Chapter 22
Vesper
Dressed in black, the fabric of my suit stark against my tan skin, I stand just at the edge of the graveyard.
Duske and Milo are similarly attired, all of us looking like we stepped out of a funeral catalog.
Which, I suppose, we did in a way. Her casket is being lowered into the ground, Duske and Milo inches from the coated wood while I hang back, ensuring that Esme doesn’t get any wild ideas.
Esme wanted to come over, wanted to see her own funeral, but we convinced her to stay in the car. Someone might see her, might recognize her despite the precautions we've taken. The last thing we need is more complications when we're so close to being free of this entire mess.
I twist my head to look at the car, her form pressed against the dark windows as she watches her own funeral.
I’m not sure many people can say they’ve done that.
However, this particular spot gave me enough time to research a few things about Liora’s deal with a demon while not completely looking like I’m ignoring the goodbye to my lover.
The deal took some digging, some favors called in, but I managed to work out something to trade.
Some of my chaos aura in exchange for one soul.
In the long run, it'll make me weaker—chaos demons draw power from their aura, and giving up a portion of it means giving up a portion of my strength.
But this means we can make sure Liora suffers the way she deserves.
The easiest thing would be to kill her outright.
Quick, efficient, permanent. But that wouldn't let her suffer, wouldn't give her time to understand the magnitude of what she's done.
No, we need to find out the truth first, need to hear her admit it in her own words.
Which is why Milo made sure to invite her to the house after the funeral.
One last goodbye, we told her. No doubt she thinks it's more than that, thinks we're going to apologize for accusing her, maybe even beg her to take us back.
She has no idea what's coming.
The funeral itself is short. The priest says the expected words about loss and grief, about Esme being taken too soon.
Liora stands at the front, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, playing the grieving sister for the small crowd that's gathered.
A few of Esme's coworkers from the preschool are here, some neighbors, people who knew her in passing but never really knew her at all.
It's strange, knowing Esme isn't in that wooden box.
Her body is, but she's not. She's outside in the car, probably annoyed at having to wait, probably fidgeting with impatience. Feeling through our growing bond, I swallow back a laugh at her obvious irritation. I try to stay focused on the priest’s words but the moment Liora starts speaking, I turn on my heel and head for the car.
I open the door to find Esme’s eyes slightly red, tears tracking down her cheeks.
Not wanting to draw attention to us, I slide into the back with her and close the door before leaning over to kiss her softly, tasting the salt on her lips.
"After today, we get to start our forever. Granted, we might be gone at times to…"
Esme cuts me off. "To guide people into the afterlife? I know who I mated, babe. I might not understand all of it, but if I were so scared of Death, I wouldn't have said yes."
A grin spreads across my face. "You just liked our cocks too much to say no."
Laughter fills the car, breaking the heavy tension. Duske and Milo return a moment later, sliding into the front. Duske meets our gaze through the rearview mirror. "It was a very sweet ceremony considering how much Liora hates you."
Esme blows out a heavy sigh. "Let's just get this meeting over with. I want to go home."
Duske raises an eyebrow. "Where would that be?"
Esme grins. "Vesper mentioned you have a house on the water."
Duske throws me the finger, annoyance flashing across his face. More laughter erupts as he starts the car and pulls out of the cemetery parking lot. The drive back to Esme's house is quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts about what's about to happen.
The cute little car in the driveway as we pull up tells me that Liora sped out of that funeral as soon as she could.
Most likely leaving everyone else thoroughly confused.
We find her standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips.
Her nose is still bruised from where Esme hit her, and there's barely concealed rage in her eyes. "I knew she was fucking alive."
Esme's voice is much calmer than mine would be if my sister had killed me. "Let's sit down and have a conversation."
Liora immediately cuts her off. "Fuck that. You stole my mates and then have the audacity to—"
Esme bursts out laughing, holding her chest as she glares at her sister. "Liora, let's be real. They were never yours. They were my friends first, and now, they're my mates. Forever."
She points to a small tattoo on her shoulder—a pumpkin and scythe intertwined in an intricate design.
It's comical but the physical bond that appears on our mates is a combination of their love and ours. As playful as it looks, it’s perfect and the love in her eyes when she looks at it is undeniable.
Liora's face contorts with rage. "That means nothing!"
Esme shrugs, unbothered by her sister's outburst. "What I really want to know is how you killed me and why. You've said it a bunch of times, but I want to hear why you did it to my face."
Liora's expression shifts to something ugly and vindictive. "Because you don't deserve shit. You're a defective Omega, and I know you died. I made sure of it. I made a deal, and he told me that it would happen."
Esme leans back against Milo, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, that deal was fake or whatever it was.
Did you really just think you could go off and find a demon?
The owner of the deal has given up his rights for power elsewhere.
" A wild grin splits across her face and I know she’s seconds from telling her sister who we really are.
Liora's confidence falters. "What do you mean?"
“Did you really believe that my men are exorcists? Liora, they're not even human."
Liora steps back, terror creeping into her expression. Her eyes dart between us, finally seeing us for what we really are. Duske grins, the look on his face resembling a predator about to catch his prey. "You can't force people to be together or even like each other."
Liora's voice rises in pitch. "Wait! She's still alive! Why does any of this matter?"
Esme takes a step forward, jabbing her finger into her sister’s chest. "Because I'm not alive. I'm more in a transition state. I can never resume my life here because you were too selfish."
I step forward as well, shadows beginning to dance at my fingertips. "And that's why I decided to have a little fun with your soul. After all, you gave it up so easily. And the demon you gave it to gave it up with just a little bit of a trade."
Liora backs up until she hits the wall. "That deal should be null and void!"
My grin widens. "Unfortunately, it's not."
I twist my hand, manipulating the chaos energy that now includes a piece of her soul.
We all watch as Liora clutches her chest, her eyes going wide with sudden, overwhelming terror.
The fear I'm pouring into her is primal, the kind that makes her lizard brain scream danger in every possible way.
Everything will terrify her. Everything.
Esme leans forward. "What are you doing to her?"
"I'm letting her feel the terror you felt."
Liora screams, pure terror in her eyes, the kind that comes from facing something incomprehensible and knowing there's no escape. The mere idea of darkness will render her unable to think of anything else. It’ll take time to fully consume her but once it does, she won’t be able to do anything else than curl into herself.
Esme hums as she studies her sister. "I really thought you poisoned me. That was the only explanation for falling down the stairs like I did."
Liora's words come out in gasps between screams. "He gave me the donut to give to you! I don't know anything more! It was supposed to have worked, you bitch!"
"Well, killing me made me the perfect Omega for my men, so you didn't do shit, Liora. I hope you enjoy the rest of your terror-fueled life."
Liora stumbles toward the door, still clutching her chest, and pulls out her phone with shaking hands.
She dials 911, and when the operator answers, she screams into the earpiece, each word more incoherent than the last. I don’t even have to tell Esme to move to a safer spot, out of the way so that we don’t confuse the general public.
Within minutes, police sirens wail in the distance.
When the officers arrive, Liora all but admits to them that she killed Esme.
The words tumble out in her panic, confessions mixed with terror-induced rambling.
The officers exchange glances, clearly unsure what to make of the situation but unable to ignore an admission of guilt.
One of them meets my eyes, mouthing ‘did she just admit to murder?’
"Ma'am, you're going to have to come with us,” another one of them mentions.
I hold back a laugh as they lead her away, the bitch still screaming with every step. I usually enjoy these moments but for some reason, that felt strange. Maybe I’ll be happier when it’s truly over and her last heartbeat passes.
Once they're gone, Esme turns to me. "How long does that last, that terror?"
I grin. "Forever, until her heart gives out. She'll probably be sent to a psych ward, but it'll be worth it."
Milo comes up behind her again, bouncing on his toes. "I'll make sure to check on her, give her a few things to be scared of to hasten the process."
Esme's expression shifts to something contemplative. "It doesn't feel like enough."
Duske moves in closer, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and kissing the top of her head. "She's promised to Lucifer when she gets down there. He needs a new plaything."
Esme's eyes widen. "So she gets to have sex with the devil?"
Duske chuckles and then swallows the sound. "Dove, no. Lucifer tortures his playthings. He uses them as examples. She's going to suffer every goddamn day for the rest of eternity."
Esme grins, the expression genuine and satisfied. "Oh, that's perfect then."
More laughter echoes through the house that used to be hers, the place where she died, now the place where her sister's fate was sealed.