Vicious (Villains, #1)

by V.E. Schwab

Victor was out. Victor was free. And Victor was coming for Eli—just as he’d promised he would.

Victor wondered about lots of things. He wondered about himself (whether he was broken, or special, or better, or worse) and about other people (whether they were all really as stupid as they seemed).

“I’m trying to find a scientific explanation for the EO phenomena. It’s not like I’m actually trying to create one.” Victor’s mouth twitched, and then it twisted into a smile. “Why not?”

But he had Eli’s attention. He liked having his attention.

He didn’t like people to know how closely he watched, matched, mimicked them.

He wanted to watch Eli bleed.

And he had missed Eli. He wanted to see him. And he wanted to see him suffer. He wanted to see the look in Eli’s eyes when he lit them up with pain. He wanted his attention.

If Eli really was a hero, and Victor meant to stop him, did that make him a villain?

Victor Vale was not a fucking sidekick.

Eli had betrayed him. Eli deserved a little pain.

“No one is going to hurt you. Do you know why?” She shook her head, and Victor smiled. “Because I’ll hurt them first.”

He can’t technically use his power to hurt others.” “No,” said Sydney, “he uses guns for that.”

Beneath the drawing ran a single sentence: I made a friend. Victor.

“This research dies with us.” With that, he twisted sharply. “Well,” said Eli softly. “With you.”

ELI didn’t enjoy killing. He did quite like the moment after.

“What gives you the right to play judge and jury and executioner?” “God.”

“Eli Ever is a hero. A hero. A hero.”

“I hope Victor hurts him,” she said cheerfully. “A lot.”

“I’m not afraid of Victor.” “I know.” He sounded sad when he said it.

Victor Vale was a wolf among sheep.

And whoever Victor Vale was, whatever he was, and whatever he was up to, the only thing Mitch knew was that he did not want to be in his way.

“Littering,” said Mitch as Victor started the car. “Let’s hope that’s not the worst crime I commit tonight,”