The last week of recovering from Vane’s torture wasn’t easy. The med drop, then change left my brain mush and my body a mess. I was falling behind in classes at this point, but so far, other than Nurse Drew giving me my daily meds, no one had come to call me out on it.
The fact I even made it out here was a huge step. But how could I resist Hiro when he asked so sweetly. He’d been walking and reading about Helheim, trying to learn and understand everything he could. Not only to keep us safe but to know what we’re up against. I doubted Vane would be letting this go, and whatever he’d offered the demons on his side, it had to be big. This wasn’t going to just go away.
“Hey!” Drake’s voice was a desperate hiss as he ran over. I’d never seen him anything but controlled. His eyes were wide and his hair looked like he’d run his hands through it countless times. When he finally reached us, he put a hand on Hiro’s shoulder to steady himself and catch his breath. I bit back a laugh at poor Hiro’s face flaming red. “Vane’s back and he’s angry.”
“Of course he is.” I sighed. “Things were too peaceful around here.”
“He’s already sending for you,” he clarified. The words had ice surging through my veins.
“Then he can fuck all the way off,” Hiro said vehemently. A grin broke out on Drake’s face at Hiro’s outburst, but I couldn’t manage one. I’d barely survived my last encounter with him, I refused to be alone with him.
“You have to come with me,” I told them. My entire body shook with tremors of fear, my stomach already in knots. “Don’t make me go alone or he’ll take advantage of me.”
Nurse Drew opened the door and peeked out, rushing our way the moment she spotted us, with Dr. Bradley on her tail. Both of them were frantic, and I had a feeling Vane was already barking orders at the staff.
“You’re to report to Dr. Vane immediately,” Nurse Drew informed me, trying to take my arm, but Drake moved in front of me. I glanced over at Hiro who’d froze, only to find myself face to face with Roman now. His expression was harder, more stoic, it was an easy spot at this point.
“She won’t be going near him alone,” Drake informed her.
“That’s not up to you, Drake,” Dr. Bradley said in a snide tone. “Step aside.”
“No,” I said. “After he raped and tortured me, I’d say I have enough cause to refuse to be alone with that monster.”
“Uh, y-you, c-can’t,” Nurse Drew’s stuttered words made no sense and her face had gone ghostly white. I suspected she knew what was going on, but my blunt words were forcing her to face the truth head on.
“You can work that out with him then,” Bradley said, gesturing for our group to start walking. Not caring if it made him uncomfortable, I slipped my hand in Drake’s, then Roman’s. I needed the comfort as I went to face the man who’d caused more damage in weeks than anyone had in years, and that was fucking saying something. Not to mention I needed the physical help to walk that far. Getting outside had taken the wind out of me, and I hadn’t managed to recover yet. Funny how five days of torture was going to take weeks, maybe months of recovery time to heal from.
The elevator ride was tense, but the two staff members didn’t bother to say anything else to us. The moment the doors opened on the fifth floor, we were met with screams and crashing.
“Someone’s throwing a tantrum,” Drake deadpanned as he tucked me in a bit closer to his side. I felt so stupid for trembling and feeling weak, but I couldn’t just shut off the pain and mental distress he’d caused.
“What is the meaning of this?” Vane demanded as they led our group into the office, throwing a fit just as Drake predicted. It looked like a storm had raged in here, furniture upended, papers everywhere, and more than one shattered picture frame. “You can’t even follow one simple direction you incompetent fools?”
“Oh no, they demanded I come alone, I refused,” I clarified. Vane’s lip curled as he settled his gaze on me.
“You,” he spat it like a curse. “Do you know what you’ve cost me?!” His voice trembled with rage, but Drake took one step forward and he instantly quieted down.
“Do we need to have another private chat?” Drake asked calmly. “It seems you’ve forgotten our first one.”
“How dare you speak to me that way!” Vane seethed but it was half hearted at best now. “You three are dismissed, I’ll speak with Drake and Harlow alone.”
“Like hell you will,” Roman answered. “I already know your secrets.”
“Go,” he ordered the other two who scampered out like their asses were on fire.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What you’ve cost me?” he demanded again as he finally sat down. It was satisfying to see him covered in tight bandages and braces, every movement stunted or followed with a wince of pain. His hands, abdomen, pelvis, all of it bound in some way. “Don’t look so satisfied.”
“Just because your scars are on the surface doesn’t absolve you of your crimes against me,” I reminded him in the coldest voice I could muster. With the other two by my side, it was a lot easier to grasp onto my anger and let it take hold. “You’ve paid for your mistake, and you won’t touch another patient here.”
“I’ve already handled your hallway. You may as well transfer that nurse, she has no one left to watch over,” Drake said. The vein on Dr. Vane’s forehead pulsed with anger, his entire face purplish-red with rage. We’d officially derailed everything he’d built.
“That won’t stop us,” he ground out, spit flying out as he punctuated the words. He was more unhinged than half of the patients here. “In fact, we’ll be doubling down our efforts. Watch in defeat as your world crumbles around you and I win.” The maniacal laughter that followed had Drake turning and pulling us out of the room.
“He’s fucking lost it, but this can’t be good,” he hissed out. “We have to tell your monster. Call Ivar.”
“Monty,” I corrected. The snort of laughter from Drake had both of us cracking up while Roman looked at us like we’d lost our minds. “What, that’s his name to me.”
“And only you would give the fucking Commander of Helheim a fucking nickname like Monty. Where did that even come from?” Drake demanded with a snort of laughter. The sight of a broken Vane was enough to lift his spirits to a level I’d never seen. It made me wonder what Drake would be like without the pressure of this place.