Chapter 4

The door shut behind her. The heat hit her like a wall.

The silence was broken by soft, wet hisses. Goosebumps raced up her arms. Her foot touched the ground and something cool and ridged slid across it, then another — climbing up her leg with slow, dry breaths.

"Ah —"

Seraphina jerked, kicking wildly, trying to shake them off.

"Open the door! Let me out of here!"

"Open the door —"

She slammed her hands against it. Beat on it with her fists.

No one answered.

The heat brought out a rash on her skin, itchy and burning. Her head swam. She fought it all night, and eventually she couldn't even scream anymore.

She slid down into the corner, gasping, hollow-eyed.

Time lost meaning. Right before she passed out, the door opened.

Damien stood there, backlit. He didn't speak.

She thought it was finally over. She pushed herself up against the wall and staggered one step forward.

"Hold her."

His voice was flat. Cruel.

Before she could react, two of the security guys had her arms pinned. Her jaw was forced open, and something cold and bitter was poured down her throat.

"Cough — cough —"

Her head rang. "What did you give me —"

Her body answered before he did.

Hives erupted across her skin. Her throat closed. She couldn't breathe. She was dying.

She was going into anaphylaxis.

"Since you decided to slip Vivienne an allergen — she's still in the hospital getting her stomach pumped — I warned you. You don't touch her. You can't seem to hear that, so we're going to let you feel what she's feeling. Maybe this one sticks."

He watched her writhe on the floor with no flicker of pity.

"I didn't do it —"

He wasn't listening.

He stood over her as she convulsed, as she choked, as her consciousness finally gave out.