“You know, you worrying about me so much... I’m flattered.”
Heresy turned, inhaling sharply as she saw the outline of Saevar standing in the doorway of her bedroom. His hands were in his pockets, and even in the dim light his eyes flashed a stark silvery-blue. The fear pumping through her veins seemed to numb to a throb, and she felt like she couldn’t even move.
Part of her knew the truth. That something had changed, and he was here to kill her. Maybe it was the anger management classes, but she desperately wanted to talk her way out of this one.
“We just wanted you to come back,” Heresy murmured. Her voice was trembling. “So we could help you. Saevar--”
“Mmm. That’s so sweet of you, but it kind of seemed like you were running from me,” Saevar remarked, taking a casual step into the room and slowly closing the door behind him. For a moment Heresy should only see the moonlight reflecting off his back, the way his shirt fell on his shoulder blades. Wait...
She blinked hard. This wasn’t happening. “Stop it,” she demanded, voice spiking shakily as he turned and took another step toward her. “I said fucking stop it.”
Saevar raise an eyebrow, mouth twitching with an intrigued smile. “Stop what? I’m not doing anything.”
“You know damn well that’s not true,” she said. Her feet were still planted, whether in fear or determination she couldn’t tell. She was vaguely aware of her phone on the dresser, if she could just get to it...
“Romulus did something to you. I, I don’t know,” she continued, stepping back as he advanced. “You disappeared, and now you show up here and, and you’re acting like a dick. Stop it.”
Saevar’s grin widened as he walked right up to her, so close she could feel his breath, and his eyes drifted past her to the table next to the bed. Her heart dropped as he moved into her, his chest brushing hers as he reached down to pick up her phone.
“You know I can see into your head, right?” he asked her, voice barely above a whisper. She tried to inhale again but all she could feel was his warm breath on her face. Then, in moment of clarity, she shoved him away.
“Fuck you,” she whispered. That familiar anger, like wildfire, began to lick away at her defenses. “You told me you would never fuck with my head. You’re sick.”
“You’re missing the point, Heresy,” he told her, spreading his arms. “I’m not doing anything. I just exist, and your mind goes straight into the gutter. Do you know exactly how sick I am? I’ve tried all the cures, all the therapy and coping mechanisms, but I’ve had enough. I’ve come to terms with the fact that nothing makes me feel better than putting your thoughts through a fucking blender. But it’s a win-win anyway.”
He stepped forward again, and this time Heresy tried to lift a fist to hit him but he grabbed her wrist with ease.
“That’s what he showed me, Heresy,” he told her, his voice dropping to a growl. “How to stop worrying and just let it happen. God, he opened up my mind to so many things. I feel fantastic.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me too,” Heresy whispered. “You’re my friend, Saevar.”
“You think I want to hurt you?” Saevar asked, eyebrows knitting. He tilted his head, hand resting on the crook of her neck. His touch sent a bolt of electricity through her body and she inhaled sharply. In that moment it was all over.
Every word felt like helium, every detail of his face new and captivating. Heresy’s knees began to fail under her and she stumbled back against the wall. Saevar closed the distance, eyes flashing knowingly as they flickered over her face.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he told her softly. She knew it was a lie, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. “Heresy, you can’t hide anything from me. From the day I met you, I’ve known how you felt. You don’t have to be ashamed of it.”
“Look at me, sweetheart.” Saevar lifted a hand, caressing her cheek with his thumb as he tilted her head back to look into her eyes. She didn’t resist. “You don’t think I’m going to hurt you, I know that for a fact. You’re scared I’m going to do something else.”
“Saevar,” she whispered. It was all she could think of to say.
“You’re so conflicted,” he purred, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because this is exactly what you want. And the only reason you didn’t tell me before is because you know what something like that would mean between us, isn’t that right?”
Heresy suddenly reached up, her hands grabbing his shoulders like she was going to shove him away again. Saevar didn’t respond, his eyes still trained on her with that intoxicating smirk, and then she pulled him down into a kiss.
An overwhelming wave of euphoria crashed over her and she felt her head grow impossibly light as his hands slid around her waist, every thought abandoned by logic as her heartbeat became the loudest noise in the room--
As soon as it had started, Saevar’s arms pulled away from her, and without him supporting her she collapsed to the ground.
Saevar turned slowly, unfamiliar contempt flickering in his eyes as they met Percy’s from across the room. Without looking away he threw Heresy’s phone onto the bed, that sickeningly sweet smile only growing.
“That was a little rude,” he remarked.
“So this is why he let you go,” Percy asked, lip curling in a snarl. “To do his dirt work and pick us all off?”
Saevar turned to glance back at Heresy, who was now unconscious on the floor. “That’s a little dramatic,” he said. “But it’s not like you guys are making it hard. Everyone around here is fucking obsessed with me.”
“You’re mental,” Percy snapped. “Look at you. I don’t even know you.”
“Come on,” Saevar prodded, walking toward Percy with infuriating confidence. “We both know you know me better than anyone. Did our year on the road slip your mind?”
Percy stepped back instinctively, every feature betraying a fear he had felt too many times before. “Don’t you dare. You know none of that was, was real.”
Saevar shrugged, nose wrinkling a little. “Felt pretty real.”
“We were both at rock bottom. Starving animals trying to feel something. It didn’t mean anything except survival.”
“Now that just hurts my feelings.” Saevar’s eyes followed Percy’s frightened, defensive movements with almost an entertained fascination. A soft chuckle escaped him. “Look at you, you’re a wreck. ”
He walked up to Percy, grabbing his collar without warning and yanking him towards himself. Percy restrained a whimper, tensing under his grip.
“I will kill you if I have to,” Percy whispered. Black ooze was already starting to gather at the corners of his mouth. “You know I’m hungry enough.”
Saevar clicked his tongue, reaching up to wipe away the ooze with his thumb. “I don’t think so,” he murmured. His eyes were horrible, empty and unfamiliar, and that was worse that anything. “You couldn’t before.”
“I am much different than when we first met in that bar, Saevar.”
“No,” Saevar said. He was so close, Percy could smell him. “Nothing will ever change, Percy. You’ll always need me around.”
The shattering of glass broke the tension without warning and Saevar fell to the ground. Percy staggered back, eyes falling on Heresy holding a shattered glass base of the bedside lamp. Their eyes met in mutual fear and humiliation.
“Never speak of this again,” Percy gasped.
Heresy nodded, letting the lamp drop to the floor. She wiped her hands on her pants, eyes on the floor. “Yeah, fuck that.”
