Running With Devils

Twenty-Eight

I placed the barrel of the gun beneath my chin, my eyes locked on hers. Anger wasn't even close to the way I'd describe what I was feeling.

Click.

She blinked her teary eyes in confusion.

"Wh—what?"

"If you had paid close attention, you would have noticed that I never reloaded after shooting that bastard's head off," I muttered, holstering the gun at my hip. "You let fear and chaos control you like a puppet on a string."

Her mouth opened and shut repeatedly, trying to find the words to respond.

"I—"

"Shut your mouth," I snapped. "If you can't master yourself, then you're in for a hell of a ride down below."

Her legs gave out from beneath her in tired defeat.

The forest was silent except for her quiet sobs. I would have been pleased with myself if she had actually understood what I was trying to say. This just felt wrong.

I ignored the feeling, reaching down and plucking her off the ground as if she were a petal from a flower. The witch didn't fight me as I held her to my chest.

"I'm sorry," she choked through her tears.

I wouldn't forgive her. Not yet. Not until she understood the importance of my lesson.

"Save your apology for the others. I don't want your meaningless words today," I muttered.

Then I whisked her back to the warehouse.

***

I sat half a bottle of whiskey deep now. There was no sign of the rage receding any time soon. It was best I stay away from the others. I'd end up doing something I'd later regret.

The soft sound of the record scratching over Johnny Cash's voice soothed the edge of my instability. I was crossing my fingers that the whiskey would take care of the rest.

I kept spinning the open chamber of the revolver with my thumb.

I heard her enter, silent like a cat. My thumb stopped its spinning and I set the gun down on the side table.

"You're still mad," she asked, swallowing hard.

I almost laughed at the word. Mad is too human of an emotion to cover the extent of this. It doesn't even cover an eighth of the fury I was struggling to keep contained.

"Yea," I muttered bitterly, taking a swig of whiskey. "Mad."

She cautiously stepped closer. My eyes flicked up. I must've been scary looking just then because she froze midstep, eyes wide and breathing completely still.

"Des, about this afternoon—"

I was out of my seat within milliseconds, towering above her like a skyscraper.

"What about this afternoon, peaches," I asked through grinding teeth.

"You're right. I had no idea what I was doing," she said, sweat beading on her brow. "I was reckless and didn't pay attention to the details."

I made sure to keep my hands to myself as I circled her, my eyes drinking in her form. Fuck. I wanted to experience her again. This time for real. But bending now would only cement the idea that I would give in to whatever she wanted and I would not.

"What do you want from me, Coralynn," I asked, narrowing my eyes. "You didn't just come here to admit your mistake. You want something from me."

"James," she swallowed. "I need to see him, if he's still here."