Page 38 of Cursed
It didn’t take much work because she was more than willing to heed the command.
Immediately breaking from her chatty friends, who continued walking, she sauntered my way, her group not seeming to notice they’d lost a member.
“Hi there, handsome.” She swayed her hips suggestively, the gray yoga pants accenting every curve.
“Hello,” I purred, excitement shooting throughout my body as I anticipated the rush of ether a new soul would create.
The girl’s mouth tilted in a half-smile, and she hooded her eyes.
Normally, I’d do this at night so I could experience another’s touch for a few brief seconds before they died. Today? My only thought focused on replenishing my power before encountering Phoebe again. I plastered a grin on my face and sifted through this new target’s mind.
She plopped next to me on the bench, her thigh touching mine while her memories played inside my head like a movie.
Her name’s Amy Satterfield.And it seemed little miss Amy hadn’t been quite the best friend Callie—one of the girls walking at her side—had believed. Naughty Amy had been sleeping with Callie’s boyfriend behind her back for the past year.
Definitely not innocent.Yet it wasn’t exactly a sin dastardly enough to warrant a home in Hell, either.Who cares? Kill her now, take her soul, and be done with this.
But I dug deeper.
Amy’s eyes glazed with excitement, and she leaned into my chest, sliding a hand to my crotch to trace the inner seam. “There’s a party at the PBK frat house tonight if you’re lonely.” Her stare skated to my mouth, and her breathing quickened.
I had no desire to play this game, but I needed her—just not in the way she thought. My gaze drifted downward to her hand pawing at me with sad desperation.
Fighting a frown, I kept my expression easy and open, glad the sunglasses hid my eyes. “Not lonely anymore.” An urge rose to swat away her fingers, but for some reason, a strange feeling drove me to ferret out her corruption, to prove she truly wasn’t innocent.
Instead of batting away her touch, I grasped her shoulder and pulled her closer, hovering my face next to hers. She smelled of vanilla and syrup, and I tried not to gag from the overt sweetness. “Hold still, Amy,” I whispered.
“Hey.” Her big, blue eyes widened, and her hand stilled. “How’d you know my name?”
Thank Lucian for His dark gifts.
I sent a tendril of power coiling around her neck, locking her into place. Lifting my head a tad, I gave a quick glance to the immediate area, ensuring no one could see us as my body blocked the view to any onlookers from the parking lot, and a thick oak tree grew behind the table, throwing us in shadow and shielding us from behind.
A bird trilled from the branch above, and in the middle of the park, the breeze rattled the flagpole chains.
Satisfied no one watched, I gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her close. If anyone did happen to look our way, they’d see two students in the heat of the moment.
I narrowed my eyes and tightened my grip on her neck, pulling the shadows from the nearby trees to wrap themselves around her head to keep her silent and frozen.
Something, fear or desperation, flashed deep in her pupils.
I chuckled. I’d seen the same look thousands of times. Pulling back a bit, I studied her through the dark sunglasses. “Amy, Amy, Amy.” I clucked my tongue. “You’re not a very good girl.”
I dug deeper through her memories accumulated over the years, such as stealing her parents’ cash, cheating on homework, and belittling those she’d considered competition.
Besides soul stealing, sniffing out the wrongdoings of humans fed a primal need in my heart. I’d been cursed to wander amongst them for untold years, never truly accepted, shunned from touch or closeness. I would never be loved or accepted.
Love is overrated, anyhow. Look where it got me.An image of my brother lying in my arms, gasping out his last breath, surfaced. I gritted my teeth and forced it back down.
Lucian had rescued me not only from wandering the earth alone as an outcast, but he’d taken the curse and turned it into a weapon for the Fallen’s side—ourside. I didn’t need anyone else.
And when I become a Chosen, I’ll make sure Father sees what his punishment accomplished.
The sun moved across the sky, inching closer to late afternoon, reminding me I had somewhere to be tonight, so I refocused on the task.
Quickly, I sorted through Amy’s thoughts, fighting back the frustration of not finding anything worse than deceiving her friend and cheating on homework.
What does it matter if she’s not tainted? Kill her and be done.
