Page 130 of Judas
The split second before he attacked, a look of unbridled hatred and depravity from him glared over Kace’s shoulder. Then he reached over head and yanked the chain of his handcuffs against the front Kace’s throat with so much force Kace stumbledbackward. His inked hands reached up to fist the ditches of Lucien’s arms, holding onto him, trying to pull his grip away and hopefully gasp air once more. There’s not enough time to determine if his evil eye is for me or not—act now or lose everything.
Without thinking of anything other than getting Kace out of that hold, I completely ignore Lucien’s warning. His hands are cradling the back of Kace’s neck for leverage, pulling the chain so tight the double barred steel cuffs start to dig into his own skin. One wrong move and they may slice into his flesh from how hard they’re pinched against his forearms.
Kace keeps bucking and thrashing, trying to toss Lucien off him. His momentum begins to slow and I know there’s not much more time. The grip of his hands are starting to loosen from Lucien’s arms, almost ready to drop away completely where he doesn’t waste anymore energy when it could be spent keeping his brain alive.
Instead of focusing on Kace, or his manic thrashing, Lucien’s ire is fixed on me. The wild and unkept black strands of his longer hair are skewed across his face, brows cast over the eyes that used to match my own but are now so dark I can’t see the man within.
“I’ll break his damn neck, Nadia! Don’t get any closer.” Lucien growls out, the nerve grating tone he’d usually use is absent but that’s not what stops me. It’s how Kace’s blue eye starts to glaze over but he’s fixated on me, like he’s trying to soak me in just in case he doesn’t get the chance to look at me again.
So much emotion is running through me that I can’t come to terms with what’s transpiring. Tears fill my eyes but the part of me that’s logical and knows what’s best to do, the part prepared and geared up for deescalation and maintaining order, splinters and sheds away. The girl I’ve been clutching onto so desperately finally leaves to find peace. To rest with the man she found somuch peace and home in. The monster that’s left doesn’t give a fuck if anyone walks out of this alive. Instead of running to Kace’s aid, I turn around and walk away.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going!?” Lucien screams.
He must have tossed Kace to the side because he is on me next, grabbing me and throwing me up against the closest wall. His right hand grabs my lower jaw, left taking its place on my throat with a violent squeeze. If humans could go rabid, this would be what it looks like. Lucien’s pupils are so big they’ve gobbled up the grey-color we share, a very obvious tick in his jaw throbs before he speaks, which takes me back a little. With a jolt, wanting out of his hold, he pulls me back and slams me harder against the wall.
“Asked you a question, Nadia. Where do you think you’re going?”
I give him a tilt of my chin in contempt.
“Lucien—” he then cuts me off.
“Mmm, think again.”
Think again? Is there a dopplega—
“Samael…”
“There you go, if I’m forced to conduct this body for God knows how long, the least people could do is call me by the correct name.”
“Wher—“ he cuts me off again. What happens next wasn’t what I expected out of Lucien, let alone something that’s supposed to be a primordial being.
Releasing my neck and face, his body twists slightly before he sends his elbow crashing into my face. Samael’s momentum knocks me to the floor, a shock shooting up my arms and legs when I catch myself on my hands and knees. One eye is blurry from the impact of his elbow, the optic nerves throbbing with the beat of my heart. Filling that eye somewhat with a pulsing light.
His shin and foot connect with my stomach next. Kicking me in the ribs, the soft tissues of my belly, my hips. Anywhere he could exact damage to me, taking my breath away again. Relentless in his assault. Closing the damaged eye, my limbs finally move. Crawling away to free myself from the onslaught of abuse whilst hoping to find something to protect myself with, even if it feels futile.
Suddenly hauled back, Samael winds his fists in my hair and propels his knee into my face adding to pain as it accumulates in droves. Another he drags me into it, blood beginning to gush from my nose, and well up where my teeth have cut my lips. It’s just him and I in this, a battle of wills, and the end of an era one way or another.
Still holding onto my hair, he starts to drag me out of the room. If he gets me anywhere else, I’m surely going to die. As accepting of that as I am, of meeting the end of a very unfair and shitty life, he’s going with me.
“Wh.. where’s… Lucien?” I gurgle through blood. Keep him busy, keep this self centered being occupied long enough where I can find my bearings again.
“Dead. I suppose. In a round about way way, thanks are in order. If it wasn’t for you, you know, turning his lights off with that hit to the cranium, I wouldn’t be here. A perk for me, not so much for you and your family, yeah?”
I… no. Don’t fucking go there, Nadia. You can do that sad shit later. Get your ass up!
His voice is back in my head, Kace’s. Where it used to live when I was simply existing with the pain of his death. Encouraging me, scolding me, loving me, even if it was only in my mind. There’s nothing left of me to break anymore, the pieces are scattered too far for me to reach. It’s been said that violence isn’t the answer. While I should have always lived within that code of conduct, violence is the only thing that bringsLucien and I together—and it will be the thing that finally severs us.
Samael gives me a yank, making me stumble forward and fall to my stomach. A sharp item digs into me when I land. Samael's voice is furiously shouting at me to get up. Screaming about removing my head from my neck if I don’t get the hell up. Struggling to push away the floor, my eyes land on what jabbed into me when I landed.
It’s now or nothing.
Impatiently he uses my hair to yank me completely off the floor, introducing another ache to the myriad of others. Feels like gravity is going to pull me under the floor, the wind could blow me over at a moment's notice, and Samael would still keep me upright long enough to curse me.
“The Lord may have sat with whores and drunks, telling mankind that these people were the ones in most need of his love and sacrifice, but your story never ends with his grace embracing you in warmth and in light. You, forever, will know torment. By his will, or mine.”
Looking up at what’s left of my brother, I close my eyes and let go.
“Lucien… Nadia,” our mother coos in the distance.
