Page 8 of Relapse

I snatched the first thing I felt from the floor on my way out—a hoodie—and dragged it out with me as I moved. I refused to turn back or slow my pace. Time was of the essence now.

I shoved the dragon mask aside and replaced it with the skull, hopefully for the last time. I threw the hoodie on and over my head in one swift motion as I crossed the room and blended in with the other guests. I knew that encounter had left Noah reeling, buying me only a short window of time before he rejoined the party.

My body hugged the corner pillar at the end of the ballroom. I scanned around, trying to find my target. The room wasn’t well lit at the moment, and a slow song was playing. Bodies were pressed too close together. Masks weren’t visible, let alone faces.

I moved my location again, knowing Noah would be making an appearance at any moment. I didn’t need him spotting me in this mask again. I crossed the room underneath the shadow of the lights.

Within a few moments, a dramatic shift in the room made me squint. The lights brightened more, and I reassessed, scanning the area for the monster. It didn’t take long to see him, off to the side of the dance floor, watching others similar to how I was watching him.

My eyes found David and stayed there. I wasn’t waiting anymore. The moment had come for me to take action, and I intended to seize it.

I said nothing as I approached. David was already a bit unsteady on his feet, indicating that he must have had several drinks. So, I walked up to him as many had done throughout the night, arms open, embrace ready. I wrapped my left arm around his shoulder, pulling him forward to my chest and straight into the knife that I had pointed up with my right hand.

He made a noise in the back of his throat that was beyond normal words. A gargle maybe. I pulled the knife back and launched it into his skin a second time. As deep as it would go—to the hilt.

“What…” his mind couldn’t process the hit. His body was already slumping into mine, heavy. I patted his back like an old chum, bracing myself against his weight beginning to drop onto me. Warm blood rolled down the end of the knife and onto my clenched fist from the wound. I could feel it seeping into the hoodie and the cuffs of my white button up underneath.

I brought my mouth to his ear. I needed him to hear me.

“Wherever you’re going, I hope you burn,” I hissed. “May the flesh never stop melting from your bones.”

David tried to correct himself, limbs beginning to quake uncontrollably. Slowly, he lifted his head to try and look at me. My lip curled and I twisted the knife. I could hear his skin sloshing and tearing under my hand. Die already.

His eyes went blank, like they were gazing into the distance, and I ripped the knife from his body. Blood splattered the both of us and down he went.

I didn’t look back as I made a mad dash for the front door. I only had a few seconds before people around us understood the severity of the situation and alerted authorities.

Imagine my surprise when my eyes locked onto the front entryway, only to see Noah and his little fairy, stepping out of the estate at the exact same time I was trying to flee the scene.

I was moving too fast to change course, and I knew I was going to crash right into them. I jammed the knife into my pocket so quickly that I felt it slice into the fabric of my pants. I attempted to soften some of the inevitable impact with my arms, but ended up barrelling straight into Delane, nearly knocking us both off of our feet. She staggered to the right, giving me just enough room to squeeze past and burst through the doors. I glanced back briefly, just to make sure I wasn’t being followed.

I heard Noah’s voice yelling out behind me. “Hey, watch it, you fucking jerk!”

Good. At least he didn’t recognize me. I didn’t slow my pace until the estate was far out of my line of sight, disappearing behind the curve of road and the darkness of the night. I yanked my cell from my pocket with bloody, shaking hands and swiped up to call Jace.

A message was already waiting for me.

What the actual fuck are you thinking?

I didn’t hesitate. I could’ve been imagining it, but I was almost certain I heard sirens wailing somewhere in the distance—faint, but growing louder. My pulse spiked.

Pick me up. Now.

I ripped the mask off, lowering the hoodie back down to my neck. My hands smeared blood across the skull looking back up at me, and I just shoved it into my pocket, unthinking.

I hoped the Devil was welcoming David right about now. Even if I was caught, it would make everything worth it, knowing he was burning, screaming, being tortured completely.

At least, that’s what I hoped was waiting for him.

The sharp squeal of tires spinning around the corner caused me to flinch, and instinctively, I dropped further into the shadows, trying to conceal myself behind a nearby tree. I fingered the knife, still close to my body, ready to fight if I needed to.

It was a black sedan, slowly rolling down the road, its headlights flickering like a hidden code.

I halted. Considered. That had to be Jace, right? Looking for me?

I took a chance and loped to the car quickly, the wailing alarms of police and ambulances alike were louder now. Hopefully I made the correct choice—if not, I was currently approaching a vehicle with my mask off, covered in someone else’s blood.

If I was wrong, this would be my undoing.