Page 33 of Soulless Deeds

Then, the image began to crystallise and the silhouette lifted her veil, displaying the face beneath. A mirage made from my most inner demons and deepest wants appeared before me.

It’s her.In all her red-headed, sweet-lipped glory.

The object of my greatest triumph and even greater regret, placed directly in front of me like a ferryman calling me down to hell like I so well deserved. She sat on top of the smoking sarcophagus, leaning back on her outstretched hands in leisure.

How many times had I seen her like that?Countless.

Her green eyes bled into me—or directly through me. Either way, I refused to blink, knowing that when I did, she would disappear again.

Like. Every. Other. Time.

My heart splintered with every tortured beat. Her mouth was wide and gleaming as if holding all the secrets in the world, almost implying that with enough begging, your knees bloody and grazed from kneeling in her presence, she may grant you favour.

She is so fucking beautiful.

My mind, body and soul screamed out in anguish. Always the same distant echo.

Loss. Loss. Loss.

“Who—” Aster stuttered behind me as if she was caught in the same illusion I was.

My mind folded in on itself.

I broke eye contact and spared a glance behind me at Aster, whose sole attention was trained on the ghostly figure. My pulse quickened when the lingering scent of sweet candy hit my nostrils, realisation taking hold.She survived.

Aster stepped around me, transfixed in her direction, and my fingers involuntarily flexed on my gun.

“Who are you and why are you here?” Aster asked, her tone calm. However, I could hear the underlying desperation, the slight shift in her cadence.

Something is off. Hell, this whole fucking scenario is off.

My candy girl smiled wider if that was even possible, her porcelain canines almost elongating in the glowing light, looking every bit the man-eater she was.

“My name is Spencer,” she said, her familiar voice causing electrifying static to incapacitate my nerve endings. “Spencer King. On behalf of my late father and the Sovereign, we arehere to strike a deal.” Her candy apple eyes ignited with an authoritative fire that ruled over all manner of man.

Aster didn’t reply, her mask stoic as she processed her command. There was a significant shift occurring, tension escalating. I was missing something—something vital.

“We?” Aster asked.

Before Spencer could reply, a heavy stone side panel of the crypt shifted open.

I refused to lower my gun, scanning the four new arrivals, strapped to the teeth with various weapons. Their strides were confident and sure, each holding a lit candle as they ventured into death’s cradle without a second thought.

I instantly recognised the infamous Psycho, a cigarette hanging from his lips, the former gladiator from Ludus Maximus. Last I’d heard, he’d escaped the confines of Oakview and disappeared into the ether.

He remained a hairsbreadth behind a pretty brunette, amber eyes scanning my length from top to bottom, her mouth lifting into an unimpressed scowl.

Following up the rear was a tiny blonde who barely reached my chest, accompanied by a strikingly handsome man who gave off an aloof air, brown eyes staring blankly into space as if he’d rather be anywhere else but there.

They casually settled themselves amongst the sarcophagus and Spencer, who remained sitting casually on top. Despite their diverse features, they were all attractive, objectively speaking, sporting casual, all-black attire.

Spencer scoffed, breaking the wired atmosphere. “I don’t know why you keep that thing pointed at us. You have terrible aim.”

I attempted to flip the barrel her way, yet my muscles refused to follow through with the call. My subconscious was loath to put her in any semblance of dangerever again.

Aster pushed down on my wrist until my hand lay limp at my sides.

I was entirely conflicted, unbridled feelings clashing together creating a maelstrom of chaos. Above all else, I had to protect Aster, get her to safety—except my soul screamed out to stay, to remain in Spencer’s presence, no matter the consequences.

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