Shadow Kissed 03 - Shadowman

Thank you, Adam.
    â€œOpen the door, honey.”
    â€œI can’t. I just tripped the lock.” Layla grabbed the counter to stop the room from spinning.
    I’m in a wraith examination cell. It’s designed to hold an impossibly strong and supernatural creature captive. It can hold out a devil. Maybe.
    â€œWell, that’s inconvenient. Mr. Thorne’s security has been difficult before,” Rose said. “And here I just painted my nails.”
    Layla focused on the claw. The nails were in fact a saccharine pink. “Sorry.”
    Rose’s voice turned cold. “You don’t sound sincere.”
    The room hazed. “I’m not.”
    Rose’s eyes glittered and her lizard arm drew back and smacked the transparent wall. Hard.
    Layla stumbled back against the counter in surprise, but the wall held. Didn’t even shudder with the impact. Thorne security was the best.
    The monster claw hit the wall again.
    Heart in her throat, Layla fumbled through the drawer for a weapon. She had to be ready. She pulled out some kind of surgical cleaver. That would do.
    Rose sweetly tilted her head, as if to acknowledge the necessity of the knife, but hit the wall still harder. Nothing.
    She turned, wrenched a seat from the theater, and threw it at the wall.
    Nothing.
    The transparent partition seemed impenetrable. Layla loved the room. She could even get used to the smell.
    â€œI have a suggestion,” Rose drawled, all sugar. “You obviously want to stay in there alone, with the door locked. I understand completely and would love to compromise. How about I stay out here, like you want, and you draw that there blade across your throat.”
    Again the dizziness, but Layla knew that the wall would hold. She was safe. And Rose’s solution sounded so reasonable. Everyone got what they wanted. Layla in, Rose out. Layla dead.
    Wait a second. . . .
    â€œDon’t worry, honey,” Rose said. “You won’t even feel it.”
    Layla threw the knife on the counter. Flexed her hand to get rid of the cold of the handle.
    â€œLook at me, darlin’.”
    Layla’s gaze was forced to Rose’s blue eyes. An oily shiver went down Layla’s spine. How could someone so nice be so awful?
    Rose’s voice lowered with compassion. “Honey, it’s better this way. I think you know that.”
    No.
    â€œBesides, you’re supposed to already be dead. It’s like you’re stealin’ time, and that isn’t good.” Rose smiled, then gently said, “Go on now, slit your throat.”
    No . . . The light of the room warped in Layla’s vision.
    â€œI can see that you’re strong-willed, and I like that about you.” Rose’s pretty cheeks dimpled. “In any other circumstances, I know we’d be friends. But right now, you’re alone. Just as alone as alone can be.”
    Layla shuddered.
    â€œWhy is that, honey? I think you know.”
    Because no one wanted her. She’d always been alone.
    Rose lowered her head in a confirmatory nod. “That’s right. I’m sorry to have to say it, but no one loves you.”
    So it was true.
    They wanted Kathleen back, that’s all.
    â€œAnd no one wants you. Why else would you be stuck down here, when everyone else has left the area to the wraiths? Do you even have food? No toilet, I see.”
    â€œThey were protecting me.”
    â€œOh, honey.” Rose tsk-tsk-tsked her pity. “Couldn’t you just die? Why don’t you just die?”
    â€œStop it,” Layla said. “Why are you doing this? I never hurt you.”
    â€œYou are, though,” Rose said. “I have a man who loves me, who’s waiting for me to come home. Twelve years he’s been waiting, since my untimely passing. But I can’t until I deal with you. You’ve got nobody, and your life is already over. Holding on is just, well . . . it’s just sad. Pick up the knife and cut your gosh-darn throat.”
    Stars filled Layla’s vision. No.
    â€œI said,” Rose’s voice took on steely intensity, “you are alone . You’ve always been alone and you will always be alone . It’s better to end it now .”
    The room went white with brightness, blurry and indistinct. Layla shook her head to clear her vision, but the action set the room careening around her.
    Layla had thought they cared, thought they understood her—Talia and Adam, Khan, who