Kai Villalvazo’s Nemesis (The Kalon Tetralogy #1)

Chapter 38

I inhaled deeply when I woke up from the dream I could hardly remember.

I took a moment to get my bearings, and panic settled in me when I realised that I wasn’t in my room, judging by the different setup and monochrome colours.

It took me another moment to register the fact that I was in Russia, with my man. And he was holding me as though I would slip away any minute.

I checked the alarm clock and it read a minute past three in the morning. I exhaled slowly, feeling Kai’s arm tighten around my waist in our spooning position.

I smiled to myself, enjoying the secure position we were in. It was so crazy to me that we used to hate each other so much to the point of almost murdering each other, but now we couldn’t go an hour without talking or touching each other.

My heart tightened as I recalled the previous night’s events. The way he confessed and poured his heart out to me, the way he cried for the first time since I've known him, and the way he told me he loved me—it was all too much.

I could hardly believe the fact that the people here ill-treated Kai. I inhaled shakily at the thought of him suffering all alone, being kicked down, and crying for the help he was never going to get. All the scars on his back made sense, and an unfiltered rage consumed me at the thought of just how much these people hurt him.

Abused him. Dehumanised him. Desensitised him.

I wanted to rip them apart with my bare hands and make them feel every single strike of pain and torture. I wanted them to have a slow death that they would never forget.

I carefully turned to face him, smiling when I noticed how peaceful he looked. His face was firm and stone-cold, but beautiful. I would have thought him to be dead were it not for his intense warmth and light breathing.

I ran my hand over his shoulder, then down his bicep. The thick tendons flexed slightly as I traced his veins, admiring how quintessential Kai was.

A deep pang of guilt spread across my chest as I grazed his bandaged stab wound. I did that to him, and he let me. He let me use him as an outlet for my anger and I hated myself for even hurting him after all he’d been through.

I wanted to kiss him and tell him I was sorry, to hug him and tell him that he was my world. That we’d have sleepless nights if it meant finding the woman who gave him life and meant everything to him.

That is just how much I loved him. It felt as though my feelings had amplified ever since last night’s events. I wanted to help him heal his inner child and give him the will to live. To love himself and all his perfections.

I carefully slipped out of his grip, and as always, he tightly grabbed the pillow I handed him, burying his face into it and murmuring something below his breath. I smiled as he inhaled deeply, probably drawing in my scent to make sure I was still in his arms and tightening his arms around it even more. After a few seconds of making sure he was really asleep, I decided to slip out for a glass of juice.

I carefully opened the door and slipped out quietly, the switchblade strapped high up my thigh. I was aware that this place wasn’t safe, and I surveyed my surroundings to make sure no one was lingering in sight.

After making sure there was no one, I tiptoed downstairs and rushed to the kitchen to grab the carton right out the fridge and go back to the room.

“Is he fucking you good?” A voice startled me on my way back and I clutched the carton to my chest, suppressing a gasp.

I briefly turned my head to see a tall figure standing by the window, and it sounded like his voice was fabricated or synthesised. It was then that I realised he was wearing a gas mask, and that was my first signal to run.

“If you run, I’ll make sure I finish him off. That stab wound is still healing, wouldn’t want anyone tampering with it.” He turned towards me, stalking slowly until he was within reach. “And it will look like you did it. How’s that?”

I breathed heavily, my rage rising with each passing minute. Who was he? Why was he talking to me? What did he know?

“Hm, clever girl. But then again, you always have been.” He moved closer and I moved back, ready to whip out the switchblade, but I needed a strategy.

“Who are you?” I whispered, my whole body on high alert and the goosebumps sheeting my skin.

“Where’s the fun in that?” He moved even closer and I took a step back. In a rapid movement, he had his hand wrapped around my neck, breathing heavily through his gas mask. “You should have been fucking mine.”

“If you don’t let me go, I’ll hurt you,” I spoke calmly despite the way my heart thumped violently.

“Hmm, I'd like to see you try. You’re just a Daddy’s girl—” He didn’t finish his statement when I twisted his arm that was wrapped around my neck. He groaned in agony and I took it as an opportunity to whip out the switchblade and dig it into his back, hoping I somewhat hit a vital organ.

Blood burst from the action, and I grimaced when some splattered on my face. He hissed in pain, and this time, he stood much taller than before, looking even more menacing. I had to get to Kai, and fast.

I sprinted up the stairs, screaming Kai’s name but before I could make it to the second flight of stairs, he was already dragging me down. I fought and clung to the tiles, which was a futile attempt to save myself. Kai’s room was too far for him to hear me, but I was hoping for a miracle.

“Leave me alone, stop!” I screamed, watching in horror as he dragged me towards him. He looked like something out of a horror movie and I wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

I should have listened to Kai. I was so fucking stupid. So stupid that I was starting to hate myself.

“Hmm, I like pain, baby. Maybe you can hit me again or bite me.” He sounded sick and disgustingly diabolical. I physically shivered, repulsed by his deathly grip on my ankle and him in general.

I thrashed and kicked to no avail, and while I was in the process of trying to save myself, a heavy cloud descended on me. I gasped for air, feeling my limbs weaken as I desperately fought for my life. I sobbed and convulsed, hoping the monster would dissolve into nothingness.

But there was no such luck.

And it was then that I realised more men had come to the scene, but they didn’t seem eager to help. In fact, they seemed to be enjoying the show. They had gas masks, too, and the fog finally made sense.

They were poisoning and disarming me. I screamed for help until my throat hurt, battled until my body gave in and it felt as though my life was slowly evaporating. I could hardly feel my body.

“I promised to marry you, Yasmina. I fucking meant it.” I heard the evil voice once again and I could hardly make sense of anything around me. I was numb, limp, and absolutely helpless.

I fought my eyes open one more time, meeting the same eyes I saw right before I fell of the edge of the cliff at the Championships, then spiralled into an abyss of darkness.