Elemental Reality by Cesya Cuono Page A

scathingly.
    “No, Callie, it’s what I know.” Evil swam in his eyes.
    Excellent. He could read my mind. You son of a— My thoughts were cut short as the darkness grew tighter.
    “I don’t want to hurt you, Callie.” His tone implied otherwise. “If you would just cooperate I wouldn’t have to bind your thoughts. Shame that’ll never happen. Now put your phone back in your purse. We’re going to spend the day together.” He lowered his head a couple inches and narrowed his swirling aqua eyes. My hand moved against my own volition and dropped the phone in my purse. Cayden smiled and held out his arm, completely unrepentant. I looped my arm through his and closed the door behind us.
    We drove to Center City and parked in a parking garage off 6th Street. Though the street wasn’t its normal bustling self, he still paraded me up and down like I was his shiny, new toy that he wanted to show off. We stopped to eat at a corner restaurant where my meal and drink were ordered for me. He made me into his damn show dog as I pranced up and down a runway of concrete to be judged.
    Oli was constantly in my thoughts. Maybe he would figure out what happened and search for me.
    We waltzed in and out of shops along the street, only staying long enough for the customers to get a good look at us before Cayden would pull me out the door. Look at them all staring at me. Couldn’t they tell something was wrong? Hello out there. Help me! Eventually Cayden got bored with the Callie Parade, and we headed back to his car.
    “You don’t mind if we go back to my place, do you?” he asked. Silence. “Didn’t think you would.” His smile was sinister.
    I recognized the small development we drove through. It was only about a mile and a half from my house. If I’d been able to gain control of myself I could have run home. He parked and led me inside his house. It was well furnished, though I doubted anyone actually lived there. The house was flawless and pristine yet smelled dingy and dusty. He led me up the stairs and into what I assumed was his bedroom. My heart pounded so loudly it rang in my ears. What was he going to do to me? We sat down on the bed. He placed his hand on my thigh and kneaded my muscles. The contents in my stomach soured at his touch.
    He looked at me intently. “I’m going to make you mine. After that you’ll forget all about Oli.” His words frightened me, making me try even harder to break free of his control.
    No! I screamed before calling him a string of obscenities in my mind.
    “How unlady like,” he noted. “You don’t kiss your mother with that mouth, do you? Oh wait, she left you.”
    What? What! I roared. I broke through his darkness and jumped from the bed. He was quick and had blocked my only way out. Darkness tried to creep over me again, but I was too furious for them to take control.
    “You’re not going anywhere,” he hissed.
    “Get out of my way. Right. Now,” I said through gritted teeth, my hands fisting at my sides.
    “Or what?” he mocked.
    With all my strength I punched his jaw. He staggered enough from the blow that I was able to slide around him. Wretchedly, I wasn’t quick enough, and he grabbed my left arm. It burned at his touch. I flung my head around, ready to hit him with another blow from my fist, but froze mid-punch at the sight before me. He had a faint orange glow to him, and I swore fire danced in his eyes. It was suddenly suffocatingly hot where I stood, and my arm throbbed from the heat he produced.
    “Let go of me, Cayden.” My voice was a whimper.
    He growled a throaty, feral growl.
    “Let go!” I cried out. I placed both hands on his chest, my left arm still in his grasp, and shoved him. Something crackled, and his grip was abruptly gone. He slammed into the wall across the room with a loud crack. Plaster powder rained down on us. My hands were glowing again. Cayden pulled himself from the wall. He shook off and growled again, his eyes seeking me out like