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What would I do to extract information from someone I wrongly thought had taken a serum of some sort that gave them abilities? I hated that they referred to them as powers. I never liked that term…

The needle that came into view was big enough to tranquilize an elephant. I squirmed as the woman lowered it to my temple. My analytical brain tried to take over as the point sunk into the soft spot on the side of my eye and pain jolted through me. Hands held my skull steady as she watched a monitor over my head all the while moving the needle as though searching for the right spot.

I’d extract DNA samples, I thought. But she’s looking for something specific in the brain. Somewhere she suspects the abilities originate. It has to be the area the suppressant works on.

Blinding pain shot through my skull as she found what she was searching for. My vision blanked for a moment and my limbs convulsed. I must’ve made a sound in my throat because when my ears stopped ringing and the needle was pulled from my head, I heard the woman say, “…barely started. Are you saying you’re ready to talk?”

“Yes,” Julian said, pain lacing his words. “Please stop.”

The woman nodded to someone behind me, and a metal strap was placed over my head, covering my eyes.

“I said I’ll talk!” Julian bellowed.

“It’s barely worth anything unless I finish the next step,” the doctor explained calmly. “Then I’ll let the major know you’re ready.”

“That’s not the deal!” Julian screamed.

“Someone shut him up,” she murmured over me.

I couldn’t see what was happening, and the anticipation of something horrible sped my breathing until my chest pressed uncomfortably against the unforgiving straps.

“This may hurt a bit,” the woman whispered in my ear. “I’d give you a sedative, but that would prevent us from doing the proper tests.”

I barely had time to register the words before what felt like twenty fangs sunk into my scalp. Instead of the euphoria that followed Julian’s bite, I felt only pain.

“Now the dye,” she said, and an IV was pushed into my arm, followed by a cold pressure that flowed into my body. “Suppressant is working, here.” She tapped the screen behind me as she continued. “Now let’s stimulate the telekinetic center.”

A zap of electricity flowed into my skull through one of the needles in my brain and I heard a crash somewhere in the distance.

“Good. On my mark, stimulate the mind-bending.” Her voice seemed to move as she walked around me.

Now, Pythia said.

Right. My mind-bending was about to work for a second. I focused with all my might.

“Now,” said the doctor.

Let us go. I screamed in my mind, pushing all my magic into the thought.

Silence.

My chest pressed harder into the strap until the fangs withdrew and the bar over my eyes was lifted. I blinked into the harsh light as the rest of the straps were undone. Struggling to sit up, I shielded my face, felt the IV in my arm, and yanked it free.

“Charlotte,” Julian said, lifting me from the table.

Blinking, I looked around. Every other person in the room was lying on the ground, some with their necks at odd angles, some with their throats torn out. Julian cradled me to him, and the familiar rush of speed made my stomach flip as we made our escape.

I lost track of time. The only thing in the world that made sense was Julian’s strong body against me and the scent of Bergamot that fought against the medicinal smell of the lab. When he finally set me down, I yanked out the mouth guard and retched, acid and blood pooling on the pebbled ground. Julian held back my hair until I finished, then scooped me up again, pressing me against his body, still somewhat warm from his recent feed.

“One more run if you can hang on,” he whispered against my head tucked beneath his chin.

I nodded against him, and we took off again, this time stopping inside what appeared to be a hotel room where he set me gently on the king-sized bed.

“You need sleep,” he said, hand coming away from my head, covered in blood. “Food and water as well. But first…” He bit into his wrist and pressed it to my mouth.

I didn’t fight, I just lapped at his healing blood, hoping it would not only heal the wounds but also the trauma.

When I woke later, I was naked beneath the hotel sheets and curled into Julian’s warm body. He fed again, I thought, then I snuggled closer.