Sinful Obsession

18. 18 – Nevan

18 – Nevan

T he allure of Vienna is something I can’t understand. The others—Kaua, Vito, Ewan—they’re entranced by her. Even Ewan, who wears his disdain for most things like a second skin, can’t seem to stay indifferent. Sure, she’s intriguing, but she’s also terrifying. Last night proved that.

Watching her stare Ewan in the eyes as he shifted into his true form, the embodiment of death itself, and then yanking his hood off like it was nothing… That isn’t normal. That isn’t human . She didn’t even flinch. She just laughed, like she was chatting with an old friend. It makes me wonder if she even knows what fear is—or if Asmodeus has twisted her mind so completely that she’s forgotten how to feel it.

She doesn’t know I was there. After everything settled down, after Ewan’s temper simmered and everyone retreated to their rooms, I crept over to hers. Call it curiosity, call it suspicion, I couldn’t help myself. What I found only deepened the mystery.

The door was cracked just enough for me to see inside, and there he was. Asmodeus. Not the terrifying, otherworldly entity Vienna described, but a man—a devilishly handsome one, sure—but still just a man in that moment. The way he touched her, the way her body responded to him, it was enough to make my stomach churn. Not out of disgust, but something else. Something darker.

Her little cries echoed down the hallway, muffled but clear enough to make me wince. It’s a good thing the doctors and orderlies keep to themselves at night, or they would’ve heard everything. I watched longer than I should have. Not because I enjoyed it, but because I couldn’t look away. There was something raw, something twisted in the way he consumed her, and in the way she gave herself to him completely.

When I finally pulled myself away, retreating down the hall, I felt restless. The chaos that follows us in Briarwood is usually enough to keep me entertained, but lately, it’s grown tiresome. I’m sick of this place. Sick of the monotony, the creeping insanity, the way the walls feel like they’re closing in. I want to fulfill my purpose, to be famine , to tip the scales and watch the world burn. But here, I’m just another freak, locked away with the rest of them.

As I wander the halls, my thoughts swirling, I notice a faint glow emanating from a nearby room. It’s not the sickly yellow of the overhead lights or the dim gray of the walls. This is something else. Something bright . I move closer, careful not to make a sound, and peer inside.

Michael is sitting at a table, flanked by two other doctors I recognize immediately: Raphael and Gabriel. Their names alone have always felt… off, but now it makes sense. The ethereal light surrounding them is unmistakable, and the faint beat of light in the shape of wings behind them confirms what I already suspect.

Angels.

They’re drinking wine, their voices low but clear as they laugh and joke about the patients. The casual cruelty in their words sends a shiver down my spine.

“We’re doing our job,” Michael says. “Keeping the darkness locked away, keeping evil contained. It’s what we’re meant to do.”

Raphael chuckles, taking a sip of his wine. “Most of them are harmless. They can claim to be demons or gods all they want, but they’re just delusional.”

Gabriel smirks, leaning back in his chair. “And the new one? Vienna? What’s her story?”

Michael waves a hand dismissively. “She’s different. Her lies about meeting Asmodeus seem a little too real, but I’m not worried about her involvement. She’s human, after all. What can she really do?”

“She’s sitting with the four horsemen,” Raphael points out. “That’s bound to stir up some trouble.”

Michael’s smile deepens. “Let her. She might get herself into trouble, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

My breath catches and I pull back before I can be seen. My mind races as I retreat down the hall, piecing together everything I’ve just heard. It all makes sense now—the way Vienna reacts to them, the way they carry themselves, the control they have over this place. They’re not just doctors. They’re angels, and this isn’t just a mental institution.

I burst into our room, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. The others look up, startled, but their expressions quickly harden as they see the look on my face.

“What is it?” Ewan asks, sitting up. He rubs at his eyes, Kaua groaning from behind him. The big guy glares at me and if this wasn’t important, I know I’d be on his shit list. I still might be.

“They’re angels,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop myself. “Michael, Raphael, Gabriel. They’re angels, and they’re running this place.”

Ewan stares at me, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “ Angels? Are you serious?”

I nod, my hands shaking. “I saw them. They’re not human. This whole place… fuck, how did we not know? We suspected that someone was rounding up the players of the apocalypse. It’s a cage, yes, but it’s their cage. They’re keeping the darkness contained. And Vienna…”

“What about her?” Vito asks, stalking over to me. He cradles my cheeks in his hands, searching my expression for answers.

“They’re watching her,” I say, my voice trembling. “They don’t believe her story about Asmodeus, but they know she’s different. They know she’s with us and that makes her a target.”

The room goes silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Finally, Kaua speaks, his voice steady but grim. “We can’t leave her alone. If they’re watching her, she’s in more danger than we thought.”

“I’ll tell her,” I say quickly, already heading for the door. “She needs to know before her meeting with them tomorrow.”

“Go,” Ewan says, his tone commanding. “Before sunrise. She needs to be ready.”

I nod, hurrying down the hallway, my mind racing. The air feels heavier now, the walls pressing in as I approach Vienna’s door. I don’t bother knocking. I push the door open and step inside, my chest heaving as I drop to my knees beside her bed.

She stirs, her eyes fluttering open as she looks at me in confusion. “Nevan?” she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.

I reach for her hand, my grip firm but gentle. “Vienna, I have something to tell you,” I say, my voice soft but urgent. “And it’s more important than life and death.”