Bruce POV
The room is cold, and I feel alone. My wounds are not healing. It feels like there is salt buried deep in my wounds. Everything hurts and stings. I try to think of her. Fallon, I loved you so much, but you rejected me.
I knew the plan was for me to keep her in constant agony, but I did care for her. I grew to love her as I watched over her, and then she picked Ryan over me. "ARGHHHH!" I scream out.
The door creaks, and someone pushes it open. The darkness of the cold room becomes illuminated by the light from the hallway. "I know you loved her, Bruce, but she did not love you that is why she let you leave. She only loves him. Tell me where she is, and I can stop all of your pain and her pain," Umbra hisses at me.
I worshiped Umbra and followed her teachings for so long, but Umbra is drunk on power and destroying lives. Did I have a choice in getting involved with Umbra? No!
"Stop all this thinking and rationalizing, Bruce. You knew it was your responsibility to watch Fallon and bring her to me as the new reaper, but instead, you led her on a family quest. Why couldn't you do as you are told!" Umbra screams at me. Her voice echoes in the dark, cold room.
"Please let me go. I left before Fallon left New Orleans. Maybe she went home. I don't know. I only wanted to get away from her after she chose Ryan over me. I just couldn't be around them, knowing she wanted Ryan to be her watcher," I say.
Umbra comes closer. She sticks out one finger and drives her long index finger into my neck. "Pour salt in his wounds and turn the air on in here. It is not cold enough. I want him to freeze or bleed to death, whichever comes first," Umbra says.
I am in so much pain from the salt being poured over my body that I think she is laughing, but I am not sure. "Give her up!" Umbra yells at me.
"No," I cry. I think of Fallon and her long red hair. I should have stayed. She would eventually realize that I love her and we belong together.
"You never loved her. Stop telling yourself that. You had a job to do, and you failed at it. You do not love her, Bruce. Fallon is a subject you are supposed to study. You, my dear Bruce, were supposed to keep her guessing and tormented so she would reap souls for me. YOU FAILED!" Umbra yells at me.
I feel the long pointed finger of Umbra as it enters my thigh. "SHE LOVED ME!" I scream as the pain shoots through my body.
"No, Fallon is marrying Ryan, Bruce. Fallon let Ryan mark her. You know what that means, dont you? It means Fallon let Ryan crawl between her legs. She is no longer a virgin. She belongs to Ryan. They are mates!" Umbra cackles. She is enjoying my pain.
"NO, NO, NO!" I yell out as another long finger digs into my face.
"Give her up!" Umbra yells at me. Umbra is enjoying my pain, both the physical and emotional. "Look in my mind and see what I see. Look at Fallon with her legs open for Ryan, begging him to mark her. Look at it. Open your mind," Umbra whispers into my ear.
I relax my mind and listen for a moment, and then look into her mind. I can see Fallon. She is laughing and happy. She is training to be a reaper. I see a wolf with her, and then I see Fallon shift. Fallon is with her pack and someone else. She is with Ryan.
Ryan is working with Fallon and training her. They are close to one another. "Keep looking. You are almost to the best part," Umbra teases me.
I look deeper into Umbra's mind, and there I see it. Ryan and Fallon are together on the practice mat. Ryan bites her and marks Fallon as his mate. No, No, No! This cannot be happening. I cry as I watch the two of them make love.
"They are getting married in the spring, but we could stop it. You can still have Fallon. I can get into her mind and make her believe anything I want her to believe. I only need you to bring her to me," Umbra says.
I think about Fallon, Ryan, and my life. I don't deserve this pain. Ryan and Fallon have to pay for this. I hate them both. "There it is. There is the anger I need," Umbra says.
Umbra motions for one of her minions, and they rush to her side. "Get him off this table. I want him cleaned up and dressed to kill when Fallon comes to rescue him. He needs to be fed and strong. Make sure our boy has everything he needs," Umbra barks orders.
I fall off the table and into the arms of one of the idiots doing Umbra's bidding. I guess I shouldn't call him an idiot. After all, I am one of those idiots too. I wonder what Umbra gives them to keep them here. What secrets or favors does Umbra hold over these people? I was wrong about so many things. There are too many lies in the supernatural community, not just with Umbra. They are all liars.
"Hold onto me, Bruce. My name is Licia," the woman says.
A man is helping her drag me down the hall. "I am Rica," the man says.
Licia and Rica manage to get me to a room not far from the torture chamber. "Undress him while I run his water," Licia says.
Rica holds me up. Everything begins to fade in and out. I hear water running and then feel water over my body. "Just relax. The water is healing," Licia says.
"Ok Ok Ok," I keep repeating ok.
I am still determining what exactly is happening. I know I am bathed, then dressed. At some point, I drift off to sleep. When I wake up, there is food. Licia is waiting for me when my eyes open. Rica is gone.
"It is just us now. I am responsible for you. I am yours to help and please you in any way per Umbra. She said to make you happy," Licia says.
"Where is Rica?" I ask.
Licia looks toward the door. "He has an assignment. You are my assignment. I will feed you and help you relax until they arrive," Licia says.
"Until who arrives?" I ask.
Licia smiles at me seductively. "The whore that broke your heart. I am yours now," Licia says.
She puts a pillow behind my head and helps me to sit up. She straddles me and begins feeding me. "I am yours," Licia reminds me. I let her feed me, but there will be nothing else.