Page 6 of Her Dark Promise

“Please, spare me.”

I knew this was coming. It was always the same. First, it started with anger. They would always scream at me, calling me every vile name they could think of until they saw my powers and realized that they were no match for me. After that, they would resort to crying and then bartering. Their tears had no effect on me, it didn’t matter what they did or said after I made the decision that they would die.

I rolled my eyes as the woman continued to badger me to spare her life. “Did Mariam plead for her life, as well? Did you take the time to consider sparing her for even a moment?”

Her only reply was more tears. I tuned out her cries as I slowly moved around her, contemplating how I would make her suffer for her crimes.

Humans were such depressing creatures. They always acted tough when faced with a weaker opponent, not realizing that there was someone out there who was bigger—more dangerous.

Someone who reveled in their pain. Hearing their screams. Seeing them squirm. Begging me to stop.

I never would.

In these woods, I was the apex predator.

La bête.

I stopped behind her, reached forward, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her head back. The pathetic woman cried out at the unexpected pain and stared at me with bloodshot eyes.

“How should I kill you, Merrill? Any suggestions?” She didn’t answer. I scoffed, looking away. “I have spent centuries torturing pathetic humans, so I have a few ideas. Let’s see… I could cut you in various areas of your body and watch as you slowly bleed to death.” I looked back at her. “No? Hmmm… How about I rip you apart limb by limb? Or I could kill you exactly how you had killed Mariam.”

I wrapped my hands around her head and was flung into her mind. I thought of the woman and was transported to two days ago. Mariam had come out of her bedroom, broom in hand, and screamed at them to get out of her house. I could feel Merrill’s sick elation at seeing the woman, and wasted no time in grabbing a knife from her boot. Mariam retreated back into her room, but Merrill was quicker and kicked the door open. Mariam fell back and shuffled away as Merrill strode to her, plunged the blade into her neck, and then stood back and watched her slowly bleed out.

I let go, and Merrill strained to say, “Please let me go. I won’t do it again.”

I cocked my head to the side, wondering if she would ever own up to her crime. “She must have screamed and begged you tostop, just as you are doing now. What makes you different? What gives you the right to live when she doesn't get that chance?”

“Oh yeah? And what makes you any different from me? You say your going to kill me. That makes us the same.”

I leaned down until my face was inches from hers, breathing in her putrid breath as I said, “There is a difference. I have never pretended to be anything that I’m not. But you… You keep spewing lies, and honestly, it is disgusting.”

I raised my hand to let a blade form from my shadows and plunged it into her neck, just like they had done to Mariam. Her blood squirted in my face and down my hand, but I held still as I watched the life drain from her eyes until her soul had left her body.

Silence.

I took a deep breath, happy to never hear their shrill voices again. I considered sending Callum to Mariam’s house to find her body and bury her properly. It would be the right thing to do. She didn’t deserve to rot there alone without a proper burial and send off into the afterlife. Not that it is something that I necessarily believe in, but maybe she does.

I stared at the woman for another moment, wishing that I had prolonged her suffering, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Not even my powers were capable of bringing someone back from the dead once their soul had completely left.

I gathered my powers one last time and waved a hand over their bodies, shadows cascaded down from my hands intermixed with bright golden sparks, and the moment it touched their bodies they burned. Ashes replaced flesh.

I made my way out of the tower, and Emilia was waiting for me there. I had saved her about twenty years ago from a fate worse than death, and out of thanks, she designated herself as my official guardian. She ensured that my basic needs were met and that the castle was in near-perfect condition. It took me time toadjust to her presence, but now, I wondered how I’d ever gotten along without her.

“They are taken care of. Mariam can rest easy knowing that her murderers will burn in the pits of Hell for all of eternity.”

She nodded, raised her hand, and rubbed her throat. Her injury must have aggravated her because she had brought her hands up and signed,They got what they deserved. Do you need me to clean the room?

I shook my head. “I took care of it.”

She looked up as if she could see through the walls and floor and into the room where their bodies were nothing but ash on the wind. I followed her gaze toward the tower which was located at the back of the castle and was so high that there was a severe drop in temperature once you reached the top. It was a perfect place for torture.

From its current state of desolation, no one would guess that we were once a happy, peaceful kingdom that took care of its people. Where I could walk around without a worry of an attack. The people who I knew would lay down their lives for me, their princess. But that was before the execution…

Beforeher.

I gave Emilia another nod and left her, heading back to my chambers. It was a rather eventful night, and I was ready to wash their blood from my body.

I entered my chambers, not even bothering to close the door, and walked to the open window like I did every night. I grabbed my wrap from the chair next to me as the sting of the cold air bit into my skin.

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