Page 82 of Sinister Hearts
I siphoned my power from the very darkness that tried to take me, time and time again. But this time I’d wield it, making darkness bow to me. The surge of darkness cracked through my bones like a whip, producing a scream from my lungs. Vadon’s blood forming a sigil on my forehead. My arms went wide beside me, my head facing up, as the dark magic swarmed through me like rabid black clouds.
Visions of fire and screams antagonized my psyche, both the power and pain too much to obtain. The darkness spread across my flesh like spider webs, the power making me feel high, needy, and wanting more of it. A red threaded string of words people I loved have said to me hooked around me and pulled me closer to the light. The words softly echoed;
“Light cannot shine without darkness.”
Jax’s words pulled me in closer, inch by inch.
The dark cloud bargained to take me with it, mold me, shift me into pure wickedness.
“Magic is not always black and white.”
Rocky’s words halted the pull.
“Remember like all things in life, magic requires balance.”
Ma’s words grasped on to me tighter.
“No!” I grabbed onto the string of source and wrapped its thread around me, taking control. I let it pull me closer to the middle where both darkness and light met in a battle over my soul.
“I bow to no king and to no realm!” I proclaimed. The darkness retreated slowly from its depths. Fire spewed from my palms as I pointed them towards the onyx clouds.
My gifts are finally at full surge and untamed.
“You see, it’s not the light that is afraid of the dark. For we need both to exist.” I held on to both the darkness and light with all my might, both sources surging through my body as the power collapsed into my grasp.
I fell to the floor, feeling both darkness and light dwindle inside my bones like an electric bolt. A fresh sigil branded upon my skin and the smell of charred flesh defiled the air. My adrenaline started to wear off as the mark began to burn. I winced at the sudden sting.
The doors unlocked as I tried to hold on to my consciousness. Jax’s shadows lifted me up as my vision struggled to focus.
“I got you. I got you,” he repeated, cradling me. I felt safe and warm, and melted into his chest. Jax touched my branded wound cursing the gods.
“No, no, gods, no!” he pleaded to the skies.. He rocked us back and forth on the floor.
I was new again, but I was also something entirely different. Something died in me, something good. My skin tingled with a surge of power and anticipation. Jax gazed into my eyes, one eye white as snow, and one black as onyx. My eyes reflected and melted into his hazel ones, as they lined with silver tears.
Vadon’s wails of agony distracted us. “Faye may have morality when it comes to death, but I do not. Especially when it comes to a vile soul like yours.”
My boots’ spurs clinked with each footstep, and I peered from beneath my cowboy hat. My Reaper and shadows seeped out from my fingertips as my eyes hollowed into their darkabyss. Vadon peered up at me in pure terror. I sniffed his soul, ready for the appetizing kill. I could hear Faye trying her hardest to call out to me.
“No, Jax!” she begged, but it was too late. I lifted Vadon by his frail neck. “Confess your siiinnnnnnsssss,” my Reaper screeched, so close to his face I could taste his salty sweat. The victims’ souls began tearing him apart in pleasured sin. I watched in disgust as I stood before him. Vadon clung to his chest, feeling the excruciating pain his victims felt.
“No, no, please don’t leave me like this,” he begged and wept pathetically. My hollow eyes were transfixed.
“Confesssssss,” my Reaper snapped and snarled.
“I sacrificed women and spell bounders for wealth.” The words came out in stutters. The wave of shame was too much for him to face. He looked hopeless and disgusted with himself.Good.
“Don’t! NO, VADON!” Faye pleaded in the background, but it was no use.
“I can’t live like this, Faye. Birdie deserves better. I’m sorry, for everything, I’m so sorry!” he cried in abashment. Faye tried to release Vadon from my skeletal grip.
“It’s okay, Faye, I deserve this. I never deserved you. I don’t deserve to live.” Vadon’s tears meant jack-shit to me, it was too late to repent. “I’m ready.” Vadon nodded to me, accepting his doomed fate. “Take care of them,” he wept, his eyes full of bloody tears and hopelessness.
That’s exactly what I planned to do. Without another word, my Reaper jaw opened wide like a reptilian, and I feasted on his soul, filling me with delectable pleasure and delight. His empty shell of body flopped to the floor, causing my shadows to recoil after they’d fed.
Faye stood there in shock as she cried silently, covering her mouth with her dainty hands. I ran over to her to comfort her.
“I’m sorry, I co?—”
