Chapter 18 #3
I just need to keep dodging his hits. He’s much larger than me and will tire quicker; it will also give my body some time to heal my ribs before the next blow.
He plays right into my hands. His strikes becoming less strategic as he continues to miss.
His eyes become torrents of violence scowling at me, trying to figure out why I’m not attacking.
I can finally take a full breath in, thanking my body for its quick healing. It still hurts like Emberhell, but then again, all my muscles are screaming from lack of oxygen, burning more than I can breathe in with my shallow breaths.
The change in his arm positioning signals he’s going to go for a double jab.
He lunges. I attempt to block with my forearms and then my leg.
But I walk right into his trap; he changes his movement after the first hit, grabbing the loose strands of hair falling down my neck.
He uses my hair as leash to spin me against his body.
His heavy arm wraps around my neck, squeezing the air from my throat.
“I like my females unconscious.” His hot breath crawls along my ear like the hairy spider he reminds me of.
The little demon inside screams to be released once more; as my eyes darken, she takes over.
I kick back and upwards, landing a blow between the legs.
His knees bend in natural response. His grip around my neck loosens.
I grip my weight on his arm, using it to hoist my feet up on his slightly angled thighs like a ramp before flipping over his back.
I land on my feet, losing control in a frenzy as I land strike after strike in the ribs.
I bathe in the sound of his crunching bones after the third hit, but I don’t stop; the darkness inside me wants more.
It wants to see him pay for what his words mean.
It wants to make him pay for every female he has ever touched without their consent.
I’m lost to the darkness, now straddling his back as I continue my frenzy, unfazed as he lies face down on the floor, coughing up blood.
Then Kissa and Cinder are dragging me off him, the red bleeding from my vision. Their voices piercing through, unified and frantic. “He yielded! He yielded!”
My breathing is ragged as I whip myself from their grasp, reeling in control from the darkness I’ve let win.
This is exactly why I hate feeling my emotions.
They are reckless. Uncontrollable. Utter chaos.
There is too much darkness inside me from years of torture by those who were assigned to take care of me, nurture me.
Eko’s smug grin cleaves open his split lip, blossoming crimson as Kivi works to heal it. At least someone is having a good time watching me unravel at the seams. Chet and Draven help Lorgan to his feet. The amusement in Chet’s eyes tells me this is far from over.
I spit blood in his direction as his glare bristles the darkness inside me.
Sending his friends to fight a battle he knows he can’t win is repulsive.
I want to rip his throat out with my bare hands, but I know that will only make things more difficult for me here.
His mother finding a fate much worse than expulsion for me.
Cinder shakes me, waking me from my haze. “Let it fucking go. He’s not worth it. You have more than proven your skill today. I honestly don’t want to know how you’re still raring to go.”
I look into his amber eyes with a crimson smile, wiping the blood dripping from my lip. I reply, “Aw, c’mon, Cinder. I’m just getting started.”
“Well, now I know why you and Winx are into each other. You’re both fucking mad,” he says as he shoves a metal canteen of water into my hand.
“Now, drink, you feral fucking wildcat,” he commands as he strides off, mumbling to himself as he takes his usual place leaning against the wall.
His mask of unamused boredom firmly back in place.
“I understand where that feral darkness comes from inside you. You need to learn how to tame it, rather than let it rule you when it comes out to play,” Kissa mutters next to me.
I shrug. That’s a clever plan, except for the part where I have to release it to learn how to tame it.
Cool water slides down my throat like the first snowfall of winter as it tempers my scorching body.
I peer across the room to see Winx’s violet eyes pinning me down.
A wicked smile curls on her face as her eyes deepen.
She’s clearly aroused by the sight of me tearing through all these males.
Or perhaps it’s the thought that I might be just as twisted in the head as she is.
I can’t deny that the dark part inside me finds her wildness alluring.
I never quite know what to expect from her, but I know she’s an untamed wildfire who will set the world ablaze just to watch it burn.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve hesitated having a conversation about boundaries.
She’s sexy and terrifying. I’m not sure I’d survive the blaze of breaking her wildfire heart.
The moment’s interrupted as I see S?las making his way off the mat, having easily taken down a bulking Mao male with pink fur, just as tall as him but twice as muscular.
The way the sweat glistens off his rippling muscles makes me glad for the cold water I’m drinking.
Kivi tries to step into my line of sight to heal me, but I shrug her off.
Simmering rage burns in my veins, thirsting for more carnage.
I step into S?las’ path, remembering I have a plan that still needs finishing. I let the numbness flood my veins once more.