Sinful Obsession

19. 19 – Vienna

19 – Vienna

N evan calling my name and something about life or death wakes me. Well, that and the sensation of lead pressing against my limbs. My body feels heavy, weighed down, and my head throbs as though I’ve been drugged—which I likely have. After a night with Asmodeus, where his touch unraveled and stitched me back together over and over, I feel hollow. Drained. Which doesn’t make any sense.

“Vienna,” he whispers. “Can you hear me?” His expression is dark, his jaw pulled tight as he jostles my shoulder.

I try to answer, but my voice comes out garbled. Frustration wells up inside me as I fight to move, to speak, but the weight of my body is suffocating. Nevan moves quickly, sitting on the edge of the bed and cupping my cheek with his hand. His touch is cool and grounding, his thumb brushing against my skin as he leans closer.

“It’s okay,” he says softly, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that’s unexpectedly tender. The connection jolts something awake in me, my mind snapping into focus even as my body struggles to catch up.

I blink rapidly, my surroundings becoming clear. The dim, oppressive light of my room, the faint hum of activity in the hall. Nevan’s concerned face inches from mine. “What… what happened?” I manage, my voice weak but coherent.

Nevan exhales, his hand still steady against my cheek. “The medication,” he explains. “I forgot that they administer it at night, when no one notices. It’s subtle at first, but after two nights, it starts to kick in. You’ve been here long enough that it’s in your system now. It doesn’t work on the four of us but it makes it easier for the staff to make sure we don’t slip out at night. Not that we’d get far. It went over my head, I’m sorry.”

The absolute despair in his expression would be comical if I wasn’t still drained from whatever they gave me. “What’s in it?”

“A mixture of things, I’m sure. How are you feeling?” I let out a little groan, Nevan running his thumb across my lips. “I’m taking it away, Vienna. I can give and restrict in doses which is one reason why we never feel the after effects. I’ve muted the effects so you can think clearly, at least for now.”

I stare at him, processing his words, before nodding slowly. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because you need to understand what’s going on,” he says, his tone growing urgent. “Vienna, I found out something. Something that explains everything.” He pauses, as though weighing his next words carefully. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, barely above a whisper as if someone is watching us. “The doctors here—they’re angels.”

I blink, the weight of his statement hitting me like a physical blow. “Angels,” I repeat, disbelief dripping from the word.

“I know it sounds insane,” he continues, his silver eyes locked on mine. “But it’s true. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel—they’re not human. I saw them. Their light, their wings. They’re the ones running this place, keeping us locked up.”

I lean back against the pillows, my mind racing. “I thought it was weird that the first doctor’s name was Michael,” I mutter, half to myself.

Nevan’s lips twitch in a grim smile. “It’s not just weird—it’s intentional. They’re here to keep us contained, to rid the world of evil. That’s why you can’t trust them. Don’t tell them anything more than you have to. If you say the wrong thing, they’ll lock you away forever.”

There’s a fierce concern in his voice that I’ve never heard before. “Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll be careful.”

A knock at the door sends a jolt through me and Nevan’s hand slips away as the door creaks open. Michael steps inside, his presence as unsettling as ever. The air around him seems heavier, colder, and I can’t stop the way my body tenses.

Michael’s smile is polite but hollow as he closes the door behind him, his eyes flicking briefly to Nevan. “I thought you’d be in your own room by now,” he states, no room for argument.

Nevan stands, his expression unreadable. “Just making sure she’s settled.” He glances at me, his eyes softening for a moment as he squeezes my shoulder and then excuses himself to leave.

Michael steps closer, his gaze lingering on me as he takes a seat beside the bed. “I would have called you to my office, but you seem comfortable here.” What he means to say is that he wanted to catch me unaware, away from everyone else. However, since Nevan saw him, I know that the four horsemen will be impatiently waiting for Michael to leave so that they can return.

Especially after I just found out that Michael is a motherfucking angel.

I don’t respond, my stomach twisting as his unsettling presence fills the room. He leans forward slightly, his eyes narrowing just enough to make my skin crawl. “How are you fitting in, Vienna? How are things with the others?”

“Okay,” I reply shortly, forcing my voice to stay steady.

Michael’s smile tightens. “If you don’t truly answer the questions, I can’t help you get better. And you do want to get better, don’t you?”

The way he says it sends a chill down my spine, like he already knows the answer. Like he already knows everything . His gaslighting skills are impeccable but just not good enough.

“You’re treading down a dark path,” he continues. “I’ve seen it before. People like you, drawn to the wrong things, the wrong people. It never ends well.”

The way his words linger feels deliberate, as if he’s referencing more than just my time here. It’s almost as though he knows about Asmodeus, about the portal, about the horsemen. The realization makes my heart race, but I keep my expression neutral. I fully sit up, glad that I pulled my scrubs back on after spending the night with Asmodeus.

Michael reaches into his pocket and offers me a small packet of sweets—something so out of place in this sterile, suffocating room. “Here,” he says. “A little treat. Maybe it’ll help you open up about your first two days here.”

I shake my head and then regret it, my body still lagging from the effects of the medication they slipped me. “I’ve just wandered a bit.”

“I see. Well, I think it’s time we give you some structure. Starting tomorrow, you’ll attend some of the classes we offer. Group therapy, activities. It’ll help you keep a schedule, keep your mind focused.”

My throat tightens, but I force myself to nod. “Okay.”

“Good.” Michael’s smile returns, cold and empty. He sets two pills and a glass of water on the bedside table, his gaze locking onto mine. “Take these. They’ll help you sleep.”

I hesitate, but the weight of his stare is suffocating. Slowly, I take the pills, washing them down with the water as he watches. Satisfied, he stands, his movements unnervingly smooth. “Rest well, Vienna. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

He leaves without another word, and the moment the door closes behind him, I collapse back against the bed, my limbs heavy and unresponsive again. Panic sets in as the medication takes hold, and I can feel myself sinking, slipping into a numb haze.

But then, strong arms lift me, cradling me against a solid chest. Nevan’s voice cuts through the fog. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe.”

The effects of the medication begin to fade, the heaviness lifting as he carries me down the hall. By the time we reach the others’ room, my mind is clear again, and I cling to him, my breath shaky but even.

As he sets me down, I look up at him, my voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

Nevan brushes a strand of hair from my face, his expression soft but serious. “We’ll protect you, Vienna. All of us.”

I close my eyes, exhaustion tugging at me, and reach out in my mind for Asmodeus. His voice is immediate, smooth and reassuring. Trust them, he says, his words settling over me like a warm blanket.

So, I do, curling up tighter against Nevan’s chest.