Page 67 of Stone Seduction
But he wouldn’t, would he? He’d try bringing me back down to a good little human with no fun, no fucking freedom. Shackled and hidden and told when to eat, sleep, and piss.
Fuck him. Fuck everyone. They feared me, jealous of this power. I mean, what were they going to do without me when Ember finally broke free?
Crap themselves!
I watched the melting monster, contemplating my greatness. How I really was a key. Stuff the Ember thing. More like a key to change the world, maybe even end all motes.
So why did everyone have to be so dismally cautious?
Speaking of buzz kills, I curled a finger under Luna’s bracelet, pulling on it until the bangle snapped and the charms scattered.
“Bye, bye.”
I levitated, plotting my next move. Blend in with the landscape, pounce on an unsuspecting monster? Could be fun. But I kind of liked them seeing my approach. I imagined their minds blowing like dodgy fuses, their knees knocking.
Blue motes flew by, keeping their distance. They glittered prettily, picking up speed. My stomach clenched, my throat and teeth aching from the pukefest.
Gross. No devouring for a few days.
“You keep your lives today.”
I took off west to the nearest town, finding a pharmacy, turned myself invisible and got to stealing a bottle of water, some mouthwash, and a strawberry cream bar.
Yay! My lucky day.
None of the shoppers or staff noticed, going blindly about their business. I contemplated tormenting them by throwing things around, getting my poltergeist on. Thought better of it. Too mean, too tedious.
I wasn’t aboutthatlife.
Done with the pharmacy, I dropped my invisibility as I entered a small park. Aw, so cute with its frozen duck pond and Christmassy vibes. A small winter wonderland in the middle of a drab town of brick and concrete.
After rinsing my mouth out and spitting up in a bin, I parked my bum on a bench bathed in sunshine, paying no mind to the thin layer of frost painted across the metal. It soon melted beneath me.
Ah. Heavenly. Sitting in the winter sunshine doing nothing for a bit fit me like a glove. I really needed this pause. It was all very well going monster hunting, but my mind went back to other possibilities.
To saving Finn.
I can make this happen.
With the skills to back up any forthcoming ideas, I started to believe it more.
There. I wasn’t a total danger. Only if required. I didn’t need a potion or a bracelet to regulate me.
But I don’t want to be this…
Damn this split. Damn it hard for crapping on my bench time.
Then let Finn stay where he is!I mentally slapped myself.
There didn’t have to be any split, any war between my two halves. I was just me, only different. No dark half, light half, but a new man on a new path, keeping my brother in the center of my universe.
I had this. I could be awesome and leveled up. Things didn’t have to be bad.
Opening my eyes, I saw a man approach me. Human on the outside, monster on the inside, hiding under a duffel coat and friendly charm.
He removed his trilby hat, exposing a bald head. “Hello.”
“Hi.”
