Chapter Thirty-Seven Damien
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Damien
No one knows what happens to the children of the Fates. They’ve hidden them well, but all the magic flowing in the Fates’ blood leads this scholar to believe that some of it must flow into the veins of their offspring. These children can be dangerous indeed.
—Pages found in the banned book Questioning Fate by Alexandra Collette, Andalay historian, location unknown
Everett hovered in the doorway, his bulky physique like a wall of bricks.
I drowned in a murderous wave, my need to destroy him a tangible thing. We were so close to escape, and this brother of mine had his eyes set on Wren. My Wren.
Losing her, having her learn the truth and look at me with those eyes, was like a slap in the face. Yet I’d take a thousand slaps if it meant there was a chance she’d forgive me.
“Wren,” I warned, trying to shield her with my body from both enemies approaching from each side.
“Stay behind me.” She scoffed, her fire not put out, regardless of the havoc her sister’s influence had wrought.
Before she argued, I said, “She can’t use her power if I’m shielding you.
You saw what happened when she tried it on me. ”
Which had been interesting. Never before had someone attempted to use their power on me, and Callie had failed miserably. I’d search for an explanation once we weren’t surrounded by traitors.
But I assumed it had something to do with my changing body. With my eyesight. With the hallucinations. It was all connected.
“Oh.” The word slipped out of her, and Wren quickly maneuvered to a better position, her hands pressing flat on my back.
We were still trapped, Callie not yet defeated.
Because though my body could protect Wren from her sister, Everett stood right behind us, a menacing presence ready to strike and wholly under Callie’s control.
He wore the same unfocused look he had when he killed his father.
“Callie, let us go,” Wren pleaded. “I’m your sister, for Fates’ sake!”
I stumbled into Wren as Callie shot another blast of magic. It simply tingled, like an itch, but once more, she couldn’t command me.
“I’m helping you, Wren,” Callie insisted. “That thief is the one who stole your gift in the first place, and you’re standing behind him?” Shock filled her voice. “If anything, I got it back for you! I’m merely borrowing it.”
“To kill people,” Wren retorted, dangerously close to exposing herself. I carefully nudged her behind me as Everett sauntered deeper into the room, his usually pristine facade ruined.
“You’re so fucking gullible, Wren,” Callie bit out, her cool vanishing. She waved her hands at Everett. “Take him and dispose of him already.”
I’d been in fights before, but not one with a man in magic’s grasp. It didn’t help that he was broader and had a good twenty pounds on me.
“Wren,” I warned, “run as soon as he attacks.”
“I’m not a complete idiot, Damien,” she said through her teeth. “Though maybe I am. I trusted you, after all.” The words were biting, but her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
The growing void in my chest widened. I deserved it. All of her anger. But I’d be damned if I didn’t take the chance to make it up to her.
“I’m so sorry, and I’ll explain everything once we—”
Everett lunged, cutting me off. The brute barreled into me, knocking Wren to the floor. I winced as a crack sounded, a small yelp following.
I’m going to kill him.
Distantly, I saw Callie approach her sister, the humming of her magic aimed at Wren, who lay dazed on the floor.
Pain exploded across my jaw as Everett managed a hit. “Funny how things turn out, brother,” he sneered. “I’ll get magic and your girl.” Black spots filled my already distorted vision, and I swayed to the right, avoiding another hit by inches.
“She’ll never be with you,” I spat, outraged at the very idea. “You’re a killer.”
“No, I’m a businessman,” Everett corrected.
“If I need to kill someone to make a deal, then it has to be done. Besides, she liked me well enough before, and once this is all over, she will again. You’re just the bastard born of my father’s lust.” Everett scoffed.
“As if the Fate actually gave a damn about him.”
What the hell did that mean?
A Fate? Was my mother a fucking Fate?
He lifted his fist, ready to bring it down, when Callie interrupted. “Stop. I want him conscious. I think he should see this part.”
The swirl of white in Everett’s eyes flashed, and instead of another fist, he grabbed me by the jacket.
I went flying forward, only to be yanked back as cold steel pressed against my jugular.
“Stay still, thief,” Everett said, his tone one of outrage.
Anger. Callie had been stoking the flames of his rage all this time.
He’d turned into a puppet, no soul in him to make his own decisions.
Wren wasn’t moving from where she’d fallen, but she eyed her sister warily. I struggled fruitlessly against the beast holding me, but it was no better than trying to escape an iron cage.
“Give me the locket, little bird,” Callie coaxed, fingers stroking her earrings. Her other hand grasped something in her pocket, and I wondered if it was another stolen gift. “Wren,” Callie pressed harshly, and to my horror, Wren reached around her neck to unclasp the locket.
I screamed Wren’s name, but it was no use—she handed it over without a word.
“Good.” Callie sighed, briefly squeezing her eyes. “I hate to do this next part, but you won’t even remember it, will you?”
I grunted as I elbowed Everett, but whatever adrenaline swam through him acted like a barrier against pain. There was no possible way this man could be my flesh and blood.
Unless Callie is lying…
But why would she lie about that? Everett Sinclair and I had different features, but that meant nothing, especially if a Fate was involved.
“Wren! Don’t give in!” I shouted as Callie opened the locket.
My photo lay inside, but Callie plucked it out and tossed it aside like rubbish.
With her eyes shut and the locket in hand, Callie murmured quietly as the room sparked like a storm swirled inside.
I sensed the power igniting in the air, a peculiar breeze ruffling the hem of her dress.
Wren screeched, falling onto her back.
The sound of Wren’s pain was worse than a dagger to my chest, worse than anything I’d known. And I couldn’t move an inch with Everett’s influenced arms wrapped around me like a manacle.
On the carpet, Wren’s eyes snapped open, and I sucked in a sharp breath. They were white as snow. Her body shook as Callie finished whispering into the locket, as the rush of magic and pain turned the slight breeze into a gust that whipped at every available surface.
My chest constricted when she shut the locket. That click echoed like the closing of a coffin, and when Wren’s eyes rolled back into her head, she just sat there. Blank. Unfeeling.
Callie’s demeanor changed like a flip had been switched. Rushing to her sister’s side, she eased her up. “Are you all right?” she cooed, helping Wren to her elbows. “You hit your head when you fell.”
No. When you pushed her out of my arms.
Wren blinked several times, her face relaxing when she recognized Callie. But then it sobered as she took in the rest of the room. “What…why am I here?” She cocked her head when her gaze landed on me. “Who’s that?”
Me. She meant me.
“Oh, sister, you must’ve really hurt yourself when you fell.
” Callie wrapped Wren in her arms. “That boy,” she spat, glowering at me, “was the one who shoved you. He tried to rob you and Everett, but thank the Fates, Everett bested him.” She gave the bastard holding me a sickeningly sympathetic look.
“I ran here as soon as he called for me. I wanted to check on you myself and see this cretin thrown in jail.”
I snarled, teeth bared as I landed a hit to Everett’s shin. He merely grunted.
Frown lines wrinkled Wren’s forehead as she turned, confusion sweeping across her beautiful face as she took me in like a stranger. Which, it appeared I was.
“Wait, Wren,” I pleaded, just before Everett struck me where he’d wounded me days ago. I almost dropped to my knees from the sheer agony. “You know me!” I cried, stabbing pain shooting down my torso.
Her stare remained devoid of recognition. Of anything.
“I don’t…I don’t know you,” she said, seeking her sister for help. “He hurt me? Why are we at this place? In this room?” she asked.
I wanted to pull out my own hair. I’d rather hurt myself than see any harm done to her. I’d throw myself on the flames before they touched her skin. I’d do anything.
Anything.
And it meant nothing.
“You insisted on coming with Everett when he inspected this property for a business proposition. This thief just so happened to trail you two,” Callie lied, grabbing Wren’s hand. Wren swayed on her elbows, her eyelashes fluttering like she’d pass out at any moment.
“Can we leave?” Wren asked, eyeing me, looking upon my face with fear. “I—I don’t want to be here. I don’t know—”
I screamed her name as Callie held her and motioned for Everett to take me out of the room. Callie mouthed two words over her sister’s head. Two words that would cement my fate. Wren’s fate. Kill him.
He grunted as he dragged me out, but I dug my heels into the carpet, clawing at his arms. “Wren, you know me. Deep down, you know me, sunshine. Please.”
Her body went rigid at the nickname, and for just a second I had hope, but…But she just held on to Callie for dear life, still swaying a little from when she’d fallen.
Fuck, I’d kill Everett and Callie both. They hurt her. They’d forced her memories away. Stolen them. Stolen us.
Why had I gone to Everett’s estate? Why couldn’t I have just stayed with Wren, wrapped in her sheets and sunshine? I’d been too afraid to lose her, thinking she could never be mine, that my actions drove her straight here.
You should have told her then, my mind argued, about the locket, about my original intentions. But should haves were always thought of after the storm struck. After the devastation.
I held on to the sight of her as long as I could, my eyes not leaving her until Everett yanked me into the corridor. Maybe it was a fire originating from the agony exploding where my heart should lie, or maybe it was destiny finally working on my side, but I grasped Everett’s arm. Hard.
Smoke clogged my nostrils. Darkness swept over my eyes.
Flashes of mourners surrounding Everett greeted me, a casket being lowered into the earth. I hissed through my teeth as I dug my fingers deeper into Everett’s arm, more smoke filling the air.
This hallucination felt stronger, like I stood right before the casket, my feet rooted to the soil. I existed in two places at once, but it didn’t frighten me like it should. A sense of elation and peace moved through my veins. Like I’d finally come home.
Everett howled in pain and his hold fell. As his bare skin slipped from mine, the world came back into focus. I sucked in a lungful of air as I staggered backward, away from Everett and the possibility of his demise. He was staggering, trying to stand.
My heart dropped in my chest when I realized what I had to do.
I had to run.
I was no match against them both, and they wouldn’t hurt Wren. They’d manipulate and placate her, but never harm her. Callie was her sister, and Everett—he wanted her with his ring on her finger. But not the real her, just the version of her he’d concocted in his mind.
My feet were glued to the floor, sweat dripping down my back. I had seconds to decide, and with Everett regaining focus, I finally accepted how this would end should I attack in my weakened state.
My death wouldn’t save Wren.
“I’m coming back for you!” I shouted, hoping Wren heard me, even though I realized I was just a stranger who likely frightened her. Still, I had to maintain some faith or I’d lose what little shred of sanity I possessed.
I’d come back when I was stronger. I’d make certain to get her free of her sister’s clutches. And then…then I’d make her remember it all. Remember me.
My eyes burned as I took off down the stairs and bolted out the doors of the Black Dahlia and onto the streets. They burned with tears that I refused to let fall—because this wasn’t the end.
I’d thought I understood what the Fates had in store for me. A life on the street. A chance to escape and maybe leave for the west. I’d believed that was my destiny.
The truth ran much darker.
I felt it now, that otherworldly darkness. It slithered in my veins, as icy as when I’d dug my fingers into Everett and glimpsed a scene of death.
Magic. The kind that shouldn’t be possible.
I was the brother of Everett Sinclair…but my mother—Everett had alluded to what she could be, and the time had arrived to finally hunt her down. She owed me a lifetime of answers, and I wouldn’t leave this city until I burned its monsters to ash. Even if one of those monsters carried my blood.
I’d find out the truth and make Wren remember. I wouldn’t stop until she held each stolen midnight we’d spent together in the palms of her hands.