Page 101 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“I didn’t kill anybody.”

I tried to ignore him, but it was difficult when I felt him staring at me. When I looked at him, his eyes dragged over me like he was trying to figure something out.

“Your little friend did.”

“Yes.” I smiled.

“Why are you smiling so much, boy?”

“Because I saw what Della will do to you if you lay a finger on me.” I stepped forward one step and stared this piece of shit in the eyes. “She ripped that fucking bitch’s heart out, and she hardly put any effort into it.”

My father swallowed hard but said nothing else. His eyes narrowed on me like he thought I was a fucking liar. My father swayed slightly as he watched me. He was so far gone; I was not even sure how he was walking around. He didn’t say anything else, so I turned, continuing my work he interrupted. Apparently, this pissed him off because he suddenly grabbed me by the hair and yanked me flat on my back.

He was able to kick me once before I swiped his feet out from under him. I had never fought back, not really. This time, though, I punched my father in the face before he could punch me. He looked at me in disbelief for only a moment before we both tumbled, but I was quicker than he was. I stood and shoved him, knocking him back to the ground. Then, before I could stop myself, I began to let years of pent-up hatred out on him. It felt so good to finally fight back. I couldn’t stop myself. My fists kept punching and punching, connecting with his face and emitting a sickening, wet crunching sound.

I was ending this today. Remiah and I deserved better.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” I yelled at my father. There was a wrath that burned with the fury of a million stars inside of me, and it wanted out. It did not want to be locked deep inside of me anymore.

He was trying to say something, but I wouldn’t let him talk. His blood poured from him as I kept going. I didn’t want to be my father when I was older. I didn’t want this vicious cycle of family trauma to continue. I was going to break it for me, for Remiah, and for Della.

I didn’t feel it at first. The sharp pain in my back started out so small— almost nonexistent—then became more noticeable.It started off like an itch, but then it burned something fierce and wicked. When I looked behind me, my mother was standing there with a dagger, the blade covered in blood, my blood.

Pain paralyzed me. My own mother had stabbed me. Again, she had sided with this fucking monster. It was enough of a distraction that my father was able to gain the upper hand. Before I could stop it, his fist connected with my face. Now he was the one who kept punching me over and over. My head pounded from the beating, and my body ached from the stab wound. The only thought I could think was to thank the gods that Rem had gone to town so she would not witness my death.

“Della!” I yelled into the heavens without thinking.

Suddenly, the bright blue sky swirled with dark clouds, and lightning crackled through the air. What had started off as a beautiful day suddenly reflected what was inside of me. What would Della do when she came to see me and found out that I was dead?

Then I heard her.

“You really should have kept your hands to yourself.” Della’s voice was wicked as she drew our attention to her. My father fell off me and stared in disbelief. “I already warned you what would happen if you touched him again.”

“Mind your own business, whore.” He spat at her.

The plain disrespect he showed for her caused me to see red. I used all the strength left in my beaten body to sit up and punch my father in the jaw.

“Don’t you ever call her that again.” I stood up on my shaky legs, using the house to steady myself. Della’s pretty, star-colored eyes were gone and replaced by pure, white, rage-filled ones. Gods, I did not feel good. I held my head as my vision blurred from the pain.

“Stupid bitch, I told you I would kill you if you didn’t leave us alone.”

“Now, now, Galen, you shouldn’t talk to me like that.”

Her head tilted to the side as she took a menacing step forward. Her star-like mist swirled around her, but part of it was now black. Gods be damned, she was a fucking sight to see.

“Who the fuck are you?” my father demanded as he stood. My mother looked at Della in silent shock as she held his weight against her, supporting his beaten body.

I blinked, and in that short time, Della had moved to my father. She leaned forward and whispered something to him, and whatever it was had him gawking at me. His eyes flickered from Della to me and back. She stepped backward slowly. Her full lips pulled into a wicked smile. Something told me she had threatened more than just his life; she had threatened his very soul if he ever tried to hurt me again, and seeing her now, I had no doubt that she could take him on.

What kind of elite magic was this? I could feel her magic taking energy from all around us, twisting it back, and pulling everything toward her. Della’s eyes found mine, and it made the sky fill with lightning.

My father trembled in fear from whatever she had said to him. Della’s power pulsed around her. She did not look scared; she looked excited. Her eyes stayed on me, but all I could do was just stare at her in awe as she came to me.

“Are you alright?” Her hands frantically inspected all of my wounds.

“My back,” I groaned. The pain was becoming unbearable. I fell to my knees, and Della quickly fell to hers. Her eyes filled with worry as she looked for injuries. Then her whole body stiffened when she saw my wound. A moment later, the pain disappeared. I knew she had healed my injury, but when she pulled back, her eyes flashed back to being completely white.

“Haden, do you want to say anything to your father before I kill him?”

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