Page 55 of Cruel Revenge
“But how is she doing stuff now?” Landon snarled. “I don’t care about all this fucking ancient history. What did she want with my sister?”
“Kushim, perhaps you should tell everyone here about your mother,” Zuri said, moving like she was protecting Davor’s phone.
“My mother was obsessed with the moon cursed,” Kushim answered softly. “She was immensely powerful, like Subira. Alittle less so, because of the thousand years between them in age, but we’re still talking about a witch from over four thousand years ago. She researched werewolves and werecats, and eventually found one she wanted to try her first spell on, a way to control them and keep them for herself. She picked her favoritespecimen…” Kushim trailed off.
“Our father,” Zuri picked up for him, letting everyone know it was Hasan.
“Yeah… I wasn’t there for what happened. I wasn’t there for the entire time she had control of him, having only seen him once around the home, but not bothering to introduce myself or anything. I had no idea he was that specimen until later… She lost control over him, he killed her, and I found her body. After I buried her, I went after Hasan to avenge her, not really thinking. I was a young, stupid human at the time who never really… paid mind to whatever my mother was doing or why. He killed me. I woke up an Immortal, learned more of my mother after that by going through her things. I destroyed whatever I could once I realized everything. It should have all been lost to time. I never went after Hasan, knowing his killing of her was more than justified. Sheisdead.”
“Are possessions a real thing?” Dirk asked softly. “Because that’s… the only explanation, right?”
I just looked at Heath, who was once again silent, his lips firmly pressed together. I fought the urge to reach out to him. I fought the need to get up and touch him, wanting to fall into his embrace. It was all I wanted.
“Mother never played with the dead…” Zuri said, shaking her head. “They possibly are, but it’s not an area of magic we even research. I certainly want nothing to do with it. Jabari would never look into it. This is out of our depth.”
“I can’t go right now, but when all of this is over, love… we should get together with Jabari and your mother to go to her grave, and see if maybe… something changed or happened.”
“If you want a spirit, I guess that’s the place to start,” Zuri agreed. “The necklace?”
“Hidden. We put it in the vault, remember?”
“That’s right. Let’s leave it there. If she can’t find it and wants you to bring it, then it’s safe there.”
“That didn’t answer why she wanted my sister!” Landon snarled viciously, making even Zuri jump. I was shaking. Landon’s Talent was turned up to the max. Every cell in my body registered that he was a threat, and I needed to run. Not fight. Only run.
“Revenge,” Kushim answered, unaffected by Landon on the other side of the planet. “Terrible, painful, cruel revenge. For stopping her plans, for going against her, for trying to free your kind from her and the other witches, for fighting back. She and her ilk did this to hurt you. She was my mother, so take it from me. She was never a kind woman. She was never a forgiving one.”
“Fuck,” Landon growled.
“Is that everything?” Heath finally asked, looking at me. “Everything that happened?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Thank you.” He turned on his heel and started walking away.
“Heath, wait!” I said, jumping from my chair and going after him. “Please. We need to talk.”
“About?” Heath asked, turning to me with a puzzled and cold look, like I was an employee, not his fiancée.
“Everything? Carey. The wolves, those poor kids…” I trailed off, realizing none of it was changing anything about Heath.
“I can’t right now. I’ll be staying at the packhouse for a little while.”
He walked out.
My world shattered. Tears were falling down my cheeks as Landon went to follow his father. Dirk didn’t go with them, not immediately.
“Now, Dirk,” Heath snapped.
Dirk winced and left.
As I started to sink, Zuri grabbed me.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “It’s going to be okay.”
I shook my head, sobbing as the love of my life left me. I had lost everything in such a short time. Carey and Heath were gone now. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle the deep cut Heath just gave me.
I grabbed the sides of my head, the sobs and screams blocking out what others were saying. I was dragged from the room, not putting up a fight, but not moving willingly either.
