56. Aeris
Aeris
Selene barely acknowledged me, her gaze on the setting sun in the distance as she leaned against the railings. The sea violently clashed against the cliffs below.
“Why Renley?” I asked, knowing not to step out on the deck, to do this quickly so I could face my monster and put the past in the past.
“I see you can still walk,” she said smoothly, turning to face me. “Good. I’d hate for you to be out of commission too long.”
My fists clenched at my sides, but I forced the anger down before it could unravel me.
Selene cocked her head, closing the distance between us as lightning flashed in the distance.
“I wanted your fear to be real,” she said, her long nails reaching to caress my cheek with mocking gentleness. “Threats alone clearly weren’t enough, as you were still keeping secrets from me. Hunting people down one by one. Killing quietly while searching for your sister.”
She leaned closer.
“Oh, child,” she whispered. “I know everything.”
My stomach twisted, but I remained standing tall. “So you chose him—”
“Because why not choose the man who already violated you?” she cut in coldly, all softness vanishing from her voice. “The one you still look at with such exquisite hatred and fear after all these years.”
“I don’t fear him.”
“Of course you do.” Selene’s smile was cold. “You wouldn’t have played so perfectly into my hands, otherwise.”
Another flash of lightning split the sky, closely followed by a deep rumble of thunder.
“Renley’s been following you for years,” she continued casually. “Tracking every body you left behind. Every rapist and thug you’ve poisoned.”
I steeled my spine.
“I knew dangling your sisters’ lives over your head wouldn’t control you forever,” she said. “So I needed something stronger. Something fresher. Newer punishments that would keep you in line.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew.” She laughed softly. “You really believed I’d ever give you that much freedom?” Her gaze swept over me with open disappointment. “Stupid child.”
“So you know how I’ve been slowly taking out your allies?” I said calmly. “How I’ve been weakening the hierarchy by killing strategically. Subtly.”
Her eyes snapped to mine, nails digging into my skin.
“How most of the people you think you’ve infiltrated have already suffered extensive damage, more so because I put my moles inside. People loyal to me.”
“Enough of this, otherwise I’ll have Renley—”
“Renley’s gone.” I caught her wrist, yanking her hand away from my face. “And right now, everything you own is going up in smoke. It’s over, Selene. I’m done.”
Her brows pulled together for a fraction of a second before her upper lip curled into a cruel, satisfied smile. “You really believe that?”
She gestured with her chin towards the railing, silently urging me closer. But I didn’t take the step forward. Didn’t take the bait.
“That’s enough,” I said, my voice sharper now. “All these years you used me. Hurt me. Held my sisters’ lives over me like a choke collar.”
Something hard dug into my back, forcing me to stumble a step.
“Finished?” she asked, strolling towards the edge with infuriating composure. She glanced down over the side as if admiring the view. “It’s a gift, child. You really should come appreciate it.”
The gun at my back kept pushing, forcing me forward so I could follow her gaze. I did and froze, because far below was a dark, broken shape crushed against the jagged rocks.
Tristan.
My father.
He was a mangled heap, his suit shredded, eyes pale in death.
His mouth hung open in a silent scream, revealing the gruesome absence of his tongue.
But for some reason, I felt nothing. Tristan was a man who’d failed me so completely that even his death left no mark. Or maybe I was just beyond saving.
“Cute, really,” Selene whispered as she circled me like a shark.
“Your father actually came to me offering his life for yours.” She let out a soft, mocking chuckle.
“I’d say he loved you … but he was the one who knew you’d become my favourite little whore and did nothing to stop it.
Although, he did try once before. But not for you. ”
My eyes burned when I turned to face her fucking smirk.
“He came to negotiate for Mira’s freedom.” She reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, the gesture almost tender. “I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to have the great Tristan Murdock come to me. Do you know what I did?”
At my silence, her fingers reached down to grip my chin, nails digging in.
Her voice, when it came, was so soft it was barely heard above the wind, the sea and the incoming storm. “I had her killed.”
My breath rushed out of me in a sharp, painful gasp. My hands trembling as Selene continued to hold me, her thumb stroking over my chin with twisted affection.
“And do you know what?” she continued, venom curling through every word. “She begged for her life. Just like the pathetic little doll she was. She died knowing her father didn’t try hard enough and her sister had left her behind.”
“You’re going to run,” Mira mouthed, the tears in her eyes making them seem bigger.
The man holding me had his hand shoved beneath my skirt, rough fingers digging into my thigh as I sobbed and twisted, trying desperately to make him stop. “Mira …”
“Look at me,” she continued, our gazes locked. “You’re going to run, and you’re not going to look back.”
I glanced up at the man whose lap I was trapped on, his smirk making my stomach lurch with terror. Even now, bile burned up my throat, threatening to spill. But if I vomited, he might hit me again.
“Will you come?” I mouthed back, my cries making it hard to breathe.
She nodded, but it was jerky, forced. I didn’t trust it.
“Promise,” I whispered, the hand on my inner thigh gripping hard enough to bruise.
Her lips trembled, her tears finally spilling over. “Promise.”
I nodded, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicked bursts.
“I love you, kid,” she mouthed, her tears coming freely now.
Then she moved with a sudden, violent surge, kicking out so hard her foot slammed into the man’s shin. He screeched a curse, shoving me off his lap onto the seat beside him.
“You little bitch,” he sneered, lunging towards Mira.
She kicked out again, this time hitting his face hard enough that blood spurted from his nose.
My screams added to hers, shouts and sounds that made me want to hold my hands over my ears.
She kicked and kicked and kicked, the man unable to restrain her as she threw herself against the cage that separated us from the driver.
I felt the car pull over, my heart racing as I tried to see through my tears. Mira was still screaming, so when the door opened suddenly, I barely heard her words.
“Aeris!” Mira cried. “Now!”
I shoved past the man who was leaning inside to try and restrain her.
I ran, and just like she asked, I didn’t look back.
Selene took a step back, releasing me just as the first drops of rain began to fall.
Everything felt distant, muffled beneath the roar of blood in my ears as her words repeated over and over inside my skull, echoing against Mira’s memory.
I had known. Somewhere deep down, in the part of me that had spent years chasing ghosts, I had known Mira was never coming home. But knowing wasn’t the same as hearing it aloud, because now I knew everything I’d done—every death, every sacrifice— had been for someone that was already gone.
The ache in my chest spread slowly, violently, until it felt impossible to breathe around it. But then there was this rage, burning so hot, so bright, it eclipsed everything else.
I may have lost my soul, but I refused to let it define my story.
“Just like Vivienne begged,” I said quietly, my voice steady despite this pain radiating inside me. “When I forced my poison down her throat.”
Selene’s posture stiffened and, for the first time, genuine surprise flickered across her face.
“Aeris …” she growled, my name broken when a single gunshot cracked. Followed by another, then another. “What have you done?” She turned towards the sound, her expression shifting from shock to cold fury even as her guard rushed to her side.
“What have you done?!” she repeated, a scream this time, her voice slicing through the storm as the rain turned heavier.
“It’s over, Selene.” I smiled as her eyes widened. “I chose a side.”