Irina laid on the floor, body on fire and tender as she faked being unconscious. For some reason, she was alive; however, the pain was unbearable.
But she was too afraid to move.
Something was in the room with her, the reason she was faking. It has been since she woke up as if it was waiting for her to move.
Whimpering and snarling like a wounded beast, its warm breath tossed her hair as it sniffed at her torn body. Irina squeezed her eyes shut in fear, her skin littered with goosebumps.
What did it want?
Irina was glad it hadn't eaten her, but waiting was driving her insane.
Its wet nose nudged her tear-stained cheek, then it backed off, stomping to the other side of the room again. Irina heard it whimper and cry out in pain, a piercing sound that made her jump.
Peeking open her eyes despite the fear gripping her body, she saw it; a horrid beast that stood 6 feet tall with the head of a wolf. Its groin and legs were covered in course silver fur, but the rest of its muscular body was hairless.
It buried its long claws into its chest and peeled its skin off with a pained whimper. Irina watched in disgust as the torn flesh hit the floor with a wet smack. Piece by piece, it ripped itself apart until a naked man busted free from the beast's carcass and fell to his knees, covered in blood; the remains disintegrated and scattered in the air.
He groaned and stood. "Fuck, that hurts."
Cracking his neck, he turned towards Irina and grinned, catching her staring.
"About damn time, darling."
She knew this person. Or rather, she had seen him before.
"You are Lady Dimitrescu's brother," she uttered.
He snorted and brought his hand down over his face to wipe away the blood.
"Sure," he grunted. "But I prefer Heisenberg."
Noted, she thought.
Sitting up, Irina groaned in pain, clutching her side.
"Sorry about that," Heisenberg laughed. He strolled over and pulled her mantle to the side – all the while, she was trying not to stare at his naked body displayed in front of her.
"I occasionally lose control in that form," he explained.
Smelling the air in front of her, he grinned. "And you are divine."
Her face heated up in embarrassment to his comment. Who the hell says that to someone.
Grabbing her face, he turned Irina towards him.
"Look at me," he demanded.
She narrowed her eyes. "Put some clothes on. I don't want to see your junk."
He laughed. "Don't be modest."
"What do you want?"
Heisenberg hummed. "I wanted to meet you, to sit down and speak with you about those powers of yours."
"I don't have powers," Irina argued.
He patted her cheek, staining her skin with his blood.
"Give them some time," he urged. "Miranda is going to tear them out of you one way or another."
She understood.
"You want my power too," she mentioned. "To be free."
He yanked her closer, forcing her to stare into his curious yellow eyes.
"Pardon me?"
Her face heated up. "Lady Dimitrescu wants me to set her free. I assumed––
Heisenberg laughed.
Irina stared in fear at how sharp his canine teeth look, almost like he could tear her flesh apart with ease.
"Lady vampire bitch wants her curse broken. How fucking tragic," he remarked.
Squeezing her cheeks, he grinned. "Look at me. Do you honestly think I'd want to give this up? I'm a fucking God compared to her."
"Then what do you want?"
Heisenberg released her. "I want your help. But until you get your powers, you're no more than food to me."
Irina didn't understand. What could she do for Heisenberg? Did all the residents of the forest want her for different reasons? Perhaps Heisenberg was the only one.
"I don't know if I can help you with your issue," she admitted.
He snarled and dug his fingers into the wound on her arm. Irina screamed out in pain; it hurt so bad.
"If it weren't for Miranda, I would have split you open and ate your insides," he hissed.
His teeth snapped at her, and she recoiled in fear.
Heisenberg laughed. "She has confidence in your power, which means whatever you can do is beyond her capability."
Standing with a grunt, he stared at her.
"Rest up," he ordered. "I'll come back in a few hours to make sure you haven't bled out. Then we can talk about what you're going to do for me."
She shot him a glare. "And if I can't?"
"Use your imagination," he remarked.
He turned, and Irina caught a glance at his naked ass. Her face heated up as she watched him stroll towards a door at the far end of the room.
"Wait," she shouted.
Heisenberg hummed and glanced over his shoulder at her.
"Please understand that I'm so confused," Irina admitted. "I can't help you if I don't know what I am or what I can do."
Everyone wanted something from her, but no one wanted to answer her questions.
"You're like Miranda," he said with a snort. "Maybe even stronger."
But she's a goddess.
There was no way Irina was like her.
"How do you know?"
Heisenberg pointed at his arm. "I tasted your blood when I marked you. No human I know tastes like magic."
He left her alone, locking her in the room.
What did he mean?
Irina touched the wound on her arm, wincing from the pain.
He bit me.
But why?
And what does Miranda need from me that's so important as to keep me from the truth?
Did she not trust Irina right now? Perhaps she should have waited to find out.