Part 34 (2/2)
”How does the book work?”
Sydney figured in this instance, her best defense was to play dumb. ”I don't know. I'm not a witch.”
”Precisely my point.” Mathias leaned closer, and she s.h.i.+vered. ”How can a human control that book?” His eyes, so icy blue, were nearly silver-and alive with intelligence and evil. s.e.xuality oozed from every pore. To the woman who didn't know what he was, a man this good looking would be a powerful lure.
Yet Sydney was not only repelled, but disgusted. His closeness spiked nausea through her.
She had no idea why he wasn't reading her mind as Sabelle did. Different powers? Whatever. She wasn't looking a gift horse in the mouth.
”I d-don't.”
Without using his hands or feet, he scooted both himself and the sofa he sat upon closer. It just moved.
Then he leaned in, grabbing her arms. ”It's attached to you. The minute you left my office in the warehouse, it dissolved out of my hands, back into yours. Tell me why.” If Mathias didn't know the secrets of the Doomsday Diary, she wasn't going to explain them. She was pretty certain he regarded humans as little better then pond sc.u.m, so convincing him of her stupidity shouldn't be difficult.
She shrugged. ”Something Bram did?”
Mathias stared, deep, hard. Sydney tried not to give the p.r.i.c.k the benefit of her fear, but he seemed to reach inside her and bring it all out. ”Do you know what I did to one of the Doomsday Brethren's mates?”
Despite her vow to stay strong, she shrank back in her chair. ”You raped her.” He smiled as if reliving a fond memory. ”Indeed, I rent her bond with her mate and stole most of her life essence. She was a strong witch, and that took time. You I can decimate in three minutes. Then I'll hunt down the cowardly wizard who hasn't completed his Mating Call and make him watch while I waste you completely under the pounding of my c.o.c.k.”
”You vile son of a b.i.t.c.h. You stay the h.e.l.l away from us!” Mathias laughed. ”Or what?” Sydney clutched her hands in her lap, her brain furiously whirling for a way out. Why had she ever imagined that Zain locked up without a wand was harmless? That she understood magic enough to know what was safe? Caden had been telling her for days now that it was unpredictable and dangerous. She hadn't listened.
”Let's try again,” Mathias suggested. ”You tell me what I want to know, and I'll spare you.”
”You're going to kill me anyway. Let's be honest.”
”Hmm.” Mathias frowned. ”It occurs to me that the Doomsday Brethren will converge on me en ma.s.se to save you, the book, or both. You're excellent bait. As soon as all the Doomsday Brethren are dead, then I can kill you. Unless you'd like me to show some mercy. Tell me what you know about the diary, and I might.”
Sydney highly doubted that, but if they were still talking, she was still alive and still able to try to find a way out of this. ”I don't know anything that will help you.”
”I grow tired of this game.”
Mathias flicked a hand in her direction. A fireball burst inside her. She screamed as if her insides had suddenly been boiled in acid. She clutched her middle, fearing imminent death.
Caden! her mind screamed. She loved him and wished everything could have ended differently between them. She would have liked to kiss him and know one perfect night as his mate. But even dying like this, she wasn't sorry she'd become involved with him. She was only sorry that she didn't know how to fight this evil and couldn't keep the others safe.
”Didn't like that, did you?” he asked smugly. ”Maybe you'll be more cooperative now. Right, Shock?” Sydney's eyes flew open, and Shock stood beside Mathias, wearing those sungla.s.ses that hid his every thought. He smirked at her, his look suggesting that she was getting what she deserved. But he'd helped Bram and the others attack Mathias's warehouse. The attack had been a success . . . or had it? Mathias had escaped, and with that terrible gla.s.s sphere he used to make Anarki soldiers at will. Whose side was he really on?
”h.e.l.lo, Sydney.” Shock's voice held all the warmth of a glacier.
”You treacherous, two-faced b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
”You do have the Doomsday Brethren convinced that you have their best interests at heart.” Mathias laughed.
Shock sent Mathias a brash smile. ”Of course. How can I help you?” Sydney reared back. Every time Shock opened his mouth to Bram he was challenging, disrespectful.
When he spoke to Mathias, she'd been surprised not to hear a ”master” at the end of his greeting.
”Read this stupid chit's mind, please. What does she know about the Doomsday Diary? Where did she get it?”
Shock turned toward her. She used the techniques Sabelle had given her to ward him out of her mind, but even her dull thoughts of computer maintenance and a dreary lullaby didn't stop him.
”It was a gift to her, from a friend. She isn't certain where the friend got it.”
”What else does she know?” Mathias scowled.
”She was told it granted s.e.xual fantasies. It came with no further instructions.”
”Did she use it in that capacity?” he asked Shock.
”No,” Sydney said.
”Of course,” Shock corrected immediately. ”Twice.
It worked both times.”
”Is she a witch?”
She could actually feel Shock tromping through her mind, his steps as subtle as an elephant's. Gripping her head to stop the pain, she willed him to get out. A moment later, his heavy presence left her.
”If she is, she is unaware of it.”
”How old are you?” Mathias snapped.
She sighed. If she didn't answer, Mathias would just send Shock back in to pillage her mind.
”Twenty-seven.”
”Not a witch,” they said in unison.
”Females transition into their powers around twenty-five,” Shock supplied.
Mathias focused on her utterly, the same way a snake probably watched its prey before swallowing it whole. ”The book has conferred some sense of owners.h.i.+p to you. Because you used it?” Suddenly, Shock was in her head again, cras.h.i.+ng through her skull as if he was looking for answers with a machete. She screamed at the skull-cracking pain.
”She does not know.”
Mathias waved him away. ”That's all. Go round up the Anarki. I'm expecting company soon. You'll greet them, I hope.”
Shock shot her an evil grin. ”With great pleasure.” Sydney watched him with horror as he strode out, long leather duster trailing behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Mathias s.n.a.t.c.hed the Doomsday Diary off of her lap and rose, his long stride eating up the s.p.a.ce to the door out of the makes.h.i.+ft office. The moment Mathias stepped over the threshold, he cursed.
The book reappeared on her lap.
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