The Binding

Chapter Thirty-One

    My heart thrummed, and it took every ounce of will power not to look at the space under the bed next to his feet.

    "You can use my shower." The muscles in my stomach started to unclench. "But in the meantime, what should I do with her?" He bent down and reached under the bed. Agnes shrieked as Petro pulled her out by her ankles. He pulled her up and held her by the throat as she struggled and kicked at him. 

    I rushed toward him, and he blocked me with his other hand. Petro called out Bernard. The door burst open, and a guard ran in. Petro tossed Agnes to him like she was an unwanted rodent, an infestation.      

    My head flew back painfully as Petro knotted his hand around my hair from behind and pulled, forcing me to look up at him. Agnes was screaming, but I couldn't turn to see what was happening. Her legs flew through the air past me. Petro's other hand crushed around my neck and pushed me into the mantel above the fireplace. My arms flailed, and my body crumpled as it slammed sharply against hard marble. I tried to draw in air, but my throat had half-collapsed. My lungs burned, making me struggle for breath. A sharp pain registered, and it took me a moment to recognize it. The skin on my shoulder and arm peeled away as I was dragged across something sharp.

    I shrieked and tried to pull away. Petro dragged me the rest of the way across the mantle then bent me backward against the back of the chair I had been sitting in. Petro smiled, bright and jovial. His breath smelled of mint and tobacco. He swept his fingers lightly, gently across my skin, along my neck, and over my jaw.

    "You are mine," he whispered slowly, his breath sticky hot. "Esther was with me for two thousand years," he breathed seductively. "You owe me at least that much."

    I gagged and flinched, pulling away from him. Agnes was sprawled on top of a table, kicking, crying, and snarling at the man. I stopped for a moment to think of his name... Bernard. His forearm was pressed down against her chest over her sternum. She tried to roll sideways, and he wrapped his fingers around her neck to still her. She stopped kicking and reached her hand up to his face, clawing deep red lines down his cheek and neck. Blood welled up from his skin in scattered dots. The man roared and reared back. She kicked again, aiming for his jaw. It connected but slid along the side of his face.

    He lurched toward her again, with a gun that appeared from some hidden place on his body. He pointed it at her with a snarl then turned to Petro.

    I tried to focus on Petro's face, but the light in the room seemed blindingly bright. He raised his eyebrows in question as he watched my expression. I pulled back, allowing a few inches of space to appear between us and then thrust the palm of my hand against his jaw with every shred of strength I could summon.

    He staggered back, surprised. "You are alive. So many long for death." A smile lit up his face. "I'm delighted I decided not to kill you. You are quite the hellion."

    He laughed and grabbed my hips, closing off the few precious inches of air between us.

    Agnes whimpered, softly crying as she stared up at the gun.

    I turned to Petro. "Stop this! Stop! Just let her go."

    He pulled back, stunned. He turned and looked at Agnes with the same expression he had with the young girl in my vision. Agnes was shaking in terror. Petro cupped my chin and tilted my face up.

    "What are you?"

    "Please, Petro."

    Petro turned to the guard, considering, and then shook his head. A breath later, the guard unceremoniously pulled the trigger. Agnes' arms and legs fell limp against the table.