Chapter 56
Zioh
No.
Impossible.
I had made myself clear, giving the order and repeating it to the security staff that this woman was forbidden.
To avoid this kind of nightmare, I’d given strict instructions: anyone wishing to come up to the penthouse, other than Tshabina, had prior permission. Even if they technically had access, like Zaeem or Zeraiah. It didn’t matter. Permission was required.
So then… how?
How the fuck is she here—
Of course.
This cursed witch could do whatever the hell she pleased. I wished, desperately, that this was a dream, because the sight of her hammered against the inside of my skull.
For a moment, I slipped a few steps back from myself. The world around me blurred and thinned, dissolving into something… unreal. Those glittering eyes staring back at me triggered a wave of nausea, splitting my head until I wished I could gouge out my own eyes so I wouldn’t have to see her.
My breath quickened. My knuckles blanched from the force of my clenched fists.
Cindy opened her mouth to speak, but before she could release a sound, I seized her throat in a crushing grip and slammed her backwards.
The moment I saw her, the world vanished.
Control dissolved, leaving only the raw, jagged edges of my instinct.
The darkness spread through me, clouding even my sight.
Her body smashed against the concrete wall with a sickening thud.
“You… you fucking—” A snarl ripped from my throat as my grip tightened.
Cindy was a parasite—one that knew precisely where to nest.
In my brain.
I remembered the way she’d hurt me, had hurt my brother, and even had hurt my woman.
She’d dared to lay her disgusting hands on her.
On my Tshabina.
And just like my father, I hoped she would vanish. She—
You once loved her.
I let out a rough snort, my eyes blazing with nothing but intimidation and loathing as I glared down at Cindy. She squirmed beneath me, but I couldn’t release her. Everything bled red. Dark. My lips pressed thin, curling downwards as I cut off her air with a brutal crush of my palm. Fuck.
Yet damn her, the tighter I squeezed, the wider her smile grew. She seemed to relish it, delighting in my fury and touch.
Indeed… we were all fucking crazy.
Her expression bloomed, her eyes alight as though she’d been gifted the very thing she’d long awaited.
I stared at her through the abyss boiling inside me. My surroundings urged me to apply more pressure, to crush the life out of her, to end it here and now.
“You have the audacity to touch her, huh?” I barked. “You dare to hurt her?!” Rage exploded in my throat as I pressed harder. Cindy’s laughter spilt into the air until it broke into choking coughs.
I’d never hurt a woman. I’d never laid hands on one. But that was the problem. I’d never seen her as a woman, no, I didn’t even see her as a human. She had always been a demon to me. Just like my dad.
My hand burned, numb with the strain of clenching, and my skull was heavy, as if control over my own limbs had been ripped away.
Shaking my head, I fought to breathe, to count, and gather what little of me remained. But again and again, my gaze was dragged back to the woman before me, and that inkiness was smothering me whole.
I tried to steal all the breath she had, forcing her into another coughing fit. With a sharp exhale, I released her throat, shoving her back as she spluttered.
She choked beneath me, gasping. “You’re trying to make a monster out of me, huh?” I rasped. “I avoid you not only because you’re a shameless parasite, a fucking festering disease,” I hissed, just the sight of her made my eyes sting, “but because I want to avoid things exactly like this, Cindy.”
For once, I prayed her ears would drag my words into whatever pitiful excuse for reason she had left, if she even had any.
My voice dropped to a lethal growl as I stared into her eyes. “Because one day, I’ll truly fucking kill you.”
What a loathsome woman.
“Yes, you hold my card and my brother’s, Cindy,” I pressed, my voice low as I locked my eyes with that devil, shimmering with poisoned delight.
“But remember this—” I leaned closer. “I hold your bloody card, too. Even worse.” It took everything in me not to ruin those disgusting eyes staring at me.
“And if I play it… It won’t only be you who burns. But your whole despicable family, too.”
I shut my eyes, shaking my head, forcing myself to cling to control. When I opened them again, her stare met mine unflinching, her breath quickening.
Good. I’d make it worse for you.
“Remember this: I’ll send you back to hell once my brother’s done with everything he has to resolve. You fucking leech.”
This time, it wasn’t only my glare that sharpened—hers did too as she looked up at me. She trembled.
Her greatest fear lay bare before me. She might be holding my heart, but I had hers, and I didn’t intend to hold it. I planned to crush it until it shattered on its own.
I’d make her live in hell as she made mine.
Her smile slipped, replaced with a scowl. Her glittering eyes shifted to fury, but it only lasted seconds. She pouted beneath me, and that made my stomach turn. “Don’t be like that, babe.” Her eyes gleamed, and I could’ve vomited. “You don’t want to make me angry, do you?”
“You’re the one who doesn’t want to make me angry, Cindy. I fucking swear—”
Cindy laughed. “Oh, baby, you’ve already been angry with me and hate me forever!” Her eyes widened with a smug look painted across her face. “But see?” She demanded, her lips curling into a smirk so wide it looked like a jagged wound across her face. “Even so, you still can’t get rid of me, Zioh.”
You little piece of shit.
My heartbeat thundered until it ached. My body burned with emotion spilling inside me. I fixed her with a sharp, frigid stare, my whole frame trembling under such tension. “From now on, count until it happens.”
Cindy’s lips jutted further in a sulk, though the gleam never left her eyes. She moved, adjusting her long black hair, and I shook my head right away, staggering back a few steps.
Calm down—push it fucking down!
When I looked again, Cindy lifted a brown folder she’d been holding tight. Her smile spread wide. “Sure about that, babe?”
My breathing stumbled, harsher, faster.
I shook my head again and again. No, no, no.
I swallowed the massive lump clogging my throat.
One, two, three, four—I pulled in air with all I had. One, two, three, four—fuck. The only sound I could hear besides theirs was my own uneven breathing. Please stop. Stop tormenting me. “Fucking leave me alone!”
One, two, three— “Hhh”—four, “Hhh.”
My head—it was about to explode.
Count—
There was nothing I could see—I forced my eyes away, making myself look around—floor, lights, lift, Cindy—folder—
Please help me.
Defective. Crazy. Accepted it, Zioh.
My stomach twisted into a tight knot.
You were too shattered, too ruined ever to be fixed.
I growled through clenched teeth, shaking my head. “Cindy—”
Cindy suddenly lunged at me, her nails clawing at my shirt. Her stare was sharp as she yanked me closer. “You’re supposed to be with me, Zioh!”
I shook my head, please—just shut up!
“Do you get it?!” she screamed. “I love you!” I shoved her off me, pushing her away with all the force I had.
Stumbling backwards, my chest heaving. You broke your promise—wake up, you mad coward. “I can’t do this anymore,” I gasped, and a blur crept into my vision as I stared at her. “Leave. Now.”
Cindy didn’t move, didn’t even flinch. My throat ripped raw as I screamed at her, as though trying to empty my lungs of all air. “Piss off, Cindy!!!”
Still, she stood there. Her eyes were boring into me. I snapped, lunging again, grabbing her arm harshly, and ready to drag her straight to the lift. But my stride broke when Cindy shook off my grip, and quick as a snake, ripped open the folder clutched in her hand.
No. No, no, please—
She pulled several papers free, thrusting them towards me.
And I froze.
My heartbeat surged so hard it strangled my chest, stealing the air from my lungs. My eyes widened. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Sweat poured down my skin as my mouth opened.
All because of you.
Mum…
The frantic feeling clawing at me turned my hands and feet to ice. The cold crept up my body, sending shivers through me, and the void seeped in—not just around me, but into me.
My hand grasped the wall for support. With little strength left, I growled at Cindy, who was still smirking. Those damn papers raised high above her head. “Cindy,” I shook my head, pleading. “Don’t.”
Too loud…
She closed the distance with a lingering stride. “You remember now, don’t you, baby?” My head pulsed with every beat of the sound.
Yes, I remembered. Blood. So much blood. My mum was lying there, eyes open and red.
I shook my head, noise crashing in from every direction.
My dad, who had betrayed her, was holding a woman with long black hair, not my mum’s blonde hair, caressing a woman with olive skin, not my mum’s pale white skin.
I couldn’t breathe.
Drop by drop, sweat slid down my face. I dug my nails into my palms, again and again, trying to summon pain because... it was as if I watched myself from a distance, standing there and listening, as she spoke again. “I never meant to hurt you like this, Zi.” Her tone was sing-song, “You forced me!”
“Cindy—”
She crept nearer, raising the photos of my mum, soaked in blood, shattered, high before my eyes. “Look closely, Zi. You remember the beginning of your ruin.” Please stop. “Hhh—” stop. “Hhh—” I couldn’t breathe.
My body jerked, trembling beyond my control.
I shook my head harder, pounding it with my fists. I was about to hurl myself at Cindy, who drew closer with those papers—
Then the lift chimed.
Both our heads snapped towards it.
This scent…
The scent spilling out from the lift sent me spiralling, sending my heart skittering to a stop. No. No, no, no.
I recognised this scent and knew it better than anything, but I prayed it wouldn’t be her.