10. X
X
Spencer
E cho’s words hypnotised me, his vocal command cracking my Variant open until it fractured into pieces right in front of him.
My ability overwhelmed, my senses engulfed, my body overrun.
My mask was stripped at the very seams, displaying my real face, giving him all of me.
And when we simultaneously submitted to our most basic calling, I knew we were where we were always meant to be, his orgasm mixing with mine to create a spiritual affinity of deathly measures.
Immediately proven by a sudden, searing pain.
My pussy gave one last vital squeeze of his dripping cock. Then, all thought evaporated as my hand automatically sourced the origin of this newfound intrusion. The sharp edge of the blade cut into my palm as I tried to halt the knife from stabbing deeper.
My mind whirled in rapid-fire sequence as my eyes latched on to his, an inch away from mine. Conflict was rife in their light hazel depths as if he was just as surprised as I was to find my own fucking knife sticking out of my chest.
I almost watched in slow motion as that one lapse of vulnerability was slammed aside, replaced with vicious intent as he simultaneously removed both his dick and blade from inside me.
A harrowing pressure crushed down on me as I faltered to my knees, warm arousal dripping down my thighs as a river of crimson poured through my fingers. I desperately clamped down on the gaping hole severed below my diaphragm, but despite hastening the flow, I intuitively felt the act was futile.
I buckled to the ground, my body losing strength as my heart pummelled harder. My life force pooled in a vibrant puddle of red that seeped through the cracks of the wooden catwalk, a slow drip cascading to the stage below. I knew I was close to death when not a lick of fear registered at the disturbing drop.
Despite all the fucked up scenarios I’d imagined for my demise, that was never one of them; bloody, broken and oddly satisfied. As dying went, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was impressed with my send off.
I watched, transfixed as Echo walked away, his retreating frame blurring in and out of focus, my mind frantically latching on to what little consciousness I could muster.
Look at me, you bastard. Fucking look back at me.
As if he could hear my plea, his step paused, chin tilting slightly to the side as if to turn. Then, all hope was lost as he faded into darkness… Away from me.
Stark awareness slammed into me as pain lanced against my cheek.
“Fucking slap her again,” a melodic tone snapped.
I’d know that sound anywhere—an angelic voice veiled with savage barbs. “Meek?” I croaked, my eyes fighting heaviness to open.
Slap. Now, my opposite cheek burnt to match the other. “Fucking stop hitting me.”
“Just following orders,” Micah’s level voice chimed.
After countless attempts, I managed to crack an eyelid, my sight clearing on my two sisters, crouched above me. Their hands were pressing hard into my ravished body (not that I could feel anything).
I tried to smirk, the action causing a metallic gel to layer over my tongue. “You’ll never guess what happened.”
“Shut the fuck up, Spence, before I fucking kill you,” Emerson said through gritted teeth, tone strained. Then, I registered her face, pale and drained of colour, sweat lining her brow. She was using her Variant to stop the bleeding.
Micah hovered next to her, features stretched into an immovable mask, displaying the picture of perfect detachment. She would have been convincing, too, if it weren’t for the flash of fear that flickered in her eyes. “What happened, Spence?”
“I thought I wasn’t allowed to talk?” I snarked back.
Emerson growled. “I swear I’m going to fucking kill her, M.”
I tsked—or tried to, anyway, the sound more a gurgle than anything else. “I just had the best sex of my whole entire life… Then, I was stabbed.”
“Can you be serious for one second?! You’re fucking dying!” Micah screeched.
“At least I’ll die happy. I’ve found my soulmate. Truly.”
“He tried to kill you.”
“I know,” I said, smiling wistfully. “I can’t wait to see him again.”
“You’re not fucking seeing him again,” Emerson said. “Are you insane?”
“Yes,” I breathed as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “If only to return the favour. But unlike him, I won’t fail.”
The mere thought of his demise made me giddy and light-headed. Then, blackness re-entered, and I felt nothing at all.
ECHO
I shoved into my bathroom and switched the shower on to scathing hot, not even sure how I got there. Ripping off my clothes, I stood in front of the mirror, transfixed by my own nakedness, stained knife still tight in hand.
I dropped it immediately, trembling fingers raising to tangle in my short blonde hair, pulling hard on the roots, trying to dig the thoughts from my tumultuous brain.
“Get the fuck out. Get the fuck out of my head .” The force of my voice left the mirror in splintered pieces.
My mind replayed those intimate moments, warning my soul that I was irrevocably changed.
I can’t escape her.
Stark blood hardened over my entire front, and her candy fragrance merged with the misting air. Then, my gaze caught on my mouth. I hadn’t registered that I was chewing—the sweetest gum staining my tongue with the potent taste of her. I hadn’t fully processed what happened, let alone our mind-blowing kiss, her bubblegum transferring to me in the feverish exchange.
Why’d it have to be so fucking delicious?
I launched forward, swiping all the contents off the bathroom counter in one fell swoop. The crashing noise triggered a roar to rip from my throat as I let my own self-loathing take root.
I’d done what I had to do to protect myself. Yet, the last image of her laying in her own blood haunted me—fucking gutted me.
I had to believe the lie. Had to believe in my own survival. With our brief interaction, she’d already become a dangerous distraction I couldn’t afford to keep. A connection I was remiss to grow any further.
She was a stranger, a nobody, a nameless person who would never amount to anything more…and how could it?
I fucking killed her.
SPENCER
I was strung up between my two sisters, an arm stretched over each of their shoulders as they dragged me to the entrance of Variant Sanctorum.
We couldn’t venture through the catacombs in my state, so we had to risk exposure arriving through the front doors instead. Luck was on our side, the place deserted, clearing a free path up the centre aisle.
A squeak alerted us to Ava, who stepped out from behind the altar, grey eyes widening in panic at our dishevelled state.
“Micah, are you okay?” she exclaimed.
“Hush, Ava, I’m alright. Come and help us with the door,” Micah replied.
“You know, Meek and I are okay, too. Thanks for asking,” I piped louder. Ava flushed pink, and Micah side-eyed me with a murderous glare.
We managed to manoeuvre down the hidden stairs into the temple, and as soon as we entered, the atmosphere spiked with wired tension.
Psycho jolted from his stool, tremors wracking his frame as he took in Micah. “ Golden girl?”
Micah huffed, depositing me onto the fighting mats—rather roughly, I might add. “Ouch, bitch,” I said. Emerson collapsed beside me, eyes already lapsing shut. Fran trotted over, whining and pressing his snout into my neck. At least someone cares.
Psycho fawned over Micah, hands roaming all over, searching for injuries he wouldn’t find. She whispered placating words in reply, trying to calm him down before he went on a rampage.
I raised a hand and waved my fingers at them. “Ah, hello? We do exist.”
Emerson groaned and punched me in the arm. “Answers. Now.” I rubbed the spot and furrowed a brow. Her strength was severely diminished, identified by the lack of force behind her hit. She’d used a lot more energy than I realised.
Tanner came out of his room at the commotion, stopping short as his eyes bounced between us.
Do we really look that bad?
I groaned with exaggeration as I lifted up into a sitting position, pain lancing through my entire nervous system at the small movement.
For the first time, I soaked in the scene before me. Fuck.
All three of us were completely blood-drenched. I’d lost a bit of colour, but not as much as Emerson, pallor so white, her skin almost appeared translucent. It was no wonder everyone was looking at us like we were all about to die.
Tanner raced to the fridge and grabbed some random concoction. He sat behind Emerson, dragging her upward until her head laid upon his thigh while he force fed the liquid down her throat, ignoring Fran, who growled low in his direction.
“Speak,” he barked, the command harsh and nonnegotiable.
All attention shifted to me—some expectant, others pissed off. I swallowed hard.
“Well, my tattoo isn’t ruined, so that’s a plus?—"
“—quit it with your smart mouth, Spencer. Now, spit it out,” Tanner reprimanded.
Since the losses of Chase and our father, we all willingly gave our trust and loyalty to one another without fault. It was an unspoken agreement, a natural progression. As we each knew the soul crushing defeat of failing a loved one, we’d do anything to prevent that loss ever having influence over us again. The crude reminder was immediate and raw when Micah went missing not so long ago.
Thus, I conceded and relayed the night’s events to my spectators, purposely omitting the perpetrator’s identity.
Micah sat beside me, shuffling into a comfortable position, lips curling in disgust. “You could have left out the sex part, Spence.”
“Well, you asked for all the details.”
“What’s up with her face now?” Psycho asked from his stool.
Emerson took another sip from Tanner’s drink, colour slowly returning to her face. “She’s had that dazed look since I found her bleeding out. Spouting some shit about falling in love.”
I flopped down in exaggeration and sighed. “I am in love. I’ve found my soulmate.” I was in no way ashamed of my claim.
“You mean the one you slept with, or the one who stabbed you?” Tanner snapped.
“They’re one in the same,” I hummed with approval, my eyes closing.
Psycho laughed. “Of course your deluded ass would fall for the guy who tried to kill you.” Everyone chuckled.
The fucker was getting way too comfortable. In the past couple weeks alone, he’d found his voice alright. Wouldn’t stop long enough to let me get a word in. The moron even thought he was funnier than me.
Before I could reply, Micah cut in. “So, you’re just going to let him get away with trying to kill you?”
Silence shortly followed. I peeped an eyelid open to find her, Emerson and Tanner having a full conversation with their eyes alone. A noiseless agreement took hold; if I refused to find and kill Echo, one of them would do it for me. Oh, no, that won’t do.
“Ah, ah,” I tsked. “None of that, dear family. He’s mine. I’m going to find him, own him, stab him, then fucking devour him till there’s nothing left.” I finished with an evil cackle, my toothy grin stretching wide with insanity.
All halted for a stagnant moment, then Tanner released a heavy sigh while my two sisters and I succumbed to delirious laughter. All three of us fell over each other in an exhausted, dishevelled heap, cackling hysterically like demented old witches.
“Stop making me laugh. I’ll start bleeding again,” I said between laboured breaths.
“Stop then, bitch. I haven’t got the energy to heal you again,” said Emerson. It seemed to sober us.
Psycho rubbed a hand down his face, and Ava watched on in amusement as Tanner shook his head with an unimpressed air. “That poor bastard. He doesn’t know what’s coming for him.”