Intrinsical - Lani Woodland [50]
Real Brent stood up and dusted himself off. “Who are you?’
“I’ve been many people over the years, but originally I was Thomas,” he said with a formal bow.
“Well . . . Thomas, why are you here? What do you want? Do you want to gloat? I’ll tell you what you can do with that gloating.” Brent made a rude hand gesture.
Thomas laughed, completely ignoring Brent’s graphic suggestions on what he could do with his free time, and interrupted him. “I’m here to collect Yara,” he announced, meeting our shocked faces with an evil grin.
“Collect me?” I asked, my voice catching on my words.
Brent slid in front of me. “Like you did with Phil?”
“Yes— if I need to, I’ll take her the same way.”
Brent shuddered. “I can’t let you do that.”
“You wouldn’t be able to stop me.” Thomas held up his hands. “But I’m willing to make it easier on her. I need Yara. Why else would I have killed her?”
“Because you felt like it?”
“I don’t enjoy it.”
“Then why murder her?”
“I already told you why,” Thomas said. “There were many reasons, but mainly because I need her.”
“Why do you need me?” I couldn’t help but ask, peeking around Brent, my hands resting on his waist.
Thomas turned toward and he held out his hand to me. “I’m giving you the chance to choose to come with me.”
“Why would I go with you? Didn’t you just admit to killing me?”
He held my gaze. “Yes, I did.”
If Brent’s arm hadn’t circled around me, pressing my stomach to his back, I would have launched myself at Thomas.
“I can understand you being upset about that.” He cracked his knuckles, then folded his arms behind his back. “You have to understand, I don’t like killing people. I’ve grown accustomed to it, but it’s never easy. Sometimes, though, it has to be done.”
“So you have no choice in the matter, huh?”
Judging by the way his face brightened he had missed my sarcasm. “Exactly. It’s a matter of survival. But I think your death, Yara, might be the last here.” He took a few long strides so he was mere inches from me. His borrowed brown eyes pleaded for understanding. “I’m not a bad person.”
“No, you’re just a serial killer.”
He looked past me and nodded before ducking his head. “I suppose I am. But I’m not a monster. I’m a prisoner just like you. You coming willingly will be of greater benefit to me. Please come with me, Yara— please join me.”
The please caught me off guard and I almost missed Brent’s arms releasing me. He circled slowly behind Thomas and I kept my eyes on Thomas so he wouldn’t notice.
Thomas’s gaze never left mine. “Will you come with me?” His voice was calm like what he suggested was perfectly acceptable.
“No!” I shouted, my whole body trembling.
“Fine— then I have a deal to make with Brent.” He turned his back on me and spun toward Brent who had paused mid-crouch, having been preparing another attack. “I can see you’re trying to play the hero here, but really you have no obligation to her. Do you realize that? I’m offering you a deal, Brent. I’m willing to give your body back and let you continue your square li— I mean boring life.”
Brent lost his footing and struggled to right himself.
“That’s right,” Thomas crooned, with the lure of a cobra who’s about to strike. “You’ll get your body back, your life back, and you won’t remember any of this. It will all be like it never happened. And to sweeten the deal, I’m even willing to let your brother’s soul go free.”
Brent pushed to his feet. “Neal? You have him?” Brent’s eyes flickered with raw emotion and he stepped toward Thomas.
“Wait!” I yelled, throwing my arms out and jumping in front of Brent. “You’re presuming that we believe that you have his brother. Well, we don’t believe it. His brother died years ago.”
“Oh really?” He asked lazily, and I felt the air start to chill around me. Brent raised his hand as if to attack, but Thomas lifted his hand in warning. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you; you’ll want to see this.”
Thomas stretched out his fingers and pointed them toward the ground. Inky dark drops leaked from his fingertips, creating a vapory coverage around him that started to froth