For disclaimer and Author's note, see the Prologue. Narcissus in Chains belongs to Laurell K. Hamilton (I just loooovvvveee the book.)

Chapter One

The Blackhills Asylum

Tuesday, 11:25 a.m.

"Dr. Bennington. You're patient is waiting in your office for you." Said one of the nurses of the asylum as she approached the psychologist.

Jarod stopped the conversation he had been having with another nurse and looked at the other woman and gave her a smile.

"Thank you, Anita." He said.

The woman nodded and continued walking down the hall.

The Pretender turned back to the other nurse and gave her a grin.

"We'll finish this conversation later." He said.

"You better believe it." Answered Miss Parker smiling.

Chuckling, he gave her a wink and walked down the hall and went into his office. Inside, a man sat in a chair across from his desk.

"Hello." Jarod said as he closed the door behind him.

The man either ignored the greeting or didn't hear it, because he continued to stare straight ahead of him. The man also seemed to be talking to himself quietly. The Pretender sat down at his desk. The man didn't even blink. Jarod found the man's file on his desk.

Opening the folder, he scanned the information, absorbing it completely. The man's name was Donovan Blake and he was a paranoid schizophrenic. Donovan had a history of arrests. They were all assault cases. There was a note attached that warned Jarod that the man's other personality was extremely violent and to sedate him whenever that personality surfaced.

Closing the folder, the psychologist folded his hands on his desk and looked at the man.

"Hello, Donovan." Jarod said, "How are you today?"

The man blinked at him and seemed almost surprised to see him. "O-o-okay, I-I-I g-g-guess." He stammered.

"I'm just going to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?"

Donovan nodded wordlessly.

"Good." Said Jarod, "Do you understand why you're here?"

"I-I-I have a problem?" the man phrased it as a question.

"No, not a problem. A disorder." Corrected the Pretender.

"Oh." Yeah stupid. How could you not understand that? I'm beginning to wonder about you. The voice in his head chided.

"Shut up, Micah." Donovan muttered to the voice.

The voice laughed at him. Loser. Loser, loser, loser…LOSER.

Donovan put his hands over his ears and closed his eyes tightly.

The laughter grew in volume. You can't block me out! I'm in your HEAD!!!

"Donovan?" Jarod said loudly, trying to get the man's attention.

The man removed his hands away from his ears and opened his eyes. "Yes?" he answered meekly.

"Are you all right?" asked the doctor.

"Yes, yes. I'm okay."

Jarod sighed. "Our session is over for today. I'll want you to come back the same time tomorrow."

Donovan left the office and looked at the clock that was on the wall. It was time for his medication. He walked down the hall to the medication/nurse station. When he reached the counter, the nurse stationed there looked up at him. She's new. He thought, And beautiful.

She smiled politely at him.

"Name." She said.

"Donovan Blake."

The nurse stood and went to the tray full of medication cups. While she looked for his, Donovan continued to stare at her. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. She looked like an angel. She reminded him of someone, although, he couldn't place who she reminded him of.

What a hottie. I'd like a piece of that. The voice said with a devilish chuckle.

You leave her alone! Donovan told him.

Oh, come on! Don't you want her? Don't you want to know what she's like? Taunted Micah.

Shut up, you disgusting evil thing.

I'm a part of you, you stupid ass!

The nurse returned with his medicine cup.

"Here you go." She said handing him the cup.

"Thank you, nurse…?"

"Parker." Said the woman with a smile.

With the cup held tightly in his hand, Donovan walked off to find the drinking fountain. Hey! The voice said as he put the pills into his mouth and was just about to take a drink. Ignoring the voice, the man took a drink and swallowed the medication. Micah screamed in pain. You'll be sorry that you took that…he vowed as his voice began to fade.

*

Jarod had remained in his office. After the man had left, the Pretender took out a red notebook out of his top drawer. Opening it, he scanned over the newspaper clipping he had put inside it.

MENTALLY ILL MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER. The headline read.

There was a picture of Donovan in the corner. He was under suspicion of the murder and rape of a teen-age girl. He refused to give the police a statement and was extremely paranoid as they tried to question him. At one point, he attacked one of the officers. They finally had to sedate him to calm him down.

After that, until his trial, Donovan was ordered to stay at the asylum. Sighing, Jarod shut the notebook. He looked at his watch and saw that it was time for lunch. He got up and left his office. As he walked down the hall, he stopped at the medication/nurse station.

Miss Parker was sitting at the desk. She was reading Narcissus in Chains, yet again. She had become obsessed with that book. He walked around the desk and stood behind her, peering over her shoulder.

"That must be some book." He whispered into her ear.

"Ah!" she cried with a slight jump.

He chuckled and backed away as Parker hit him with the hardcover book.

"Wanna go get something to eat in the cafeteria?" he asked.

"Sure." She got up and went towards the back of the station and talked to one of the other nurses.

She returned a second later and walked beside him as they made their way into the cafeteria. They got a tray and got in line.

"Ewww." Parker said as she looked at, what supposedly passed as food.

Jarod got something that looked like spaghetti. "Come on, Parker. Get something."

"I think I'll pass." She replied scrunching her nose.

He laughed and went to pay for his food. Sighing, Parker grabbed a salad and some low-fat dressing and followed after Jarod.

10:54 p.m.

Micah looked up at the ceiling of his room. This blows. I got to get of this room. He thought. Getting off his bed, he walked to the door, opened it, and went out. The hallways were basically empty.

He walked towards the nurse station. The hot nurse, Parker, was still there. Just my lucky night. He thought. The woman was reading a book and didn't even notice he was standing there.

"Hello." He said.

"Oh, hello." She said, putting down the book.

"One of the other patients is have a problem. He really needs help."

"Where is he at?"

"In the common room."

Parker got up and walked to the common room. There was no one there.

"There's no one here." She said beginning to turn to face Micah.

Before she could turn, Micah pushed down to the floor and got on top of her. She struggled against him but couldn't get him off. He pinned her wrist to the floor above her head with one hand, while his other hand began to undo his pants. Parker began to scream for help. Micah punched her twice in the face, then began to remove her pants and panties.

The woman continued to scream for help. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Jarod came and knocked Micah off her. The Pretender then held the man to the ground as Parker put her pants back up and the other nurses arrived.

"Oh, my god!" Anita cried, "What the hell happened here?!"

"Donovan tried to rape me." Parker said her voice shaky.

"I'm not Donovan." Replied the man from where he was being held down.

"Then who the hell are you?" demanded Jarod.

"My name is Micah." Answered the man.

"Get something to sedate him with and do it quickly!" Jarod said.

Anita hurried off to get the sedation. Jarod looked at her.

"Are you all right?"

All she could do was stare at him.