stairwell, a movement at the top of the stairs came as that door closed, too.
Stupid girl.
I skipped steps until I was flinging the door open.
Something shimmered in the dimness, coming for my face directly upon my entrance.
A needle glimmered, just inches away from my nose as I leaned back. A soft brush of air indicated how close it was. Just not close enough.
My boot buried in her abdomen as the needle passed, her body dragging across the floor until her back smacked against the opposite wall.
“You would have had better chances running. It seemed to work well the last time,” I chuckled, brushing off my hands and stepping into the room.
It was grimy. Unorganized tools, the scent of dried blood and bodily fluids. It reminded me of the basement kitchen at the London Nest.
Footsteps.
She was up again, hoisting her arms above her head to stab me with that needle as if it were a sacrificial blade. She brought it down, and I caught her wrists, squeezing.
Her eyes locked with mine, evincing so muchrage. A delicious, savory delicacy.
I gave her a pitiful smile, her arm shaking as she continued to hold the pressure, the long upholstery needle dangling above my chest. “Do you think this one will work as poorly as the last one? Poison is a girlish weapon for a reason.”
Her lips curled into a menacing dare. “How about we test that theory?”
“Well, I am still yourlab partnerafter all.” I leaned a little closer, hovering it over my heart, “How about here? Directly into the blood and everywhere else.”
“Let go of my hand, and I can make that a reality.”
“Another time,” I cocked my head, crushing her wrist in my grip. There was a notable pop and the dull chime of the needle hitting the floor.
Alina muffled a cry and yanked her wrist away, holding it tenderly.
“Not so easy to control when someone doesn’t want to follow your silly rules, is it?” I clasped my hands behind my back, walking over to her cluttered workbench, “I’m impressed. Don’t get me wrong. I would never expect anyone to listen to you, but here you are with an army of dolls.”
She leaned against the opposite wall, grasping the hilt of a shovel, but she didn’t engage just yet.
You’re getting smarter; good girl.
“With your intimate experience with my poison, one would expect you to have a little more faith, possibly a bit more caution,” she said through clenched teeth, her heart racing. I could hear it.
“It is the only thing you’ve done worth remembering. It sure left an impression. I’m thankful to have gotten the faulty batch.” I ran my finger over the table, rubbing the grime between my fingers before slouching into the chair.
“Maybe so—but that is why people trust me. I can protect them. They will be safe from the likes ofyou.”
“Safe.” I laughed, shaking my head. “It would only take one fully mature male Vipera to reduce you all to ribbons.”
“Many assumptions. I thought you were a man of proof,” she scoffed.
“Women are not dangerous enough to respect, to keep people in line.”
“And why is that?” She laughed, approaching the middle of the room with the shovel head dragging behind her on the floor. “This is why you are left maimed. Your weakness is your”—she paused—“blind eye.”
