Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (29 page)

“I drained him with my favorite knife. My father had given it to me when I was young. He said it was for hunting and I never knew what he meant until I was older. I hunted down Seymour and drained him like cattle and burnt his body in the woods.”

“How’d you feel?” It felt cold in the room as a chill rushed over me.

“Freeing…” He whispered. “Then it became an even worse urge than before and it felt like someone constantly scratched at my eyes to be free again.”

“Lucas, that started everything for you, you know that?”

“I know. I could tell after that moment that I was no longer that little boy that I had once been. I can never be that innocent again.”

“Do you scare yourself? I mean you feel nothing.”

“Why do you care?” He asked.

“Because there is this possibility that you are my younger brother and family cares for each other no matter how fucked up they might be.”

“Good answer,” He chugged down the beer.

“And because Lucas,” I paused. “There has to be someone to care for you so you might can stop. There has to be someone to help you enough to stop.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” It was unexpected, his sincere notion of gratefulness. I allowed the silence to feel the room for a few moments and then opened another beer. “The questions that they will ask you, could be vast. Some include, did you bed wet, have you ever killed an animal and how often did you start fires? These questions are called the Triad. If all three are yes, it falls in the theory that every serial killer suffered from these as a child.”

“I literally have done all three.” He was amused. “One huge fuck up after another.”

“Well, whatever you would normally do… do the opposite for the test. They can use it as base work in their case.” I answered and shook my head. “If you can do that then you will be fine.”

“I can do that.”

“Tell me more about how you feel about Cypress, it kind of amazes me that you feel nothing and then all of a sudden you…”

“I honestly love her endlessly and I have been hopeless ever since I met her. I stand no chance against my love for her. “She infuriates me. She understands me, even though she has no clue what I am.”

“What are you?”

“I'm an anomaly...” He stated simply. “Do you think she would love me if I was to reveal everything I am? If I was exposed?”

“I don't know her well enough to know.”

“Good answer,” Lucas smiled as he stood and his long strides lead him to the door. “One day, I unveil everything I am to her and if she stays... I'll quit.”

“You feel that strongly for her?”

“I feel everything for her.”

Lucas

Good talk. Good walk. I closed the door to Asher’s apartment and headed towards my car not surprised to see the two suits leaned up against them. “Can I help you?”

“Just wanted to have a word.” McMillan appeared beside me like a magician. He wore his goofy smile and his hands folded neatly over the extremely pressed suit. “There might be some trouble in paradise. I showed her Persephone...”

I could feel my face drain. “You what?”

“I showed her the surveillance from Persephone. Who really must have feared you because she withdrew from all of her classes and fell off the face of the Earth. It took weeks to find her and even when we did she refused to speak to us. What did you say to her you sick fuck?”

“I said nothing.” My fingers pushed through my hair. “What do you want from me man? You have jack shit tying me to any of the murders you’re pursuing and yet here you are following me around the bloody campus and town. I can’t shit without one of your agents handing me the toilet paper. I feel harassed honestly.”

“I just missed you Luke.” He chuckled and bit into his candy bar. McMillan perched up against my car as if it was his.

“Get off of my fucking car,” I stammered. This fucking prick was not about to stop.

“Are you mad? Are we on your list now? You going to drain the blood from our bodies like you done Phillip?”

Actually he was at the extreme top of the list. It had been more than 3 months since I had felt blood flow under my knife and this prick was making it harder and harder to hide it. “No, sir, and I didn’t do anything. I just want to go home to my girlfriend.”

“You should have seen those tears.” McMillan paused. “When I showed her your latest work...”

“Tears?”

“Yes, I wanted her to see how close you and Persephone could get.” McMillan shrugged his shoulders. “The pictures can be interpreted in any way. I mean her face looks like you are doing everything just right.” McMillan slid the profane picture across the table. My hand pushed up her skirt and her head thrown back in ecstasy. “She really broke down once she seen that one.”

“Fuck you,” I snapped. “Do you know who you are dealing with, you filthy piece of shit??”

“Who am I dealing with Lucas? Shall I take you down to the station for a full confession?”

“You'll see soon enough?”

“Was that a threat?”

“Oh no, I would never threaten you McMillan, it was just a sincere promise,” I unlocked the door to my jeep. Escape now or enjoy quality time in isolation on Death Row.

“I'll document that for you just in case your sincere promise serves as evidence in the future. Is it normal in England to be a killer? I'd love to see you at work, though you seem messy a little bit. Should I join you sometimes make sure there are no more messes?”

“Oh please do.”

“Hey Luke!” Asher’s voice rang across the parking lot. “You forgot your phone.” He paced quickly across the parking lot. “Drive away.” He whispered with a tense smile and a headshake.

“I am. Hopefully with one of them under my tires.”

“Leave,” He pushed the cell phone in my hand and backed away. “Don't forget next week!”

My hands shook the entire way home. I dialed her number and there was no answer. Ten times of repetitive calling and she had not answered. Her car was in the parking lot, parked horrendously crooked and her living room light was on.

I couldn't see straight from the hate that radiated from me. I wanted to see that man dead. His blood flowing under my blade until every ounce of the little soul, he actually had flowed uninterrupted into a pool around him.

“What are you doing here?”

The little flaws made her the perfect woman. My shirt hung from her shoulders and her shorts peeked at the nape of her ass. “I called you love.”

“I didn't answer.” She placed her hand in the door jam. “You fucked her Lucas. And you made me a sincere promise that you would never do that to me.:

“What?”

“Persephone,” Cypress had not control over the tears that fell from her eyes. She sobbed, and shook her head at me as I stepped closer to her. 

“Don't cry, I was with her for a moment.”

“A moment? Why was your hand up her skirt?”

“Oh come on,” I mumbled frustrated. “I told her to leave.”

“Did you? Was it before or after she came from your fingers. You fucking disgust me!” She roared.

“I...”

“Make up a lie,” she wiped her face. “I fucking trusted you Lucas.”

“I swear it was nothing.”

“What was nothing?” Her screech filled the apartment complex.

“I told her to leave.” I stepped towards her and she jerked away violently.

“Did you fuck her?”

“I told her to leave.”

“Before or after you fucked her?”

“After,” I whispered.

“After,” I could hear her heart break. “Stay the fuck away from me.” The wind from the door hit my face as she disappeared behind it.

My fists hit her door. “Baby! Please open up.”

“Go away!” She yelped.

“Please,” My hands fell helplessly to my side. “Fuck, I'm so sorry. I swear. I meant nothing by it. I meant nothing. I couldn't bloody think...”

The door swung open and I felt clothes being tossed as they fell to the ground. “Don't bring your ass back here!”

I pushed pass the mass of clothes I had bought her mixed in with shirts I'd left here. “Sit down.”

“No, no… I don't care what the detective said about you killing your exes I am not the one! I am tired of being treated like this! What did I ever do to you Luke? I loved you like no one had ever loved you. I gave you every inch of me.”

“I'm still here. I fucked up I know.”

“Yeah, get out.”

“Let me talk.” I closed the door.

“What is there to say? You didn't mean to fuck her?”

“It was never intended to get to you...”

“Wow,” She stood dumbfounded. “You are a piece of work.”

“I don't mean to be.”

“You are. Get the fuck out.” Her small hands hit my shoulders and I nodded my head.

“Stop.”

“No!” Her fists collided with my chest and she started to push more forcefully. I fell onto the wall and her hand fist hit my mouth. “Get the fuck out!” Her hand was covered in my blood. “I hate you.”

“You hate what I did.” I felt the salty blood fall to my lip. “I am so sorry.” I whispered.

“I can't forgive you.”

“Then don't.” My lips crushed against hers and there was no resistance as she kissed me back. I could taste my blood in with her tears as they rushed from her eyes. “Please don't leave me...”

“I can't stay with you.” She wept. “I can't.”

“Please,” I pleaded as the desperation in my voice overcame me. “I can't...”

She pushed me back, wiping her face with my shirt and sliding it off of her perfect body. “Get out.”

Asher

The pounding on my door had continued for the past thirty minutes. I was sure it was a nightmare or it could have been the alcohol. I wanted it to be the alcohol. What could Lucas want? Surely not to kill me after making this big of a scene. I opened the door and there he stood and he looked destroyed. “What is it Lucas? It’s late as shit.”

“I fucked up.”

“What did you do?” My thoughts wandered to what 5-10 years in a white cement walled room. I was not good with jumpsuits. Maybe they would be lenient and give me the shirt and pants. “What did you do?”

“I cheated.”

“On a test, what are you talking about Luke?”

“On Cypress.” He pushed his way passed me and into my apartment. “I cheated.”

“We must be friends now. You’re banging down my door because of relationship problems?”

“I guess I don't know.” He looked at me, his stare was cold but amusement danced around them. I feared whatever kind of amusement he had. “I searched for Mark he was gone. She dumped me.”

“With whom?”

“What?” He looked genuinely confused as he paced the entrance to my apartment.

“Who did you cheat on her with Lucas?”

“Persephone,” he grimaced.

“You get checked?”

“Asshat,” he spat. “How do normal people handle this shit? Should I give her space or should I go and fucking kill that agent and Persephone? I am not trying to be rash but I swear the second one seems the most logical.”

“How does it seem logical?” I shook my head and tried to stifle my laugh. “Normal people don’t handle it with murder,” I answered. “They usually do what you’re doing. They try to confide in someone to tell them the right way to handle their situation. You actually done good by coming here.” Surprisingly there was not a trail of dead bodies sprawled across Colorado Springs.

“Well, I haven't killed anyone. I won't. I fucking can't, they won’t stop bloody following me. I mean they’re following me everywhere. I can’t piss without seeing their bloody feet in the next stall.”

“Well, you brought it upon yourself Luke. You’re their prime suspect. I’m just happy you haven’t killed anyone. I know we drank earlier, but do you want one?” I had no idea why alcohol had become my newest friend but I seemed to drink more and more here of late.

“Put a damn shirt on will you?” Lucas said from out of nowhere.

“I thought it was my girlfriend at the door. And it is late man.”

“That librarian chick?”

“Yes,” I smirked. “The librarian chick hates you.”

“Well, tell her to join the majority of the world. I don't know what the fuck I do to people to make them hate me.”

“You don't care for one.” I made my way to my bedroom and grabbed my shirt from the bed then turned to head back to the kitchen and grabbed two chilled beers. “Tell me how it feels.”

“It doesn't.” He said blankly. “I just don't care.”

“That’s not normal.”

“Well, pardon me,” He popped the top open. “I don't care. I just want to be alone most of the time. The only person I have tried to care about is Cypress and sometimes I don't care for her either. I mean she can be the most irksome person to deal with, like for example she brushes her teeth in front of the mirror.”

“That’s normal Luke.”