25. Piper

Chapter twenty-five

Piper

I 'd been content in my safe place, enveloped in the pillowy darkness, hiding from the pain, from the cruelty out in the world. The whispers had crept back, offering comfort as best they could, sharing little pieces with me, little bits of knowledge. I could concentrate on them more easily here. Maybe it was because I was closer to death myself? I could pick up on individual whispers, listening to one at a time instead of trying to decipher the jumble all together.

The Little Spider is coming.

They told me this, and I wept. I didn't want Addy anywhere near this place. Not here, in this tainted, evil place. Her voice had drifted through the darkness, calling to me like a siren's song. I'd reluctantly emerged, the pain hitting me all over again, making my chest spasm as I struggled to breathe again.

Of course, she was mouthing off to that twisted mass of evil, her power shining so brightly I could almost see it. The moment she had touched me, my entire body sparkled back to life. And fuck, did it ever hurt. The whispers immediately intensified, but the strongest voice… Austin? I felt him. I felt the raw pain in his voice as he called out for his mates. We needed him. He was strong enough. He just needed to find us.

The noises were too much, so I retreated into my safe place, the pain receding and letting me concentrate. With Addy's hand in mine, I felt more. The whispers were clear as day, and I could sense the… tether attached to my chest, the one that drew me to everyone. If I thought hard enough, I could put my hands on it, feeling the ripple travel down toward the others. I needed Austin, his friends, all of them. I put him in my mind, concentrating on his voice calling out to us. As hard as I could, I wrenched the tether toward me, tugging him closer, willing him to follow it here.

Find us...

The effort left me tired, so tired. All I wanted to do was curl up in my safe place and rest. But Addy was here. Addy needed me. I wasn't done yet. I could rest when Austin came. Reluctantly, I emerged from the darkness, gasping at the assault of sounds, the pulse of pain across my entire body. Addy's hand was crushing mine, and I could taste her fear. I wiggled my fingers, letting her know I was here, and she gasped in relief.

"‘m still here," I mumbled, my tongue heavy in my mouth.

"You're much more effort than you're worth," the twisted man - Jake? - snapped, and I heard Addy chuckle.

"If I had a nickel…" she murmured, and I smirked, my lip splitting open. The whispers had decided to join us, maybe because Addy was still holding onto me, or maybe because they pitied me. I listened, focusing on them, knowing what I needed to do now.

"You're just jealous," I announced, and Addy squeezed my hand in warning. I couldn't tell where Jake was, but I could tell that I had his attention now. "You were more handsome, more charming, but still, everyone always chose Cain. Your parents, teachers, Addy. Even with your abilities, you were no one's choice. This is all about jealousy."

"What the fuck did you just say?" Jake wheezed, and I heard his shuffling footsteps. Addy brushed against my leg as she moved in front of me. No, I needed her out of the way, where it was safe. I jerked my hand, tugging her back, leaving me open, vulnerable. The whispers surrounded me, cocooning me in their safety. "You play with people because you're bored, but you feel nothing. You are fueled with hate, but still, somehow, empty. All you are is a shell, and your cracks are beginning to show. Jacob Virgil Morgan, we find you lacking!" My voice didn't sound like mine anymore. The whispers were lending me their tongues now that mine was growing too weak.

"You stupid hippy freak!" Jake snarled. "You think I'm nothing?! I'll make you watch while every one of my puppets takes their turn with your precious little whore. I'll gut you and let you bleed out while she writhes on the floor beside you!" Addy snarled and tensed under my fingers, and I gripped her tightly.

"Do you wish to know your future, Jacob Virgil Morgan?" I intoned, the words flowing through me unbidden, a mind of their own. "The walls you've built are torn down around you, and the ground opens up and swallows you down. Hell will rise up to claim you, bleeding you out with a thousand cuts. You've always been too brazen, and that will be your demise. The strings will be cut and you will die alone and forgotten. Your name will die in this room." My lungs filled with air that wasn't drawn from this world. "You lose, you nasty piece of shit." The last part was me, and my mouth quirked up in a smile as I sagged into the chair, my energy spent.

"No, you don't get to die yet!" Jake snarled, and Addy cursed as her hand was wrenched out of mine, the world upending as my chair fell backward, tumbling me back into the darkness.