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Chapter no 29 – VILLAINOUS THEATRICS

Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)

NIGHT FIVE OF PHANTASMA

By the time Ophelia woke againโ€”sobered but with aย pounding headacheโ€”Blackwell had gone through another hundred pages of the book. Heโ€™d fixed her a glass of ice-cold water while she gritted through the pulsing in her temples to sit up on the couch, and he took her barrage of insults for pouring her that third and fourth glass of bourbon without complaint.

โ€œThe water will help. Or so Iโ€™ve heard,โ€ he said.

โ€œHave you never been hungover?โ€ she asked.

โ€œNot that I can remember,โ€ he answered with a smirk. โ€œThe dead donโ€™t get hangovers.โ€

She gulped down half the glass. Then, โ€œWhatโ€™s it like to have no recollection of anything beyond this place? I feel like that would drive me mad.โ€

He shrugged, lifting her outstretched legs so he could sit on the cushion beside her before lowering them back over his lap. โ€œI donโ€™t know any different, so itโ€™s hard to say.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s your earliest memory here?โ€ she asked, scooting herself closer to him until her thighs were resting perpendicular atop his.

โ€œIโ€™m not sure,โ€ he murmured. โ€œIf I think about it hard enough, I can remember plenty of competitions and specific contestantsโ€”especially the most recent onesโ€”but when I try to search too far back, it all justโ€ฆย fades. Itโ€™s as if Iโ€™m being haunted by my own memories, but I donโ€™t know whatโ€™s eating them away other than time.โ€

A pang of sadness ached inside her at his words.

โ€œWhatโ€™s it like being a Phantom?โ€ she whispered. โ€œIs it terribly lonely?โ€

He shifted his eyes to her, a loaded emotion in them. โ€œMost of the time.โ€ He reached over to cup her cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb over her pouted lips. โ€œBut not always.โ€

Her chest tightened. โ€œDid the past contestants you made bargains with try and get to know you?โ€

โ€œNo.โ€

She swallowed, trying to work up the nerve to ask her next question. โ€œNot even the others that you kissed?โ€

โ€œNot even them,โ€ he answered. โ€œBut there werenโ€™t many contestants that I kissed anyway. And there were none that Iโ€ฆโ€

The jealousy that had been swelling in her gut dissipated ever so slightly as she boldly suggested, โ€œFucked?โ€

He gave a single, surprised laugh, eyes lighting back up with his usual mischief now. โ€œThat isnโ€™t exactly what I was going to say.โ€

She wanted to ask what he was going to say, but before she got the chance, something ghostly popped into view on the opposite end of the couch.

โ€œPoe.โ€ She smiled. โ€œI havenโ€™t seen you in a bit.โ€

Poe meowed and trotted over to where they were draped over each other, padding his way onto her lap and rubbing his head beneath Blackwellโ€™s chin.

โ€œHello, you miscreant,โ€ Blackwell said with affection, scratching behind the catโ€™s ears.

Ophelia sighed. She wished they could stay like this for the rest of the day, but with less than a week left of Phantasma, she knew they couldnโ€™t waste any more of their time. She said as much aloud.

โ€œWe should start another magic lesson if youโ€™reย feeling up for it,โ€ he agreed. โ€œOur time is dwindling. I probably shouldnโ€™t have poured you that fourth drink. Or the second or third.โ€

She shooed Poe off her lap so she could stand. โ€œYou know, my mother taught me the basics of her practice. How to call upon a soul, how to communicate with them on the Other Side, all the different types of Ghosts and other paranormal beings. But your lesson was a lot more tactile. I never realized I was capable of using my magic like that.โ€

โ€œDoes this mean I have your permission to throw the knives this time?โ€ he drawled.

She rolled her eyes. โ€œWithinย reason.โ€

The grin that began to stretch across Blackwellโ€™s face as he got to his own feet made her instantly regret her request.

Hours later and Ophelia was a sore, disheveled mess. Over and over, they had practiced summoning her raw energy and aiming it accurately at various objects around the room. A few broken glasses later and she found that she was getting pretty good at it. Her reflexes still werenโ€™t as quick as Blackwell was hoping for when it came to expelling her magicโ€”taking a moment for it to warm up each time she used it, and the lower her reservoir got, the longer that delay grewโ€”but he was patient, and every time she made a particularly good shot, he rewarded her with a dazzling smile.

Then the knives came into play. Whatever muscle she used to turn parts of her body invisible was growing stronger, and if it werenโ€™t for the fact that she thought Blackwell was having a little too much fun launching blades at her, she might have thanked him for discovering how to help her develop this new ability.

Just then, a particularly large cleaver passed through her sternum and embedded itself into the picture-frame molding of the wall behind her. Blackwell made a sound ofย satisfaction.

โ€œI think youโ€™re ready for level four,โ€ he commended.

โ€œWhatโ€™s the theme of level four?โ€ she questioned.

โ€œGluttony.โ€ He enunciated the word with flair. โ€œThereโ€™s this whole bit with collars and chainsโ€ฆย you wouldnโ€™t happen to enjoy being choked, would you?โ€

She spluttered a bit. โ€œIโ โ€”โ€

โ€œIโ€™m kidding, angel,โ€ he snorted. โ€œBut if you ever get curious, Iโ€™m always game to tryย anything.โ€

Her cheeks heated profusely. He had a knack for making everything sound sensually appealing. It drove her mad with want. Something he must have sensed because a blink later and he was right in front of her, reaching around to pull the cleaver from where it was wedged into the molding and discarding it so he could press her against the wall.

โ€œThatโ€™s enough training for now,โ€ he murmured, tapping beneath her chin with his index finger until she tilted her mouth up toward his. โ€œI think you deserve a reward for how well you did today.โ€

She felt the corners of her lips curl up. โ€œIf I get to choose the reward, may I suggest you get on your knees again?โ€

โ€œHmm,โ€ he hummed as he slid his hands around to cup her ass. โ€œFirst, I want toโ โ€”โ€

The lights in the room suddenly flickered, cutting off the rest of Blackwellโ€™s words and making him freeze before her.

โ€œWhatever you do,โ€ Blackwell told her beneath his breath, an eerie calmness to his voice, โ€œdo not show him an ounce of vulnerability.โ€

Ophelia didnโ€™t bother to ask who he meant byย himโ€”she didnโ€™t need to when a second later a Devil appeared in the center of the room in a cloud of black smoke. The man was only an inch or two taller than Blackwell, with combed-back, raven hair and a porcelain complexion even more fairย than her own. Though most would probably describe him as dangerously handsome, his maroon eyes were unsettling, and as he began to prowl closer to them, she saw that his pupils were vertical slitsโ€”reminding her of a felineโ€™s. Something about the heaviness of his gaze felt eerily familiar.

โ€œWell, what do we have here?โ€ the Devil purred as his shrewd eyes shifted between Ophelia and Blackwellโ€™s compromising position. โ€œA pretty little plaything youโ€™ve chosen, Blackwell.โ€

Blackwell dropped his hands from her body and fixed his expression into one of boredom. โ€œSinclair. We were just leaving.โ€

Sinclairโ€™s eyes lit up with the sort of deviousness that promised pain. โ€œIt didnโ€™t look like you were just leaving. Whatโ€™s the matter, Blackwell? Donโ€™t like to share your toys?โ€

Ophelia remained utterly frozen, her eyes tracking every movement the Devil made. She wasnโ€™t particularly keen on being in the presence of any Devils, but there was something very different aboutย thisย one. Something vengeful beneath the surface. A stark difference between the uncomfortable presence of Jasper and the palpable darkness Sinclair seemed to emanate.

As if he could hear her thoughts, Sinclairโ€™s eyes slid to her face, the slits of his pupils dilating as they took her in. She kept her face unmoving, Blackwellโ€™s warning not to show any hints of vulnerability on loop in the back of her mind.

Sinclairโ€™s scarlet eyes narrowed while his grin widened. โ€œHave we met somewhere before?โ€

That seemed to push Blackwell over the edge. โ€œWeโ€™re leaving.โ€

Blackwell wrapped his arm around her and gently, but firmly, began to usher her away. But it was the wrong move. Sinclair noted the familiarity between them in an instant, and Ophelia had a sinking feeling that something very bad wasย about to happen.

Sinclair gave a menacing laugh. โ€œTell me, Blackwell, is this one a good fuck?โ€

Ophelia hardly felt the insult, more focused on the barely contained rage rolling off of Blackwell.

โ€œIf she gave me a ride, do you thinkโ โ€”โ€

Blackwell snapped. Tucking her behind his back, he lunged forward and slammed his fist into the Devilโ€™s face. Sinclairโ€™s head whipped to the side, but his feet stayed planted in place. The Devil was now grinning, his pupils expanding so wide they swallowed the vermilion of his irises whole.

โ€œThat was a mistake.โ€ Sinclair laughed.

In a split second, Blackwell disappeared from between them, the warm energy of his presence snuffed out completely. Then thick black smoke began to seep in across the floor, billowing in the air around her, until Sinclair was the only thing she could see clearly.

โ€œBlackwell,โ€ she whispered beneath her breath as quietly as possible. โ€œBlackwellโ โ€”โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t bother summoning him, girl,โ€ Sinclair threatened. โ€œIt will only cause him harm when he is unable to come to you.โ€

To his point, there was a loud pounding on the door to the room. She could hear Blackwell shouting her name, but his voice was muffled, like he was yelling underwater.

โ€œWhat the Hell do you want from me?โ€ she spat, lifting her chin with bravado.

โ€œItโ€™s not you I want something from,โ€ Sinclair avowed. โ€œI apologize for my crudeness; I couldnโ€™t help getting a rise out of him. And unfortunately for you, you seem to be something he cares about. Which means youโ€™re the key to his undoing.โ€

โ€œUndoing?โ€ She gave a mocking laugh. โ€œCould you be any more clichรฉ with the villainous theatrics?โ€

Sinclair slinked closer to her until she was cowedย against the wall. He reached out to grip her face in one hand as he brushed the hair away from her face with the other. Her blood ran as cold as ice.

โ€œI could,โ€ he assured. โ€œWould you like a demonstration?โ€

Ophelia didnโ€™t say anything or dare to moveโ€”she hardly dared to breathe.

Sinclair grinned, satisfied. โ€œI have a proposition for you.โ€

โ€œNoโ€”โ€ she began, but her words were quickly choked off by a painful squeeze of the Devilโ€™s hand.

โ€œDo not interrupt me,โ€ he snapped. โ€œMy proposition is simple. You forfeit this competition, and I will grant you a single favor.โ€

She recoiled in disbelief.

โ€œRumor has it youโ€™re looking for your sister,โ€ Sinclair continued. โ€œIโ€™ll tell youย exactlyย where she is. Or maybe youโ€™d prefer money? Fame? Name it and itโ€™s yours.โ€

โ€œWhy do you want me to forfeit so badly?โ€ she questioned, eyes narrowing. โ€œWeโ€™ve never met before now. What concern is it to you if I stay in this competition?โ€

Sinclairโ€™s expression soured. โ€œJust take the deal.โ€

Her lips curled in disdain as she ripped her chin from his hand. โ€œFuck. Off.โ€

โ€œDo you really think if you win this competition thereโ€™s a happy ending for the two of you?โ€ he crooned, but his velvety smooth tone was laced with malice. โ€œBlackwell cannot leave. Forfeit now, and I will not only grant you a favorโ€”Iโ€™ll also break your oath to him.โ€

She swallowed, ignoring the way his words sliced through her heart. She and Blackwell were using each other as frivolous distractions. Nothing more. โ€œWhere is this coming from? Why are you suddenly in this equation?โ€

โ€œBecause there have been rumblings about theย pretty little Necromancer whoโ€™s helping Blackwell and finding things in this manor she shouldnโ€™t be.โ€ He glowered at her. โ€œItโ€™s only a matter of time before you uncover something you have no business poking around in. And Iโ€™m willing to do what the other Devils arenโ€™t.โ€

A realization hit her. โ€œYou know where the key isโ€ฆย donโ€™t you? You know things about him, and why heโ€™s here, and you donโ€™t want me around long enough to figure them out.โ€

โ€œAnd they say mortals are fools,โ€ he mocked.

She gave him a taunting smirk. โ€œIโ€™m a threat to you. Is that why youโ€™ve been watching me all this time? It has been you, hasnโ€™t it?โ€

The darkness in his eyes deepened and his expression turned hostile. โ€œI am the last person you want to make an enemy of.โ€

โ€œRight, because a Devil threatened by the presence of a mortal is the epitome of terrifying,โ€ she retorted. โ€œAs I said beforeโ€”fuck off.โ€

To that, he did something surprising. He took a step back and gave her a smile. โ€œYou think you know him so well? Page eight hundred and eighty-two. Ask him why he didnโ€™t show it to you.โ€

Opheliaโ€™s stomach dropped, but she was careful not to show any reaction to his words. โ€œAsking him a question would require you to let him back in here.โ€

Sinclair leaned in. โ€œWeโ€™ll meet again soon.โ€

With that lingering threat, he disappeared, along with the smoke, and there was barely time for her to take in a relieved breath before Blackwell blasted open the door to the room, sending shards of wood flying in every direction. In a blink he was back in front of her, concern visible as he frantically traced his eyes over every inch of her, his hands coming up to wipe the disheveled strands of her hair from her face.

โ€œAre you alright?โ€ he demanded. โ€œDidย he touch you?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m fine.โ€ She pulled away a bit, and there was a flicker of hurt in his eyes as he dropped his hands. โ€œShow me page eight hundred and eighty-two.โ€

He swallowed and looked away. โ€œOphelia.โ€

She sucked in a surprised breath. It was true. There was something he was intentionally hiding from her.

โ€œShow me,โ€ she ordered again. โ€œNow.โ€

His jaw clenched before he blinked away for a moment, to grab the book from the floor beside the couch, and when he returned with it, he handed it over in silence.

She held her breath as she flipped through the pages until she landed on the one she was looking for. She scanned carefully over each name, and when she reached one of them, adrenaline sliced through her veins.

Gabriel White.

Her breath hitched as she continued through the rest of the list. And the name she spotted just a few lines below buckled her knees.

Tessie Grimm.

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