Page 52 of Demanding Discord
“That isn’t true.” I started toward the mirror, but Discord clutched my hand, holding me in place. “I hate having to do everything alone, but that’s how high priestesses work. I have to get used to it.”
A sob rolled up from my chest, sticking in my throat. “It’s tradition.”
“You act like you’re better than us, but we know the truth.” Ember stepped from the shadows, a fully formed tulpa with long, purple hair and black leather pants. “I will always be a better fighter.”
She swung her sword in a figure eight, just like the real Ember did right before she charged at her foe. A sinister smile—the only thing un-Ember-like about the tulpa—curved her lips as she clutched her sword in both hands and fire erupted along the blade.
“Please don’t do this.” I held up my hands. “I won’t fight you.”
“Then you’ll die.” Ember ran toward me, sword blazing.
I half-expected Discord to clothesline her, but something pulled his attention away from my battle. I sidestepped my sister, dropping and kicking out a leg. She tripped and careened forward, catching herself on her hands. The sword skittered across the ground before turning into smoke and reforming in her hand.
“It was done in jest,” Discord said, and I snapped my gaze toward him, where he held a man with dark hair and a goatee in a chokehold.
I didn’t have time to ponder who that might be. Ember jumped to her feet and circled me, so much hatred filling her eyes. “You’ve always looked down at me. Ash is your sweet little sister, and I’m a piece of dogshit stuck to the bottom of your shoe.”
“That’s not true, Em. I love you. I love you both.” I turned with her as she moved around me. “I coddled Ash a bit, but only because of the curse. Because her powers are bound.”
Discord grunted, and I spared him a glance. The man he fought elbowed him in the gut, and my demon shoved him against the wall.
“Save your breath, Cinder,” Discord said. “You’re arguing with your own mind.”
“Ember, you don’t want to fight me.” I laced my words with persuasion magic. “We’re sisters. We need to work together.”
She scoffed. “Says the sister who ran off to Hell alone and hooked up with a demon. Do you even consider what might be happening to us while you’re getting it on with our immortal enemy?”
My heart wrenched at her words, and a sob bubbled from my chest, lodging in my throat. “It isn’t like that.” Except, it was, and she was right. I hadn’t been trying hard enough. I should’ve been spending every spare second looking for our parents and finding a way home.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, reaching for the machete hanging from my belt. “I failed you and abandoned you.”
“And now, you’ll pay the price.” She lifted her sword above her head and swung it downward.
I defended, using the machete to counter her blade. Sparks ignited as metal hit metal, and Ember did her famous drop, spin, and kick, knocking me off my feet. I rolled, barely missing the point of her sword as she jabbed it into the ground.
I scrambled to my feet, and she lunged again, her blade nicking my arm as I parried. She swung, and I countered with the machete, knocking her aside. Discord shouted behind me, and something splashed into the pool.
I whirled around, ready to dive in and save him, but he stood on the ground, heaving breaths and shaking his head.
Ember screamed like a Valkyrie and ran toward me, sword blazing. I swung the machete, slicing into her gut, my heart breaking and my stomach turning. Her eyes widened, and she gripped her abdomen, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gaped at me and asked, “How could you?”
Dear goddess, what had I done? I raced to her side and rested a hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
She snapped her head toward me, stepping away and lifting her sword. Discord plowed into her before she could strike, grabbing her around the waist and shoving her into the purple pool. She wailed and splashed, calling to me with sheer agony in her voice.
“Ember!” I rushed toward the pool.
“Stop.” Discord grabbed me, holding me against his chest.
I struggled against his embrace. “I have to save Ember.”
“That is not your sister.” He tightened his hold. “It was a tulpa, which Ruin created to torment you with your guilt and fear. He created one for me as well.”
“No.” The sob that had stuck in my throat finally released, and the pool’s surface stilled. I drew in a shaky breath. “She seemed so real.”
“I know. Mayhem did as well.” He stroked my hair.
“We are real.” Ash emerged from the pool, wearing her signature black corset and fishnets. Her long, blue hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she clutched a ritual dagger in each hand.
