Talia stared at me for a second like she couldn’t believe I was serious.
“Thank you,” she muttered reluctantly through clenched teeth.
My smile widened a little too far. “See? Cooperation looks cute on you… even if it almost killed you to say it.”
Before she could give me any lip, I walked over, grabbed her roughly by the arm, and yanked her up from the mattress.
“Let’s go! And remember, don’t try anything stupid,” I warned, tightening my grip on her arm slightly. “Because contrary to what you may think, I’m already showing you awholelotta mercy right now.”
Talia’s face twisted with fury, like she wanted to lunge at me, but apparently survival instincts were finally starting to kick in.
We moved upstairs slowly.
Halfway down the hallway, Talia shot me a cautious glance. “Are you even taking your meds?” she ventured, hesitance lacing her voice.
I stopped in my tracks.
My smile vanished, replaced by a dark intensity as I turned to face her, my eyes narrowing ominously. In a swift, violent motion, I struck Talia across the face with the side of the gun, the sharp crack echoing off the walls.
“Don’t ever talk to me like you know me! Now walk!” I commanded, venom coating every word.
The sound of water cascading from the shower soon filled the silence as Talia stood beneath it, her eyes cast down. The lingering sting of my blow marked her cheek with a darkening bruise. Every few moments, she would sneak a glance toward the bathroom doorway where I stood vigil, the gun resting against my thigh, a silent reminder of my power in this delicate dance.
After her bath, I offered her food, an unexpected gesture of care, and I brushed through her damp hair with slow, distracted strokes, my mind wandering even as I tried to act as if everything was normal.
“See? I’m not a monster,” I smiled. “I’m just doing what’s necessary.”
Her brows pulled together painfully. “I… I still don’t understand why I’m down here.”
I blew out a breath full of annoyance.
“Talia, do I really have to spell this out for you?” I snapped, crouching down in front of her. “You were about to carrymyman’s child… my life… my future.”
“Your man’s child? Girl, what the hell are you talking about?!”
Talia’s confusion only heightened my anger.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” I laughed quietly, shaking my head. “Mergebelongs tome. He came back because he was always supposed to come back!”
My smile widened slightly.
“I always knew he would,” I murmured, my voice slipping into a dreamy nostalgic tone. “I never intended to hurt him back then,” I added, a hint of regret coloring my words. “Or her. Well…” I shrugged lightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing my face. “Maybe her."
Talia stared at me in stunned disbelief, looking torn between praying for my sanity or trying to figure out the fastest way to escape me.
“Haelyn, are you confusing Merge with your ex Jace?”
Shit.
I’m talking too much.
Talia can’t know I’m really talking about Jace… not yet, anyway.
Then again, maybe I should just tell her. She’s probably going to die in this basement, anyway, so who could she repeat it? The most she could do is call me crazy, and that accusation has already been thoroughly documented. Besides, I needed somebody to talk to about this.
Voices, what should I do?
Right on cue, the voices rushed to my rescue, throwing out suggestions like panicked lawyers trying to save a guilty client.
