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 theblacks 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 squeezingthe 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 fightagainst 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.
Standing, a red glow surrounds me, transforming my clothes into something more suitable for the occasion. Battle gear.Thanks, Alex. Tough, dark, sable leather covers my left arm, traveling up and around my neck while scrunching beneath my chin, and continuing down my other arm.
The back extends to a hood over my head with a cloak enveloping my right shoulder, flowing down. A contoured leather, ruby corset houses my breasts with thin pieces of black metal cuffing beneath them. Embroidered patterns trace into the waistband of my ebony tights, and calf-high boots complete the set. An outfit I can die in and just might…But he is first.
Ethan follows, donning his battle gear, the same from when Alex called him to battle last time. “Come, little Nova, let’s see how destructive you can be.”
With my daggers clenched tight, I charge him.With pleasure.
