Still of Night (Thorne Hill 4)

“Who?” Lucas rounds on me, putting both hands on my shoulders. My heart is racing and tears burn in my eyes. “Callie, who?”

“The…the doctor from the research lab.” I blink and see white walls and smell the strong scent of bleach. Doctor Howard starts to drive away, but Lucas is faster. He punches the driver’s side window, shattering the glass, and reaches in, turning the car off and taking the keys.

Growling, he yanks Doctor Howard from the car and shoves him on the ground.

“That really happened?” Ruby rushes out. “I thought it was a rumor. But you were really sold to a research lab?”

Feeling like I’m that ten-year-old girl all over again, I can’t bring myself to look at Ruby, let alone answer her. I’m shaking and the feeling of helplessness takes over. I don’t know how this man can call himself a doctor when he tortured me. Tied me up and did experiments to see how much pain it would take to trigger me using my powers.

Doctor Howard scrambles forward and Lucas slowly walks behind him, waiting until he’s on his feet to grab him by the back of the neck.

“What do you want to do with him, my love?” Lucas lifts his off the ground one-handed as if he weighs nothing. “Should we do some experiments of our own? Lock him in a cell with drugged-up crazies and see how well he fares?”

Ruby takes a tentative step forward. “He did that to you?”

That and so much more. My own screams echo in my head, and the feeling of being abandoned hits me hard in my chest.

But then I blink and hear his voice clear as day in my head.

You remind me of myself.

Blue magic sparks around my hands and I inhale sharply, holding up a hand. I stare right into the eyes of the man who made my life hell, anger and hatred for him burning inside me.

Doctor Howard lets out a cry of pain, hands flying to his mouth. Blood starts to drip down his chin, and he flails from the pain, but Lucas holds him steady.

“Silentium,” I mutter, and Doctor Howard’s cries of pain are muffled. I slowly curl my fingers into my palm and more blood drips from his mouth as I telekinetically rip his molars out of his mouth. Tears stream down his face, and he spits out two teeth on the pavement.

“What you did,” I start, speaking through gritted teeth, “will never be forgiven, and I’ll make sure Lucifer himself knows how much you hurt me so when the day comes that you finally kick it, there will be a special place in Hell for you.”

Blood and saliva drip down Doctor Howard’s chin and he silently sobs, thanks to the spell I cast.

“You are a pathetic waste of human life and I could kill you here, right now without laying a finger on you. The only reason I’m not is because I don't think you’re worth the energy.”

Lucas drops him to the ground and Doctor Howard scrambles forward, body shaking as he sobs. I blink and drop my hand to my side. Ruby is staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

Holy shit.

What did I just do?

I should have done more. He’s more monster than man. He gets off on hurting children and tells himself it’s okay because it’s for science. He forced me to use my powers against my will.

I’m pretty sure some of the people I used them against died. Lucas speeds back over to me as Doctor Howard gets in his car and drives away as fast as he can. Lucas folds me in his arms. “He’s not going to hurt you anymore, Callie.”

Tear brim in my eyes and a shiver runs through me. “I saw him and felt like I was back there. Now I can’t get the vision out of my head.”

“You’re not there,” Lucas says softly and runs his fingers down my cheek. “You’re here, and that was fucking awesome.”

“That…that guy,” Ruby starts. “You pulled out his teeth.”

“Only two,” Lucas replies without missing a beat. “And after what he did to her, he’s lucky that’s all she ripped out.” Lucas tips my chin up and gently kisses me. “You’re here, with me,” he says softly, knowing how just the sound of his automatic blinds sent me into a PTSD flashback before.

“There were files in the backseat,” Lucas tells me. “One was labeled BioTech Research Facility.”

“There might be kids in there. Kids like me.” I start to pull away. “If there are, I have to get them out.”

Ruby, who’s still starting at me incredulously, steps forward. “I’ll…I’ll make sure it’s looked into. If there are magical children in there, we need to get them out now.”

“Thank you.”

Her brow furrows and she slowly shakes her head. “I…I need to inform our High Priestess about the research lab. But that’s all I’m going to inform her about.”

I meet Ruby’s eyes and see guilt and confusion reflected back at me. “Thank you,” I say again, though this time, she can feel how much I mean it. “And don’t worry. I won’t be part of the coven for much longer. Try not to be too happy about it.”

“I’m…I’m not.” She scuffles forward again. “And I…I didn’t actually mean to hit you. I thought you would block it. Easily.”

I look at my shoulder. “I would have if he hadn’t shown up.”

“Go enjoy your dinner. I was on my way out.” Ruby runs her hand over her braids, still looking conflicted. Letting out a sigh, she closes her eyes. “I won’t say anything about the vampire.”

“His name is Lucas,” I tell her. “And there’s no reason the Grand Coven should keep us apart. He’s not a threat to witches.”

Ruby gives me a curt nod. “I hope you’re right.”

“You’re quiet,” Lucas notes. We’re on our way home from dinner now, and I’m holding a box of my leftovers. I didn’t eat much, having lost my appetite. Seeing Doctor Howard upset me, for obvious reasons, but I can’t stop thinking about how good it felt to inflict pain on him. How I wanted to keep pulling out his teeth, one by one, and watch them fall to the ground in a puddle of blood.

But I’m not evil.

I’m not tempted by the dark.

“This wasn’t the way I saw our evening going. I would have rather dealt with demons.”

Lucas rests his hand on my thigh. “We probably will deal with demons on our next date.”

“Probably.” I let out a breath. “There’s still plenty of wine at your place, right? Or did I drink it all?”

“I believe there are a few bottles in the wine fridge in the butler’s pantry.”

“Okay, good. I need wine tonight. And you. I’m going to—dammit. You have the VC thing tonight.”

“I do. But we have time together.” He slides his hand farther up my thigh, though I don’t think I’m going to be in the mood at all tonight unless we can stop by a costume store to get me some devil horns and a pitchfork.

I. Am. Not. Evil.

“Good.” I lean back and stare out the window, not saying anything else the rest of the way back to Lucas’s house. I really do intend on drinking away my emotions, wanting to just pass out and sleep so I can wake up tomorrow and fret over whether I’m turning evil or not.

Or maybe I was evil all along.

Lucas parks in the street, several houses down from his. We walk hand-in-hand to the front door of the house.

“You’re late,” Eliza says as soon as we’re inside. She’s standing in the foyer, looking at her watch. “The meeting is going to start in an hour.”

“How does that make me late?” Lucas.

“Everyone knows vampires arrive at these shitshows early to socialize. We need to be there if we want to—” she cringes “—mingle and try to get information.”

“Fine,” Lucas huffs.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. “My poor jacket isn’t but I’m fine. I have food and my familiars.”

Lucas takes the food from me and sets it down on a table in the entryway. Then he wraps me in a tight embrace, kissing me in such a way that Eliza groans and grumbles about us needing to get a room.

Once they leave, I take my food into the kitchen, stick it in the fridge, and pull out a bot

tle of wine. I take it upstairs with me, twist off the cap, and take a big swing as I get undressed.

I down another two mouthfuls as I wash my makeup off. More when I get my PJs on. I find something to watch and polish off half the bottle of wine. I put the cap back on, brush my teeth, and get into bed feeling pleasantly drunk.

Binx comes and lies down on my chest, letting me know he doesn’t think I’m evil at all. “Thanks, buddy,” I say and reach for the wine. Afraid of having a dream where Lucifer visits, I chug nearly the whole bottle. I brush my teeth, use the bathroom, and make it back into bed just in time to pass out.

Lucas is naked and sprawled out in bed next to me when I wake the next morning. The room is pitch black and I need light to see. I conjure up magic and slowly get out of bed. My mouth is so dry and the smell of the red wine left over in the bottle makes me feel a little sick.

“Callie,” Lucas mumbles and reaches for me. I fall back into bed next to him and let him pull me close.

“Did you find out anything?”

“Nothing concrete, though do you remember when I told you about a group of vampires who are against assimilation.”

“I do. We though Dina might be part of that group, right?”

“Right. One of the other older vampires in the area said something that made me think they were trying to recruit him. I still don’t know how it could tie into someone hiring the Order to take a shot at you, but I feel like we’re just missing a few pieces of the puzzle.”