26. What’s hidden in the shadows may never see light
What’s hidden in the shadows may never see light
KYRA
“Why aren’t you in our training room with everyone else?” Ethan inquires, stalking forward, a devilish scowl implying his mood. “I demanded yesterday that you be on time. Do you enjoy defying me?”
“First of all, your demands mean nothing to me. I suggest you come to terms with it. Secondly, if you open your damned eyes, you can see whose door we’re standing in front of.
Which means…I’m late for a reason.” I roll my eyes extra hard as his aura applies pressure, pressing against me and forcing my retreat.
Mine pushes back, yet it takes more energy than what he uses. How strong is this asshole?
Inside her office, Caspian’s shouts trickle into the hallway, and the entire building shakes to its core. Rattling walls and screams of students carry towards us but ceases in a blink. Do they have earthquakes here? Crouching, I cover my head.
“Get up, and let’s go,” Ethan announces. His shadow moves before a golden sigil swallows it, and I stand, meeting the grimace of his vile and genuine guise.
“I’m not going…anywhere with you.”
I steady my nerves when Rebecca’s office opens and out walks Caspian, more pissed than when he arrived. Anger creases his brows. Half her office is covered in ice, and the other, well she is missing her back wall. Did they fight? Was he not happy with someone finding out about their–
“Now, Kyra,” Ethan snarls, grabbing my arm and reminding me he is still here.
“Don’t fucking touch…” I gasp as he yanks my arm. My lungs hold a solid cloud of fear.
In a blink, colors of gold and fuchsia clash, dissolving his sigil. Caspian not only summons a scythe, but its razor-sharp blade is curved around Ethan’s neck, shimmering with small droplets of blood from nicking his skin.
“Remove. Your. Hand,” Caspian warns, not bothering to look his way, but keeping those two-toned eyes on me. I can’t blame Rebecca for dabbling in what he has to offer. If he looked at her with half the intensity he gives me…well shit.
I try breathing, yet panic trembles my limbs as stainless-steel mirrors Ethan’s smirk. Lethal. His own spear’s tip is pressed into Caspian’s chest. Both weapons pulsate with need. Hungry for each other’s demise.
“And if I don’t?” Ethan taunts, tilting his head further into the scythes blade.
“You’re interfering with House Death rules, Earth Leader.
Shall we make this interesting? An official ranking battle?
” he asks, pressing his spear further into Caspian’s chest, until crimson liquid dribbles down its golden tip.
But neither shows any sign of discomfort. As though this happens on a day to day basis.
“I’m dying to release some aggression. By all means, Death Leader.”
My head snaps to Ethan, mouth wide and eyes even larger. “Death Leader?” Shaken with this realization, I decide it makes sense, yet I’ve been blind to the reality. “And what the fuck, no. Stop!”
My voice is lost to stubborn ears. Neither of them heed or listen but rather stare one another down. Their auras match in strength, letting me know I’m leagues behind, and fear takes hold. One of them is going to kill the other.
“Hell yeah.” A crowd gathers out of fucking nowhere. Phones on full display record a moment one student calls, “Battle of the Leaders.” Enticing both parties’ murderous intent and putting me more on edge as I stand between two viscous fays. Neither relenting.
“You’re willing to die for…her?” Ethan asks. Venom shrouds the last word, darkening his expression.
“Are you? I’m sure your brother wouldn’t mind reducing his family’s bloodline.”
A primal laugh springs from my House Leader’s throat, raising the hairs along my arms and sending chills racing down my spine. How is this funny?
“Kyra’s a part of House Death. Mine. Of course I’ll die for her.
If such a fay can seduce the Fates for this destiny.
” And then it stops. His laughter along with my heart.
Mine? Die for me? “As far as my brother goes, let’s find out how true your words are.
” Both withdraw their blades, and Ethan declares, “Official ranking–”
“No!”
I act on impulse, summoning a sigil, and lunge to his side. Our bodies collide, and we are gone in an instant.
Trapped inside my magic as we transport, I see images flash of multiple outcomes for events yet to come to fruition of creation, regrowth, and affinity. It’s the opposite to what I see when transporting with his sigils, but both only happen when we’re together. Never alone.
Time is nonexistent as we travel to a destination unknown. Both of us observe depicted fates without meaning, and I can’t help but stall on one with me draped in garments. Figures stand behind me, blurred, with eight silhouettes aligned on either side.
I turn and face him. “What do they mean?” Finding his focus already on me, I’m lost in the hues of golden red drowning out the blacks of his pupils.
Silence returns, and within a passing thought, our feet hit solid ground outside an abandoned temple.
A place I’ve seen in one of the tomes Angie requested I read. Ares temple to be exact.
“Why did you bring me here?” he asks, and my guess is as good as his.
“I-I don’t know.”
“Fine. You’ve helped one fay escape death; we’re leaving.” He reaches for my arm, and I slap his hand with more strength than I intended on using, backing away.
“I’ve told you numerous times not to grab me. Yet, you feel inclined to ignore simple orders. Sound familiar?” Meeting his leer with my own, I refuse to back down. “I don’t like it, Ethan, the same way you hate me being late. What aren’t you understanding about this!”
After finding me curled up on the steps of a library, Rosie worked too damn hard for me to relapse into the person I once was. But Ethan has no problem bringing up those memories, shattering the glass box I’ve used tirelessly to compartmentalize.
“Yet, you abruptly struck my arm, touching me. How’s your logic comprehensible?
” The grass beneath his feet crushes as he shifts his posture and takes me in, sending spikes of his aura into my body.
“And you appear more in control of your magic and speed compared to yesterday, inching your name up my list.”
“I can give two shits about you and your list.”
Magic tickles across my fingers, nudging my aura to expand and bring forth every weapon in my arsenal, preparing to put Alex’s teachings into real practice. Dying for me, my ass.
He closes the short distance in a single step, holding me captive by the dangerous leer I’ve found myself unable to avoid. “You’re broken, insignificant, and a means to an end. Don’t push your luck, Kyra. Let’s go.”
My chest caves in around my heart, tightening and squeezing the breath from my lungs. The inflicted pain of his truth becomes an unbearable weight. “Fuck You!” I hiss on a broken voice. Winded and fighting against the pulse in my ears, I add, “You don’t know shit about me.”
But he is right, and I know it. I’m here because of Rosie. Because others around me die. Too weak to save a single life. Detective Jacob, the couple, my best friend, the woman inside her car, and even mine. Countless lives lost, and for what? Why am I always the one losing someone?
“Are you crying? Pathetic.” His voice is malice, icing my veins until they burn. “You want to kill me, don’t you?”
I tilt my chin down and watch a river of escaping tears water the grass. My nails dig into my palms whilst Ethan’s voice plays on repeat. Every word etches into my brain, staining it with a reminder of failing.
His breath smells of sweet cinnamon, counteracting the rancid vibrato of his voice. “Do you. Want to. Kill me?” My hands tremble. The pressure of his aura blankets mine as if it is nothing.
I’ve killed one person in my life and sworn never again, but I am promised to damnation because of it. So, why shy away from him? From this? He is the single cause of these flashbacks and a nightmare reincarnated. My hell.
Something deep within me sparks, and I watch the little girl of my past scream for a swift end.
Broken. Rage boils my blood, and I peer up.
The deepest tones of his eyes reflect his truth towards me.
Insignificant. Tears continue falling, but not for me.
For what I’m afraid will happen. A means to an end.
“Something like that,” I respond, letting the door to my emotions fly open, and he grins at my decree.
His features turn damn near demonic in his excitement.
Short dimples crown the lines of his smile, and my aura ignites, seeing how he relishes the thought of killing me here and now.
Fine, I’m done backing down. “Say the words, Ethan.” Backing away to create space, I prepare for a fight against my strongest demon.
He summons a golden spear, and in return, I create two ruby daggers with curved blades and black steel handles, one for each hand. They are warm and pulsing with energy.
“Do you not see where you brought us, Kyra? Here we don’t need the proper initiation. This is where Ares fought Mars for the official title of ‘God of War.’ Look around you. These flowers bloomed from the blood of Gods.” He stretches out his arms, urging my resolve. “And here’s where you’ll die.”
He rushes toward me, barely giving me time to react, and swings for my neck.
A killing blow. Shock reflects off the tip of his spear as I slide forward on my knees with an arched back.
The pins of my hair detach from his slicing and sudden movement as a sting graces my scalp.
My halo braid is now a waterfall of curls.
I skid to a complete stop, putting a few feet between us. Spinning to face him, I find a devil smiling back. This asshole. On a light breeze, strands of my hair flutter, and I snap my gaze to his as blood drips down my forehead, awakening a fierce flame of violence inside me.
I’m going to…fucking kill him.