The Mark Of The Beast

17. Out Of The Dark... POV: Shannon Alexis Chandler

Khyzer has this file...There is something he doesn't want to tell me. I can feel it, there is something he's not telling me. I don't know why I channeling what he's feeling but I'm not going to say anything to him just yet. Got enough of my own s**t going on within to be picking someone else's inner discord on my radar.

So far his point was the werewolves he sent to check the Abernathy's, have checked it out and the file is what was found out. Khyzer laid some photos on the table that I only shrugged then recited to my knowledge what or who was in the photos. "That's Abernathy Estate, That's James Abernathy, That's Kelsey Macintosh, and that's James, Kelsey, Sloane Cavanaugh, and Wesley, but I don't know who that slut puppy hanging all over Sloane is. That's not his usual on again and off again doormat."

He looked at me with a c****d eyebrow for some reason. "What?" I wrinkled my eyebrows at Khyzer not knowing why he looked so taken back by me.

Khyzer switched his expression back to his cocky ass smirk and cleared his throat which did nothing to hide the low chuckle. "Nothing. This part is usually like pulling teeth." he gave a nod then picked up the photos and put them behind the back of the file then flipped through few corners of the file contents. He paused and cut his eyes up at me curiously. "Slut puppy?...Doormat?..." he said tilting his head to the side a little "Wow." he chuckled and shook his head. Then returned his attention to rummaging through the other photos in the file, I assumed.

I straightened my posture against the back of the chair I sat in. The chair looked to be stainless steel in the legs and framed the seat and backrest that was cushioned comfortably. The cushioned pat was covered in a pattern of different shades of greys and steel blues. The material felt like something that felt really soft and reminded me of my favorite though blanket back home. "Like pulling teeth?" I scoffed with raised my eyebrows.

Khyzer sat directly across the square stainless steel table in a chair just like the one I sat in. We weren't at the packhouse. We were 10 minutes walk from the packhouse. In a little one-room log shack. It is brightly lit in here and the walls are dark grey and there isn't even 1 window or a bathroom. The smell isn't the worst but it's not a smell I like smelling either. It is just me and Khyzer. He asked me to take a walk with him, he needed to tell me something. I made him promise that I will make it back to the packhouse soon and in one piece. His only response was grabbing me by the hand and giving me a pull in the direction he was headed while saying "I promise. Just trust me and come on."

I quickly went back at him and said "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin.!" I made myself giggle but got a laugh out of Khyzer before he informed me that Little Red riding hood and The Big Bad Wolf is his favorite if roleplaying is what I'm into. "I Bet" was all I said in reply. I would bet on Red Riding Hood being his favorite. I don't know if it is an Alpha thing or a wolf thing in general but Red Riding Hood's role-play sounds like damn good role play for stroking his big bad ego. I still dutily noted Red Riding Hood under fore-play in my own shameless thoughts for future reference because you never know...Shannon Alexis Chandler! stop it! what is wrong with me, lately? Scolding myself for letting my mind leap right off in the gutter. A few minutes later we were arriving at what looked to be the eeriest site in the middle of the day, was this tiny log cabin.

After being here for a little bit hasn't helped it lose any of its urking charms either. Paired with this wicked look in Khyzers eye and I can't help but feel chills vibrate through every bone in my entire body. Khyzer let out a long-drawn sigh. I jumped at the sudden overbearing sound of stainless steel chair legs scraping against the linoleum flooring. It's a design meant to look like beautiful hardwood flooring. He pushed the chair back away from the table. He turned his upper torso slightly to the side and reached one arm to pull open a draw on this small stainless steel cabinet thing behind him. In one smooth and super quick move, some kind of orange case unrolled over the top of the table in front of me.

Outstretched the length of the table from his side to where I was sitting, placed neatly, snuggly, and secured in their own compartments and making my stomach turn was the creepiest of gadgets and tools. I recognized multiple types of pliers. What looked like scaples from the normal size I seen on Nip/Tuck a long time ago, when that was my mom's favorite show that was always on the Tivo taking up space, but there were also miniature scaples ad bigger sizes, along with screwdrivers and some things that I didn't have clue what they actually are called but they made me think, just by the look they were some kind of something like vice grips and some different kinds of clamps or something in relation or similar to grips and clamps. Various other sharp and pointy things, including something resembling the twisty part of a corkscrew among other things that I don't know what they are called nor what they are meant to be used for but I do know at this moment everything, even the screwdrivers make for an unnerving sight laying before me. There wasn't even one tool or gadget that didn't look brand new and unused. I can figure some of the things are made of surgical steel like the scaple looking knives but I don't know what kind of metal pliers, screwdrivers, and most of these things are made of. I just know it all looks cold and sharp despite all gleams like somebody took time to polish everything till they could nearly see their reflection. The light from the uncovered light bulb installed in the ceiling above the table reflects blindingly off all the creepy steel tools. Really does make all the nicks, scrapes, dents, thin and shallow scratches stand out to only bring attention to the dullness of the stainless steel table with all its wear and tear. It probably has been in here for some years. Can't judge a book by the cover so it is very likely that all these tools aren't as new as they appear, my gut says if these walls could talk then they would probably tell me these tools seen as much horror as this table but better care after serving some sadistic purpose.

I'm officially spooked now. I hope it's not just written all over my face though. So far I've remained quiet and I haven't moved since all this has been laid out for me to see and I sat here with my hands in my lap breathing and staring down, taking in each and every piece laid out so organized in the case thing all across the table. Everything fitting in its place. Im not sure how I should be reacting to him putting all this on display but Im really not trying to give a reaction yet. Remaining calm and not affected on the outside while on the inside Im feeling affected. Im concerned, Im, worried. Yep.

Maybe I should have left what he said about "like pulling teeth" the f**k alone. Maybe I should have kept my smart mouth shut. I tried to swallow but my throat has gone dry. I slowly lifted my head my stare from down at the table till we were face to face only this square table between us. His face was unreadable as usual. Nothing was expressed or giving any hint of what he was thinking or feeling. His eyes intensely studying as always in their electric baby blue glow, with a couple of strands of his sun-bleached dirty blond hair dangled over his eyes. It's styled in his usual everyday messy towel-dried and hairbrush neglected wild and untamed style. It suits him. The diamond stud in his nose and the gage in his ear plus let's not forget the goatee that happens to be in the company of a little stubble today. Looking like he can deal more slow and painful torture by heartache than...well I don't want to know what he or whoever does with this stuff on the table.

He had on a plain black t-shirt minus the cut off short sleeves. Leaving his arms bare but hugging his well defined with muscle toned shoulders and chest. Once my gaze was on his and not down at the table, we silently just stared at each other for a moment. His voice erupted into the quiet. "It's rare to come in here for a sit-down and get anything but uncooperative bullshit out of the one with their ass in the hot seat." He spoke in a lowered and cold tone, and the speaking somewhat in riddles starts. I saw him reach for something laying on the table but I guess he decided not to. He roamed his hand over the tools and things like he was trying to decide which one he wants to reach for. He averted his eyes down to his roaming hand while continuing to speak. "Least likely is finding the truth in the cooperative and sensible..."

He holds up a shiny pair of something that looks like a pair of pliers and a pair of the things teachers and secretaries use to punch holes in paper that isn't notebook paper. I don't know what he's holding but if a pair of pliers and a pair of hole punch thingys had a baby, there's a good possibility it would look like what Khyzer is holding in his hand right now. Khyzer gives a squeeze to the handles of the thing he's holding and I hear a click then a pop sound. The pop sound was the handles now open wider. I narrowed my eyes at him, keeping them on him and his hand with the grip around clicking popping chunk of steel. He smirked and leaned his face closer toward mine. On instinct, I tried to inch my face back away a tad bit but was already as far back as I could get. I could look up at the ceiling. I don't think he would go along with that. It's pretty well rude and disrespectful. I can't watch him or his hand with that thing in it if I'm looking elsewhere. He's not even really close to me by comparison to how up close and in my personal space he had been already. Might as well face it, I'm must be captivated by him regardless of what he is doing.

He squeezed the handles of the thing in his hand once more, this time it was a harder squeeze that resulted in a louder click. Opening his hand just enough for me to get a glimpse at the steel pieces that appear to have popped up from the inside of the handles. Looked like rods going to the back of the head on the gadget. The handles also were not open near as wide as they were before he picked them up and squeezed them the first time, the handles are far from opened wide as before, he squeezed the second time. I think the handles are locked now.

"Usually it's like pulling teeth to get a little cooperation in here. It's like pulling teeth to get the lies shut up and get the truth out of them." he loudly whispered. I wasn't focusing on his hand at all anymore. I was distracted by what he was loud whispering. To my surprise, he squeezed the handles of the metal thing again. Real quick like this time before I even had time to become fully aware so it was to my surprise when the steel within his grip made a louder popping sound than before that cause both of my jaws to hurt for some reason. I also squealed and jumped and I think my heart almost jumped out of my chest all at once from the startle. I slapped one hand over my mouth and held my other hand to where my heart was beating rapidly.

I can't stand him!! I think to myself in agitation. He smirks and looks at me like I just grew to more heads and 2 extra arms or something. "You ok?" he smirks and returns the thing in his hand back to where he got it from.

I slapped my hand on the table. That made a loud gong sound. "Oh, you are such a d**k. On the record, by the way, your such a d**k! Is that what those, whatever they are, are they really for pulling teeth?!" giving him my meanest death glare and breathing like I am going to huff and puff and blow him down any minute now.

"Well yanking out teeth is what I do with it." he shrugged. Bro did you not just hear what I asked and what you answered? He snagged up the needle nose pliers and bounced them in his hand a couple of times. "I also like using these to snatch out teeth." he slid the needle nose pliers back in their slot. He raised his eyes over the rest of his sociopathic playset. He's insane. What the f**k have I Forest Gumped myself into?

Resisting the urge to jump up and start pacing because running out the door isn't an option. Without a pen code or Khyzers fingerprint, the door ain't opening. I didn't have time to think about it before the words just spilled out of me. "Your not gonna use me to play dentist!... Are you?!" my tone was raised enough that I was kind of yelling. He just gave me this look like don't ask me dumb questions. He started rolling up the case and fastening it shut. He growled shaking his head. "hmm, oh please Spazz. Would you relax a little?" he tossed the back in the drawer behind him. The drawer shut with a loud bang. Turning his attention back on me. He looked at me for a few minutes. I didn't look at him though. I just kept my eyes looking downward at the table. He finally sighed. "To answer your question...No. I was not planning on, nor have I ever considered torturing you with anything in that drawer behind me. I assure you I don't see myself ever considering hurting you like that in the future either. You can consider your sweet looking ass safe for life..." He sounds sincere but..." my sweet ass" really? I guess I'm just going to have to take his word for it and hope he's a man of his word. Which would be so awesome. Finally looking from the table back to his face. He held a straight face, there was nothing there that I could find that would give me value if he was lying or playing me. His eyes as intense and inhuman as they are, more than once they have said I don't have to fear him. I don't ever feel like he is going to hurt me but I don't know that he won't hurt me. I don't know him that well. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this supernatural stuff about werewolves and demons and deals with the devil and the 9 yards. I still think I could just be going crazy. Khyzer picked up the file that has been laying on the table and opened it again, looked through it a little then placed another photo of James, walking with some bleach blonde bimbo in a hooker dress that leaves nothing to the imagination and she doesn't even have enough respect to at least look good and do a decent job of her makeup and hair and pair it with some badass shoes or something. She's not the first and won't be the last. Khyzer flipped through more photos in the file and placed another one on the table. I Studied the photo. "I can tell you that is the pool house at the Abernathy's and it looks a lot like James is throwing one of his drug and alcohol-fueled rager's. That's all he does he was born a millionaire baby and he's the only heir the Abernathy's have so he will never have to do anything but party till he finally parties himself into an early grave. He already OD's more often than none. He'd be dead if I hadn't have found him twice now." I pulled the photo from the middle of the table to the edge where I was sitting so I could get a better look at it. That was all I need to do to instantly pick out James. I pointed at that spot in the photo. "There's James even though you can barely see his face because he is sitting and there is some bikini-clad skank straddling him." I casually said and slid the photo back across the table. Then quickly pointed out there is also My bestie Kelsey and there is Wes who is also supposed to be my friend but you see they are ok with James cheating on me. They think he's God or something because his family is richer than all of us."

"You sound like you know for a fact that right there, is James," he said questioning.

"Are you trying to say that's not James?" I deadpanned as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Nah, it's him. just damn. How could you tell and be certain?" with intrigue in his voice and amusement on his face.

"It's not like this photo is my first time seeing James in this exact compromising position. Just a different chick on top of him but it's always a different chick." in the bubbliest tone I could manage.

Khyzer picked up the photos and laid a few more in place of those. James with other whores and my best friend Kelsey and Wes who don't seem to be missing me at either. Wow!

"I am not seeing whatever it is your boyfriend can see in all these different bitches, but ok. Everybody is into different s**t I guess." An aggressive growl vibrated from deep in his chest. He said that in a tone that weighed heavy with disgust. I don't guess he's into the same type as James. He placed the photos back into the file and rifled through it some more.

"Oh, Haven't you noticed the pattern? James Abernathy is into trailer park trash and, hookers working the front of corner liquor stores. Sometimes it's what his dealer is serving in addition to selling James his fix. James likes to risk his life and get his wallet ran through in addition to the bad decisions he's already making in the first place so he prefers his doing his business true hustla's. You know the all about the life type that lives and dies by how good their street cred is and their claim to fame is how many times they have been to prison. I dont see James seeing the age of 40 and still breathing. If he doesn't die of O.D. then his choice of the company he keeps will cut his throat for real one day. Probably robbing him or something. It doesn't matter how many of these photos you show me. Nothing is going to surprise me and I'm not in love with him, it's not hurting me too much, maybe just my pride a little. He's been my " boyfriend" since I was 17 and he has chronically cheated on me since the beginning with nothing but bottom feeder bitches so what does that say about me. If his type is OMG look what the cat drug in." I sighed and started tiddling with my nails hoping I have clearly indicated my boredom

He placed more photos on the table. This time it was different rooms at the Abernathy estate.

I immediately rattled off the rooms I recognized. "That's James' bedroom. That is still James' bedroom, He just has these French doors shut so this is like a den adjacent to his room. He has his own living room and a whole-house pretty much. He has a whole wing to himself on the opposite end of the mansion, where his parents never go. Just the help and James and whoever he has for company there." I recited informatively. I didn't recognize the rest of the photos he laid on the table in a single file line. I don't think James or his parents have even seen every room in the mansion of their Estate. So there is a ton of rooms I haven't seen since there was no need to. He picked up the photos and replaced them with different ones once more. I recognized the study/library but didn't recognize what looked like guest bedrooms that I've never seen. Khyzer picked up the photos except for one of the study/libraries. Then he pulled one out of the file and asked had I ever seen this room before as he handed me the photo.

I can't say that I have ever seen this room anywhere. with a red upside-down pentagram on the floor and the wall. Some kind of alter with red and black candles. Different types of animal skulls it looked like. A thick black book with some kind of evil-looking symbol on it. I was feeling a little strange from seeing looking at this photo. So I laid it back on the table. "No. I haven't ever seen anything like it.

"Babe I'll give you 3 guess where that room is located..." Khyzer said mischievously.

"Babe, I don't need 3 guesses because I don't want to guess. I don't know where this is, I've never been there." I scowled at him. Irritation rising inside me.

Khyzer places a few more photos on the table. "Look." He started sternly. I am pretty much so done with this. I am ready to go. I don't even know why he brought me here. Still scowling at him. "If I look at them then can we go. I tired." I bite out.

"Just look," he said patiently.

I looked at the photos. One was of a bookshelf in the study/library at James' house. Then I looked at a photo of a bookshelf standing ajar sideways in one half of the photo, the other half of the was that evil satanic looking room. The 3rd photo was of an eagle perched brass bookend. It was title forward like it was going to fall on the eagle's face. I shook my head and looked at the photo of the bookend again. Then back at the photo of the bookshelf that was ajar and noticed the bookend was leaning in the direction like it wa going to fall on the eagle's face but it wasn't falling. It was still even though it was tilted forward and should be completely fallen over not just suspended in the air like that. "Is this...?" I started to say but Khyzer cut me off. "That is the bookshelf at your boyfriend's house in his library/study. If you pull that eagle bookend out like so..." He was pointing at the photo of the ajar bookshelf." Then the bookshelf opens up and behind it is this room." he pointed next to the ajar bookshelf where the satanic room was."There is a full report from Knoxville and Jerica, and a statement from one of the hired help about your boyfriend and your friends..." he sighed running his hand through his hair. He left his hands propping his hand on the back of his head like he was laying down on his back with his hands behind his head. I just looked at him in disbelief. Speechless. I knew what he was going to say but I didn't stop him from finishing. I let him state it all out loud. It's probably better that he does say it straight to me out loud. I think I knew this whole time that this was going to be on James that I'm in this situation. That is all James ever brought in my life anyway. Nothing but chaos and now I have a "Chais demon" in me. At least she has been mute for a day or two. Yep. The least she, Dahlia, what the f**k ever you want to call her, the least she can do for troublemaking, is just shut the f**k up and stay that way instead of screaming inside my head as she does. "...and their bad religion. You were never witnessed participating in their rituals and whatever they did in the name of worshiping the devil. If you want you can take the file and look at all the photos as read all the report and the statement and the evidence...everything that's in this file right here." he said distantly as he placed the photos back in the file and held it out toward me." I robotically reached up and took the file. I remained silent but I averted my gaze down to the table. I nodded to let him know I was still listening. He continued. "The day you blacked out..." He licked his lips and sighed again."Your boyfriend and your friends were in that hidden room trying to summon something. The lady that is hired help there remembers you being there, looking for your boyfriend, and that some other hired help was covering for them and told you he wasn't there. The particular lady that dimed your boyfriend and your friends out. Also Says she found you in a hallway somewhere when you collapsed and went unconscious and she panicked and was yelling for some to call 911 because you wouldn't wake up. You had a pulse but was not breathing. Shortly after you collapsed you woke up and you didn't say very much. You didn't want medical help, you were not concerned about finding your boyfriend anymore. You walked out of there seeming like you were just fine except for something was off about you. You weren't yourself. You left the Abernathy Estate and didn't return. Your boyfriend apparently flipped out when he heard you had been there while he was hiding with your other friends in a hidden satanic alter room trying to summon something they know nothing about from the depths of hell for some reason(s) that aren't really clear yet." Khyzer paused and sighed again like he ain't liking the fact he's having to tell me all this. I can hear the anger he has disguised with a mask of calmness. I don't think he's angry with me though. He's rubbing the back of his neck like he's also stressed out, but he cleared his throat and proceeds with what he's been saying. "Your boyfriend did not flip out and go on a rampage because he was concerned for your well-being after hearing you were at his house and collapsed unconscious for a short period. Your boyfriend also never found you. Till the same night, I found you at that night club..." Khyzer took one of my free hands that were lying outstretched on the table because it wasn't holding the file He held it in both of his hands causing sparks to run up my arm and through the rest of my body. He gently started rubbing circles on the back with his thumb. I think I'm worrying him because I kept my silence up and made very little eye contact with him like the lights are on, but nobody is home.

"I got one more question and we can finish talking about this later on. I'll take you back to the house. You have not eaten today and you probably need to rest or relax your mind for a while." He's still playing with my hand causing sparks to jolt through my veins bringing me back to my senses and out of my trance as I feel the heat in my core from the sparks in his touch. Here we go again.

Khyzer kissed the palm of my hand. Instantly my eyes shot right up to meet his. "Why did your boyfriend raise his hand to you at the club that night? I saw him slap you...fucking hard too. He crossed a line and I wanna know why. I can always hunt him down and ask him if you would rather, I just ask him about it."

To be continued...