“That’s right, fucker. Whose screams are hitting this goddamn roof now?” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, smiling as I watched his face contort in pain.
Pain.
Pain.
So much fucking pain.
I loved it. The sound of his torment. The sight of it. My body felt electrified, my mind soaring with cruel enjoyment. I was fucking high on the devil’s anguish while I avenged my fallen angel’s ruin.
“Motherfucker!” Slither bellowed, sweat beading on his forehead as he cringed. “You piece of shit, motherfucker!”
“The only piece of shit around here is you.” I untied the chains holding his knee in place, and his leg dropped. It earned me more screams that ripped through the emptiness around us. His body swayed, his whimpering cries sending bolts of excitement down my spine. There was no need to imagine what kind of pain he was experiencing. It was all there in the deafening roar that escaped his mouth and calmed my rage.
“I would love to stay here and listen to you swallow your screams, but I have a barbecue to get to.” With the chain in one hand, I grabbed his leg pulled it up behind him again, bending his shattered knee. His shrieks tore through his chest as I tied the chains around his waist to keep his knee bent behind him once again.
He leaned his head back, eyes shut. “Jesus Christ!”
“I’m afraid Jesus can’t help you now, snake.”
I grabbed the IV bag, piped it, and primed the tubing. The last thing we needed was for the fucker to die of something so simple as a fucking air bubble.
“Now, don’t get too excited,” I started, crouching and reaching for his left foot. “There’s no pain killers in this. Just a little something to keep you hydrated so you don’t die on me sooner than planned.”
With him hanging from the ceiling, the veins on his feet were already bulged and easy to access.
He didn’t even flinch when I inserted the needle and set up the IV. He probably didn’t even feel it compared to the fire lit in his broken leg.
I straightened. “That should you keep you alive…for now.”
“You’re too kind,” he bit out between clenched teeth, and I had to laugh at how he still managed sarcasm while in his current state.
“Before I go, I’m just going to leave these here.” I placed the two iron hooks I brought with me on the table, right in his view. “I had other plans for you today, but there was a sudden change in our fucking itinerary.” Turning, I faced him. “But I’ll be back later to use these.”
When he saw the hooks, his eyes grew wide, and I was sure the sweat on his forehead turned to goddamn ice. The sense of accomplishment I felt while staring at him, so helpless and vulnerable, unable to do shit while I tortured atonement out of him, was fucking awesome. My only wish was that she was here too, to see this sight—to see her demon suffer like she did. But she would be…soon.
With a smile, I walked up to him and slapped my palm on his cheeks a few times, bringing my face inches from his. “Don’t go anywhere, snake.”
Turning my back on him, I headed to the door. “Oh, one more thing before I go.” I pressed play on the recorder, and our little conversation from earlier started playing. Deleting the first part, I only saved the last bit of what recorded. “Some entertainment while I’m gone.”
I winked at him and smiled, knowing he’d be listening to the sound of his knee shattering under the strength of a hammer and his cries that followed. For the next twelve hours, all he’ll be listening to was his own pain, on repeat. Like I said, there was something about a man’s screams that just sounded all wrong and fucked-up. Listening to your own screams, hearing the sound of your own weakness—now, that was pure torture.
7
Neon
I had to admit,the purple hair looked way better than the dirty blonde I’d been sporting the last few weeks. The undercut had started to grow out, and Alyx offered to shave it back in style, but I didn’t want her to. The longer strands were thick enough to fall over and cover it. It was hardly noticeable, especially now with the striking purple curls hanging just below my shoulders.
I looked closer at my reflection in the mirror, examining the scar of a torn-out eyebrow ring. At least they left my nose stud in place.
“You want to get a new eyebrow ring?” Alyx leaned against the bathroom door.
“Nah. I think I’m good for now.”
She crossed her arms. “The purple looks good on you.”
“Thanks, Swan Lake.”
“I’m going to join the guys outside. You coming?”