Make Me Sin (Dark Gods #1)

Chapter 14

Every cell in my body is trembling with excruciating pain. I can't even tell how I'm still standing. I try to make sense of everything around me but all I can see is Seth's burning gaze, torching me until there will be nothing left.

He doesn't seem angry. There’s something so much more beyond anger within him that, for long moments, it manages to deprive me of any other thought. I feel like everything inside of me is broken, but that doesn't scare me half as much as imagining what he's about to do to me. I think I already know how this meeting is going to end. I just can't reconcile with the thought that I have every chance of leaving in a body bag.

My eyes are closing and opening. I can barely keep myself awake, and even breathing comes with severe difficulty. But I fight with all my strength to keep my lucidity.

These very well might be the last moments of my life!

I see things moving in slow motion, and I realize that someone is behind me, supporting me to stand. I can't even turn my head to see who it is. I assume it's a guard since, as I manage to take a peek behind Seth, I notice Nick and Giovanni also being restrained by two other guards. Not that I am restrained in any way, more like supported so I don't crash to the ground.

The smell of death floats through the room. Something so tremendous is about to happen that I dread every second to come. One thing I am certain of—Seth is going to make us pay for trying to double-cross him.I watch a dark smile bloom on his lips. It's like he can barely wait for the satisfaction he will get out of torturing us.

Suddenly, he takes a step closer to me, stopping only ten inches from my face. He's studying me—from my eyes that can barely stay open to the wrinkled material of my ivory dress that's now covered in blood. I just noticed that myself. If I didn't know better, I could barely tell that the dress wasn't red to begin with.

The sight of my bloodied body makes me quiver. I'm almost going into shock, but before I let the panic attack settle in, I feel a finger sneaking under my chin, slowly lifting my head and drawing my eyes away from the dress.

Given the alternative, I think I’d prefer to keep watching my blood stained dress, but Seth's black, inky eyes soon replace that view.

I want to say something, but I have no idea what I could say to save myself. Seth's angry warning confirms my darkest thoughts, “You knew you shouldn't cross me, Serena, didn't you?”

Yes, I did. Yet, I did nothing to prevent it.

I can't even nod to answer him. I just blink for so long that I’m beginning to think I won't be able to open my eyes. I know what I've done. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to face the consequences.

The fingers that support my chin to look at him suddenly clench around my neck as I watch Seth's black irises expand to cover the full white of his pupils. It's like the darkness in his soul is fighting to surface, and evil has just won.

His fingers begin to clench tighter around my throat while his hand seems to be lifting me off the ground. Pain is spreading throughout my body, and I feel life draining out of me. Maybe it's better this way, and things will end quickly. But as soon as I no longer feel my feet touching the ground, a cry escapes my lungs, and hot tears streak my face, ruining my makeup.

It will all be over soon. Another cry leaves my lips in a feeble attempt to breathe. All of a sudden I feel his fingers unlocking from my neck, and I slip back into the arms of the guard that's holding me up.

Seth immediately turns away, as if he’s just talked himself out of killing me.His attention now goes to Lawrence and Canelli who have just been brought into the room by two of his men.

I wish I could say I’m happy to still be alive, but I’m starting to believe living will soon be much worse than death.

Seth’s eyes slowly regain their normal color, but I can feel his murderous intent is still there, maybe more dangerous than ever now that the men who betrayed him have just stepped into the room.

I watch his jaw clench, teeth almost breaking from the pressure. But the very next second, it's like he's having a mood swing, and a large smile appears on his lips as if this is something that brings him joy. I'm starting to believe he's 100% psychotic, given the way his malevolent laughter fillsthe room. I feel the danger increasing with each second that passes. Something horrible is about to happen, and I'm absolutely certain that this is the reason for his unexpected joy.

“Well, now that everyone is here, I think it's time to let the party begin.” The excitement in Seth’s voice is palpable, sending cold chills down my spine.

“Take a seat, please,” he continues, signaling his men to bring Lawrence and Canelli next to Nick and Giovanni.

They're forming a line now, each with a guard behind them, to keep them in position. I also have a guard, but I’m breaking the pattern, being in front of the line. It's like I'm here to watch for now. I just don't think I’ll enjoy the show.But as much as I dread it, I can't postpone it from starting.

“I have a feeling you got lost along the way. You're all so lucky my men were there to show you the right track.” The sarcasm in Seth's voice is all too obvious.

And Lawrence seems stupid enough to intervene. “Seth, things got heated up at the casino. We were just staying low to make sure they wouldn’t trace us back to you.”

That was the lamest excuse ever, and by the look on Seth's face, Lawrence just signed his own death warrant.

“Oh, I see. Is that what you were doing Nick? Keeping me safe?” Seth suddenly turns in Nick's direction, waiting for an answer.

Luckily for Nick, he doesn't give him one. He probably knows, as well as I do, Seth has seen through Lawrence's cheap bluff.

“Serena,” I suddenly hear Seth call my name, waiting for me to answer.

My lips can barely move, but I manage to murmur a yes .

“Can you please tell me what I said happens to those who cross me?” he asks, and I feel compelled to answer—like he's my Lord, and I just became his slave.

I want to keep quiet, but I know nothing good will come of it.”You said...” I feel I can't even put my thoughts into words, but I know there's no way around it. “You said that... you would kill us...”

Seth’s eyes are once again on me, focusing on the red blood stains on my dress, “At least you have a good memory. You're just not good at listening to my warnings. I guess I'll have to teach you the hard way.” I hear his warning loud and clear, just as I did the first time. “But I always like to leave the best for last.” His words, almost seductive. “And that brings me back to you, Lawrence.” Seth takes a few steps in Lawrence's direction. “How is it that you think you could take me for a fool?” He pauses, obviously expecting an answer. Not thatLawrence has one to give.

“Did you hear what Serena had to say earlier? This is something all the people who work for me know. Did you know it, Lawrence?”

“Y…yes,” Lawrence murmurs with fear sparkling in his eyes.

“Well, then you should also know I am a man of my word.” Seth doesn't even get to finish the sentence before the man standing behind Lawrence takes out his gun and splatters his hostage's brain on the floor.

I scream, without being able to control myself. Panic rushes through every cell of my body seeing a man I know die right in front of me. In a way, I knew this would happen. I felt it from the second I found out there was a deviation from our plan.

Seth turns to glare at me with satisfaction. It's like he is feeding on my fear, on the despair he provokes.

I want to be able to control myself, but I can't. I can't stop my tears from rolling down my face, the same way that I can't stop my body from shaking. And it seems to fuel him, as if my misery is the fuel he needs to carry out his plan.

I can't describe the horror that has snuck inside my soul. It's like one of those movies where I have to close my eyes just to not watch the scene until the end. But this is real life, and I have a feeling that none of us will get to the next episode.

Seth’s gaze is burning through me once again. I'm beginning to fear it much as I fear his next action. He is a monster preparing to give us a full demonstration of his power.

Giovanni mutters something between his teeth. Hushed at first, but then louder so that Seth hears him, “You motherfucker, you're going to die for this!” A threat that he has no chance of acting on. I guess it was the anger, combined with the pain of losing a friend speaking. Still, I figured he would’ve known better than to cross Seth. Fool just signed his death warrant, had it not already been signed that is.

I see Seth's eyes darken again, the last vestiges of humanity abandoning them. Something evil crawls to the surface, and every step he's taking in Giovanni's direction warns everyone about the danger.

Even Seth's men begin to panic. Their faces turn snow pale, even though they showed no reaction when the guard killed Lawrence. These are trained killers, all shivering in front of their leader. It's like they know something none of us do. They've seen this before, and know exactly what's going to happen next. They all become agitated, and this only unsettles me even more.

I want to scream. I want to run—anything to get far away from here. But my body refuses to move as I watch, horrified, studying every single one of Seth’s gestures. There is nowhere to go, and the tight grip holding me in place reminds me of that every second. I am a prisoner, waiting to be declared guilty by a man whose insanity is unmatched. There's a certain twitch in his hand that wasn't there before. I'm beginning to think that calculated Seth is close to losing control. The same crazed grin is there spreading across his face as something silvery appears from his pocket—a knife. He's playing with a knife between his fingers like a silent declaration of what he's about to do.

I can barely keep myself from screaming again, but I clench my teeth, afraid to attract his attention. Maybe I should play hero, and call out to him, but I'm too much of a coward to do that. Besides, I already know how this will end. There is no middle ground when it comes to men like him.

He is fully focused on Giovanni, like a hunter stalking his prey. He's feeding on the man's misery, and he's almost annoyed that he doesn't beg like Lawrence just did. He can't savor Giovanni’s fear, and that just pisses him off even more.

“I'm going to die. That's an interesting thought,” Seth's voice is trembling with anger. Giovanni has offended him, and I have a feeling this is something not many people ever do. “And how did you plan for my death to happen? Are you going to be the one to kill me, Giovanni? Because I don't really see how that would work for you.” Seth pulls the knife completely out of his pocket, opening it in front of Giovanni. He's trying to drive the last seconds of fear out of him, but the man just grinds his teeth, waiting for his death. “You can't really kill me if you're dead, can you now?” Seth roars, keeping good on his threat and bringing the blade to slide along Giovanni's neck.

Blood begins spilling, forming a pool at Seth's feet. The bastard loves seeing life drain out of the poor man's body like it’s the ultimate entertainment for him.

I can’t hold back a few whimpers watching how Giovanni fights for his last breaths while his blood is still dripping from Seth's hands. I know he made a mistake. We all did. But nothing justifies taking a life. And at the same time, I know the rules of Seth's world. Overlooking this kind of disrespect could easily cost him his throne. To keep control you need to stay on top of the game. That includes getting rid of anyone who crosses you.

That makes Nick and me his next victims. We just witnessed him kill a man, and I know Seth will never let any of us live after this.

I try to catch Nick's gaze, but he seems to be avoiding me, as if he knows the outcome of this, and just can't look at me to confirm it. I guess he will remain a coward until the end.He got me into this shit. He got all of us killed. I just wish he would be man enough to face the consequences in his final moments. But he's the same pathetic loser I kept preventing myself from truly seeing for all of these years.

Nick stares at the ground like it will open to swallow him whole. I don't even know if he's repentant for what he just did to us or if he's just scared to the bone.I want to say something to him—maybe curse him for ruining my life, or maybe just say my goodbyes. I don't even know what I'm feeling anymore. My emotions are all over the place, and my lips can't decide on what I should say.

I don't get a chance to speak a word before a roar that shakes Vegas to the ground escapes from Seth's lungs. The sound silences everything else for a moment, instilling a demolishing coldness in all of our bones. He's mad. I have the feeling I can't even begin to grasp how mad he really is. The man's probably a certified psychopath, and we willingly entered his game.

Seth's men immediately begin to get agitated. It's not to dispose of the bodies, more like trying to calm him down. “Boss, we can handle them,” one of his men dares to speak, angering the beast even more.

“Don't test me, or you'll join them,” Seth barks, and by the look on his men's faces they know exactly what he was talking about. This wasn't an unfounded threat. It was a warning. Something evil has awakened within him, and the color of his eyes is dark again, like a demon that just crawled to earth to destroy us all.

Canelli seems to be next on his list, as he stops right in front of him.

“I'll be loyal to you, I swear.” Canelli offers a hollow promise, anything to keep his life. The man is as fake as the words coming out of his mouth.And by the look on Seth's face, he knows exactly what Canelli is made of.

Nothing of what the man may ever have to say can reason with him, “How can a man that just double crossed me ever be loyal?”

“I will be. I swear. Please forgive me,” Canelli tries to save his ass.

But there's no real compassion from Seth. “You're forgiven,” he speaks in Canelli's ear as the blade of his knife plunges deep into the man'sgut.

I can't watch the last seconds of Canelli’s life or the blood that now covers the floor. I can't handle that kind of pressure and panic, but mostly I can handle watching another man that I know die. Somehow I'm responsible for this. If I hadn't agreed with the heist, none of this would have happened.

I know it was their greed that got them into this, but I still feel like I gave them the tools to make it happen. Every wrong decision I ever made has driven me to this point.

Three men are lifeless in less than three minutes, turning the place into The House of Horrors. Their blood, living testimony, written on Seth's shirt, and the sight of him covered in red reinforces every dark thought I’ve ever had of this man. This is where we will find our end. He’s the judge and executioner of anything and everything breathing in this room.

I see all his men are still in panic mode. It's like he's feeding some monster, and with each soul he takes, he’s setting a wheel in motion that soon won’t be able to stop. A black aura floats above him, spreading out through the room to claim the very last drop of blood from our veins. At this moment, I'm starting to believe he's not even from this world. It feels like he's a demon set out to bring us to the depths of hell, or maybe even create that hell here for us. It sure looks like the Inferno from where I'm standing, and my darkest fears are just about to come through the second the pitch-black darkness in his eyes turns to meet Nick.

I instantly see Seth heading toward him, leaving the devastation of a hurricane in his wake. He's going to kill him, I know it. And if I was a coward before when it came to Canelli or Giovanni, this time I can't help a desperate No ! escape my lips, “No, please!”

For a second, I thought he would ignore me, but my call seemed to freeze him on spot, halting everything else around him.

Like a foretelling of the death awaiting me, a black tattoo on the back of his neck appears to change its shape from ancient hieroglyphs into some gruesome gargoyle with claws. I must be seeing things, I tell myself, convinced it’s due to the gravity of my wounds. I must be hallucinating.

Almost like turning into that gargoyle himself, Seth turns to look at me, transformed by anger. He has something even more evil than before lurking inside of him and God help me, he just started walking my way.