Sinful Obsession

14. 14 – Kaua

14 – Kaua

I stand at the edge of Vienna’s doorway the next morning, the shadows around me stretching into the dim light of her room. The door is cracked, just enough for me to see her tangled in the mess of extra sheets left behind after Vito’s visit last night. The faint scent of him—of conquest—still lingers in the air, and it prickles at something instinctive in me. Vito’s influence is subtle, a smoldering ember that feeds on the will of others, but Vienna… she’s something else entirely.

She stirs, her bare shoulders glinting in the soft glow from the hallway, her face peaceful despite the storm that rages around us all.

I shouldn’t be here, not like this, but she’s a puzzle I can’t ignore. Ewan’s curiosity is rubbing off on me, I guess. She’s dangerous, I know that much. The fact that she’s in love with Asmodeus is proof enough.

And yet… I can’t look away.

As if my presence calls to her, Vienna’s eyes flutter open. She blinks a few times before her gaze finds me, and instead of the wariness I expect, she smiles—a warm, disarming expression that cuts through the tension like a blade.

“Kaua,” she says softly, sitting up and wrapping one of the sheets around herself. “I didn’t think I’d find you lurking outside my door.” An unashamed giggle follows her words, the comfort she finds in us is intriguing.

I step inside without a word, my footsteps heavy on the tiled floor. “I’m not lurking. I was making sure you were… settled.”

Vienna tilts her head, her smile widening as she rises from the bed, letting the sheet fall to reveal the undergarments the institute provides. She slips her scrubs back on and then makes her way over to me. “If you were coming to see that Conquest didn’t break me, I’m still in one piece and as for your question, I’m settled now,” she says, her tone teasing. She steps closer, the soft patter of her bare feet against the floor echoing in the quiet room. “Is this where you lecture me about staying out of trouble?”

The amusement in her tone makes it harder to resist as I reach out and pull her close. I didn’t understand the attraction Ewan and Vito both felt but I do now. The restless energy that usually courses through me, the constant itch for conflict and chaos, ebbs away. In its place is a quiet, unfamiliar peace, as if her presence alone has the power to calm the storm. It doesn’t make any sense but I’m thankful for a moment of silence.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I murmur, though the words feel hollow even as I say them. I can’t bring myself to let her go.

She looks up at me, her dark eyes searching mine. “And yet, here we are.” She seems resigned to her fate, something most patients don’t figure out until they’ve been here a year or two. Vienna found out that her mother threw her away and this morning, her eyes are bright and the determination in her expression shows just how strong she is.

I release her, stepping back before I lose myself entirely. She’s probably already sore after spending the night with Vito and I’m larger than he is. “I’ll walk you to breakfast. Don’t want you getting lost.”

Vienna laughs softly, grabbing her shoes and then following me as I lead her out of the room. “How chivalrous of you.” She eagerly reaches for my hand, the small gesture making me smile. She seems to enjoy touch or leaning into the caress of our darkness. Not even Ewan leans on me like that. It’s a welcome change.

Vienna is a distraction we can’t afford but she’s also a danger I can’t ignore. And yet, if she’s truly the missing piece in all of these, we can’t afford to lose her either. Vito told us all that Asmodeus let her know we were safe and to trust us. Vito mentioned that for some reason our purpose includes Vienna.

When we reach the cafeteria, the hum of voices and clatter of trays greets us, and I immediately scan the room, my instincts on high alert. Vienna stays close, her hand still entangled in mine as if she finds comfort in the largest man in the room. As we approach the line for food, someone steps in front of her, their expression smug, disregarding who she has beside her.

“Well, look who it is,” the man sneers, his tone dripping with malice. I recognize him as one of the “lesser”, his words not mine. A type of demon who is released on Earth during the apocalypse. Their only job is to wreck havoc and cause chaos. I have no idea what his name is but he reminds of a mangey little dog, always trying to start a fight. “Little miss special treatment. What’s it like, being the head doctor’s favorite?”

Vienna stiffens at my side as I drag her partly behind me. Michael rarely does any of the heavy lifting around here. He watches from the shadows, gathering information much like I do until it becomes the perfect time to strike. The problem is that he does it under the guise of offering healing and I do it for the fun of it. The fact that Michael is interested in Vienna is unheard of but also a problem.

He knows something.

When the lesser steps forward again, a growl tears from my throat, my restraint barely controlled. “Get out of the way.”

The man hesitates, glancing between me and Vienna, before his gaze lands back on me. “And who are you supposed to be?”

Apparently, this lesser is newer if he hasn’t heard the rumors. “She’s mine,” I state, my tone leaving no room for argument. One of the orderlies at the end of the line glares at us, wondering what’s holding up the progress. I sincerely hope the lesser backs off before this becomes a problem. When he doesn’t budge, I allow my gift to surface, the need to release a little chaos growing.

The lesser’s eyes widen as he disappears into the crowd, muttering something under his breath that I can’t quite catch. I don’t take my eyes off him until he’s out of sight.

Vienna exhales slowly, her shoulders relaxing as she looks up at me. “Thanks,” she says quietly, her voice steady despite the tension. “But I only belong to Asmodeus.”

The mention of his name sends a ripple of something dark through me, but I push it down, nodding once. “Let’s get your food.”

We move through the line, and I notice how close she stays, as if my presence offers her some semblance of safety. It stirs something primal in me, a protective instinct I didn’t expect but can’t deny. Despite how strong she is, she isn’t prepared for the chaos that runs these halls. The orderlies and doctors aren’t the only ones to watch out for unfortunately.

As we settle at the table toward the back corner where we always sit, I keep a watchful eye on the room, sneering at anyone who dares to let their gaze linger on Vienna for too long. She notices, of course, her laughter breaking the tension as she pats my hand.

“You don’t have to babysit me, Kaua,” she teases. “I can take care of myself.”

“Maybe,” I mutter, my hand closing over hers instinctively. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you.” Knowing that Michael has an interest in her makes it even harder to pretend that her presence isn’t doing something to me. He’s a devious force, maybe even more twisted than the stories I hear or have read about Asmodeus.

Vienna just shrugs as she stares down at the food gathered on her plate. She pokes at it with a fork but doesn’t eat it. Everyone hates the food when they first arrive but hunger usually overrides their pride when there’s nothing else to nibble on. Just as I’m about to tell her that she should eat something, the others step into the cafeteria, their presence commanding the room’s attention without effort.