Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

YOU ARE A DANGER TO EVERYONE HERE, INCLUDING YOURSELF.

W ith every step we took through the maze-like halls, more dread built up in my belly. Evelyn explained the history of the facility, her voice as cold and clinical as the surroundings. But as we turned a corner into a darker, more secluded area, her hand slipped into her jacket pocket. She retrieved a small silver device that resembled a pen. Dread twisted my gut. Had she purposely separated me from Rhiot for some other reason?

"Miss Hansley, your powers are quite... potent," she said, the corners of her mouth turning up in a thin smile. "But fear not. I have just the thing to help you control them."

Before I could react, she twisted the device, and a soft blue light enveloped me. The surrounding air crackled with energy as I felt my powers shrinking inside of me... tied down and forced into restraint. I instantly rejected the bonds, refusing to leave myself weak and vulnerable.

I felt an icy presence as the silver pen-like device hummed in Evelyn's grasp. This wasn't right. I shouldn't have been here, and I certainly shouldn't be feeling whatever this was.

The blue light surrounding me intensified, spreading further and further until it had consumed me completely. It was like an invisible hand gripping my body and squeezing the air out of my lungs. My powers flickered and fought against it, but the grip only tightened.

"Wh-what did you do to me?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and fear.

"Merely a precautionary measure." Evelyn replied smoothly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "We cannot have you losing control and causing harm to yourself or others during your training… again, now can we?"

I tried to break free, to push back against it, but it was too strong. My knees buckled beneath me as my muscles strained to move against its will. I felt a presence inside me, snuffing out my abilities one by one until all that remained was a faint spark of energy deep within me.

My head swam with questions; what was this? What did Evelyn intend to do with me? I wanted desperately to lash out, but found myself unable to do anything more than gasp for breath under its oppressive weight. When at last it released me, I fell back onto the floor weakly, feeling exposed and vulnerable without my powers to protect me. I felt weak and unable to access them at all.

Evelyn stepped back and closed the device with a flourish before slipping it away again in her pocket. "You should feel much calmer now," she said with a satisfied smile. "It should be easier for you to control your remaining powers until we can properly train you."

"You have no right to do this to me." I yelled, but my voice came out in barely more than a whisper.

"Miss Parker," she replied coolly, her eyes narrowing at my prone form. "I have been assigned to manage your powers, and that is precisely what I am doing."

"By stripping me of them without warning?" I seethed. My heart struggled to pound in my chest from the new lethargy I felt. "That's not training. That's control."

"Perhaps," she conceded, her gaze never leaving mine as she stepped closer until she stood over me. "But you are a danger to everyone here, including yourself. Until you learn to master your abilities, I cannot allow you to wield them freely."

My anger surged, frustration gnawing at the edges of my self-control. Heat slid through me as a tingling sensation slid along my back until it covered most of me.

Suddenly, there was a low growl from behind me, echoing through the dim corridor.

"Leave her alone." A creepy, demonic voice commanded, the words vibrating with barely restrained fury.

Startled, both Evelyn and I turned to see Cerbie. He was massive, his three heads snarling and baring their teeth. Thick, dark fur covered his muscular body, and his fiery red eyes bore into Evelyn with the force of a demonic storm. Bubbling drool dripped from his mouths. He took up every bit of the corridor.

"Who dares to challenge me?" Evelyn hissed, her expression twisting into one of rage and surprise.

"Her protector." Cerbie growled, each of his heads seemingly speaking in unison even though their mouths didn't move. "The one you so foolishly thought you could overpower."

Evelyn glared down at me. I slid backward until my back was pressed against the wall. Cerberus could talk? Since when?

"How dare you send your demon after me." Evelyn bared her teeth at me. "I haven't harmed you and yet you've sent your minion to attack me. They were right, you're feral."

"Undo the spell." Cerbie demanded, stepping forward until he towered over the woman. "Or face the consequences.

"No. I refuse to bow to demon scum." Evelyn spat. She held up the silver device once more, focusing it on Cerbie.

No, she couldn't hurt him. He hadn't attacked her, only defended me. My chest tightened at the thought of Cerbie being hurt again because of me. He'd protected me from the demons in the hell realm, ending up severely wounded. I wouldn't let that happen again.

"Stop." The words weren't as loud as I wanted, but they echoed down the corridor with a quiet power. Evelyn turned to me, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Miss Parker, I will not tolerate disobedience." She took a step toward me.

But before she could get any closer, Cerbie lunged forward, his teeth bared and ready to attack. Evelyn stumbled back, barely able to evade his jaws. I took the opportunity to stand up, my legs shaking beneath me as I faced off against Evelyn.

"You have no right to do this to me," I repeated, my voice stronger now. "I am not your puppet."

Evelyn glared at me, her silver device still held out. But I could sense her hesitation. Cerbie growled low, his eyes never leaving her.

Finally, with a snarl of frustration, Evelyn snapped. "Begone demon beast."

As the blue light surged, I panicked. Not my Cerbie. A percussive blast exploded through the corridor, knocking both of us to the ground. My vision dimmed and everything around me swirled. My brain felt like it was caught in a riptide. I didn't know how long I laid there before I opened my eyes again. The hatred of the facility pressed against my skin like a living thing, whispering secrets and threats that sent shivers down my spine. I had to blink several times before I could get them to focus.

The corridor seemed to close in on me as I pushed myself up into a crouching position. I wasn't steady enough to be on my feet, but I didn't want to lie flat on my back. My powers surge back into place within me.

Cerbie was nowhere to be seen. Evelyn stirred on the floor. With a groan, she slowly stood up, her gaze settling on me with a mixture of fear and confusion.

"Get away from her," a deep voice commanded, cutting through the tension like a razor sharp knife. Rhiot appeared like a specter in the dim light, his eyes fierce and protective as he stepped between Evelyn and me. His tall, muscular frame formed a barrier that the woman couldn't hope to breach.

"Rhiot…" I breathed, relief washing over me like a tidal wave, but it did little to quell the anger that bubbled up inside me. Cerbie's presence wrapped around me, protecting me from the woman even though I was almost certain my powers were back. I wasn't sure and wouldn't dare to check right now.

I pulled the front of my shirt down, my eyes landing on the sharp black lines of Cerbie's tattoo right above my heart. Good, he was safe.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice trembling with gratitude and lingering fear. My fingers tingled as he brushed against them.

But even as Cerbie's protection wrapped itself around me, I couldn't shake the feeling that we had just unleashed something far more dangerous than anything we'd faced before. And with each step I took deeper into the facility, that sense of foreboding only grew stronger.