Taming Darkness
Chapter 25

~Aleera-

Charles and two of the scientists exit with her, leaving me alone with the bleeding man, and another whom I've overheard is named Clint.

Moments later, one of the scientists returns, wheeling a cart, which he hands over to Clint. "I'll tend to the other test subjects. I'll return when you've got the sample."

Mr. Bloody grins menacingly as the scientists prepare the electrodes and set up the equipment, plugging it all in. My heart hammers in my chest like a furious drumbeat. I recognize the device; I have seen it before in Darius' memories. It had been used on him as a child. The scientist frowns and hands a bloodstained hospital gown that gapes in the front to Mr. Bloody. "She needs to be turned over; make her wear that."

Before I can protest, I am yanked up, and the offensive garment is forced onto me, before the brick of a man slams my back against the freezing metal. He uses his weight to hold me down until he manages to tie me up with black leather restraints. "Better?" he challenges Clint. "I'm going for a smoke; I'll be back." He leaves the two of us alone, and I can't suppress the excitement threatening to spiral through me. My plan is about to take another step forward.

Clint nods. He sets about attaching headgear to me, which contains wires connected to the control pad before him, and adjusts the strap. He pauses at my icy glare, his lip twitching.

"Do you think a glare is enough to stop this? There's no pity left in me for someone like you. My wife was murdered by that bastard Xandrious. Watching his son's mate suffer will bring me more joy than anything this world has to offer," he sneers, tightening the cap until the restraints dig into me.

He steps back, admiring his work and all the black wires that crisscross my body from the helmet and leads attached to me. He moves back to the small cart and flashes me a sinister grin as he twists the dial.

I smile a moment before the electricity zips up the line. For being her loyal scientists, my mother sure did hire morons. My Lycus' ability was to manipulate electricity. All the volts this little machine could produce combined wouldn't be able to hurt me. No, all he was managing was to make me even more powerful.

He freezes, glaring at me, then at the wires. He twists the button off, then checks each wire, each lead, searching for the mysterious reason why I hadn't reacted to his t*****e. Shaking his head, he returns to his seat and pushes the power button again, twisting the dial as far as he can. His eyes narrow, as if he can make me suffer through sheer strength of will.

The man looks up to check how the session is going, and I smile at him.

He gasps, trying to back away. I'm not the only one in this cell anymore-my shadow serpent slithers out of my skin and curls up in my lap, its tongue tasting the air. Slowly, it turns to regard the scientist.

Clint jumps out of his chair, scrambling to his control station, twisting and slamming any button he can reach. I feel the currents zipping through me, but instead of doing any harm, all he's done is recharge me. My serpent rises from my lap and slithers closer to the

man.

"This isn't happening." Clint rubs the sweat pouring off him onto his shoulder. "You are powerless; I saw that myself. The serum must be making me hallucinate again." I'm uncertain if he's trying to convince himself or me. "Yes, that's it," he nods and reaches for another device on the cart. He returns to my side and hooks up his latest toy.

My serpent hisses, and grows until it's standing just as tall as he is. Through the mist of the creature, I get to enjoy Clint turning around to grab something else off his cart, only to come face to face with my little pet when he turns back. Clint screams and jerks backward, hitting the glass panel of the cell next door.

The girl that lives there watches my snake with a wicked smile on her face. There's no doubt she knows it's me, but she's clearly enjoying watching the scientist freak out as he tries to grasp what he's experiencing. My neighbor is another Harmony-Fae, and I give her a wink. Instead of returning it, she glances in the direction of the hall. I look over there too, but I don't sense anything, and there are no auras coming near us.

It's the perfect chance to unleash more power. My veins wriggle under my skin, and the entire floor is covered in my precious shadow snakes. Clint's eyes go impossibly wide, and he shrieks, running for the closed cage door, only to nearly knock himself out with it before he notices the door isn't open. He yanks it open, slamming and locking it on me before running down the hall like his life depends on it. My neighbor bursts out laughing, a bit of life returning to her dead eyes.

I grin at her, giving her a slight nod as we listen to the melody of his screams for help. I let the shadows drop, and she glances back in the direction he ran before turning to me and mouthing a warning. "They are coming."

I nod and play dead on the gurney, dropping my head to the side, giving my best half-dead impression from all the so-called t*****e I've just received. I even go so far as to let drool drip from my mouth.

My mother throws the cage door open and stomps her way over to me. She grabs a fistful of my hair and jerks my head back, studying me.

"She looks subdued enough to me!" she snarls to the shivering Clint.

I roll my eyes to the back of my head and let my body twitch. I am going to enjoy Clint's howls of t*****e.