Damned and Desolate

by S D Hegyes

  Bobby ground his teeth together with a growl, and Sorsha saw his hands curl into fists.

  She struck first. Her hand curled into a fist and she lashed out with the speed of a viper, punching Bobby square in the nose. She hissed in pain, yanking her hand back and shaking out her hand.

  This was different than when she’d lashed out at the monument and Abaddon caught her hand. He’d been prepared to stop her, fusion the blow before she hurt herself. Punching Bobby hurt. A lot.

  She took a step back, sucking her breath in through her teeth and looking at her hand. There was blood on it.

  Surprised, she looked up at Bobby and saw him cupping his nose with both his hands, which were covered in blood.

  “I’m sorry, Bobby,” she said. “We both knew this would happen.” It was a lie, but it slithered out before she could stop it.

  Bobby stared at her with wide eyes, tears of pain streaming down his face. Without a word, he spun away from Sorsha and ran off. She doubted she’d see him again anytime soon. If the blood was any indication, she’d broken his nose.

  When she was sure he was gone, she leaned back against the side of her house with a heavy sigh of relief and apprehension.

  She hadn’t meant to punch Bobby. That had been more reflex than anything else. She looked down at her hand. Blood smeared across the top of her knuckles where they’d made contact with Bobby’s nose.

  How hard had she punched him? She hadn’t thought it had been that hard, and surely she didn’t have the same physical strength as Bobby. Did she?

  If he’d punched her, she would have needed a hospital. Or a morgue, she thought, only half joking. She knew it was a strong possibility that she might have needed a morgue if Bobby had punched her. She’d seen him working in the fields with his father, on a tractor with his grandfather.

  Shaded Glade was gated, but that didn’t mean they weren’t their own little self-sufficient community. The Jacobs had been farming the ten acres beyond the community for as long as Sorsha could remember. Hay mostly. Every once in a while other crops. What they didn’t feed to their cattle was sold for a profit the community could use to purchase other crops.

  There was no doubt in Sorsha’s mind that Bobby could have and would have pulverized her if he hadn’t been terrified of her. So, how had she managed to injure him instead, and why?

  The answers terrified her. She hadn’t even made a conscious decision to strike him before she did. It was as if she moved faster than the thoughts running through her head.

  “Talk about a strange case of foot-in-mouth syndrome,” she told herself, shaking her head.

  In the end, it didn’t matter. Bobby had passed along his message. Preston wanted Sorsha to shut up and play the dutiful wife. It was the last thing she planned to do. She grinned. If anything, this new development only spurred her desire to get out of Shaded Glade faster.

  Sorsha didn’t know when her mother would be expecting her back, but she did know what time her father would be home to expect dinner. Checking the phone in her pocket, Sorsha realized she had a good two hours before she needed to be back inside the house.

  That’s enough time to ask some questions, she told herself.

  It was only a fifteen to twenty-minute walk to the hotel. As she crossed the river and shimmied through the fence that surrounded Shaded Glade, as she’d done a million times before, Sorsha hoped Charlotte would still be at work. She needed the opinions and ideas of someone not inside the community.

  How was she going to get her identification back from the Barrs? She hadn’t the foggiest idea.

  She knew asking for it was out of the question. She’d be denied before she could even finish her sentence. And while the idea of sneaking into the Barr home sounded a little appealing—if for no other reason than to ransack Preston’s room and terrorize him the way he’d meant Bobby to do to her—she knew she wasn’t good enough to do that. Not without getting caught.

  That meant she needed another idea. Maybe Charlotte would have one.

  Besides, she liked the woman and wanted the chance to hang out with her again.

  When she crossed the main highway and entered the hotel parking lot, Sorsha saw Charlotte step outside the main employee room where the two of them had folded laundry. She had her purse thrown over one shoulder and keys jangling in her hand.

  “Charlotte!” she called out, waving her arm so that the other woman would see her.

  Charlotte jumped and put a hand to her chest. “Sorsha,” she said as the teenager caught up to her. “You scared the living daylights out of me. My heart’s still racing.”

  “Sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I need an outside opinion and maybe some ideas. Do you have a minute?”

  Charlotte checked the watch on her wrist. “I have a little time. Shoot.”

  Sorsha proceeded to tell her all about her arranged marriage and how the father of her future groom had all her identification paperwork. Everything.

  “Why in the world would he have all that?” was Charlotte’s only question.

  Sorsha had wondered the same thing, but when her mother explained why, it made sense. She hoped the same would prove true for Charlotte.

  “To keep me in Shaded Glade.”

  “Ah!” Charlotte nodded. “Yes, that would make sense for a cult.”

  “Shaded Glade isn’t a cult,” Sorsha protested.

  Charlotte gave her a pitiful look. “Darling, from everything you’ve told me, Shaded Glade has cult-itis bad. It’s a cult sweetie.”

  Sorsha knew she called it a cult, but she hadn’t really believed it. Hearing someone else say it only drove the point home more.

  “Any ideas?” she asked when she’d finished.

  The older woman tapped her lip with a manicured finger. How she kept that bright pink color on her nails, Sorsha would never know. It shocked her the color hadn’t come off with how much washing and drying and folding Charlotte did.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t think of anything. Give me some time to think about it, and I can probably come up with something though. Sound like a plan?”

  Sorsha nodded. She’d take all the help she could get. “Oh!” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I have a cell phone now. You could always call or text me. I can’t guarantee I’ll answer a phone call. My father would flip if he knew I had this. However, I can respond whenever I got a chance.” She shrugged one shoulder as if it wasn’t a big deal and didn’t bother her, but her heart pounded in her chest.

  She’d never had a phone before to give away her number. It was an odd feeling.

  Charlotte smiled at her. “Of course, I’ll take your number,” Charlotte said. “I’m not going to ask when and how you got a phone. It’s probably better I don’t know.”

  “It’s not—”

  Sorsha stopped when Charlotte held up her head, nose pointed in the air and eyes closed. “Nope,” she said. “I don’t want to know. Good or bad.” She dropped her head and smiled at Sorsha. “I’m just glad you’re finally getting some independence. You’re always welcome around here, Sorsha.”

  Warmth spread through her at the woman’s words. “Thank you,” she said, feeling her throat tighten as her words choked up. “Thank you so much.”

  Charlotte’s eyes sparkled. “You’re welcome, Sorsha.”

  17

  Everyone in Shaded Glade went to the fair in Hardin at some point during the week it was in town every year. Without fail. Sorsha wasn’t going to miss it either. Even if Abaddon had claimed he wouldn’t come, she’d still have found a way to get there and have a bit of fun.

  “Are you sure you don’t need me to stay?” her mother asked her for what felt like the millionth time.

  “I’m sure, Mom.”

  “And I’m not allowed to meet this young man?”

  Sorsha shook her head and smiled at her mother. “No, Mom. We won’t be together much longer. There’s no reason for you to meet him.”

  There was an underlying word at
the end of her sentence that she wished she could say. Part of her wanted to introduce her mother to Abaddon and see what she thought of him. At the same time, she knew her mother's view of him would destroy her own.

  Better for her mother not to meet him at all.

  “And you’ll be warm enough in that? I heard it’s going to snow early this year. Soon, actually.”

  Sorsha looked down at herself. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a black tank top. Over it all, she wore a thick cotton jacket. Her winter jacket was still packed away for the season, but she knew she’d have to take it out soon if her mother had her way.

  “I’ll be fine, Mom.” She held up the gloves she’d shoved into her pockets. “Look. I even have these.” She didn’t tell her mother that she’d brought the gloves to wear around Abaddon since her magic went crazy around him.

  Her mother gave her a final dubious look. “Alright. If you say so.”

  Sorsha nodded. “I do.”

  Her mother pulled her toward her for a quick hug and smiled at her when she withdrew. “Alright then. Have some fun with your mystery man.”

  Sorsha grinned. “I plan to.”

  A few minutes later, she stood behind the ticket booth, waiting. She realized she hadn’t told Abaddon where to meet her. She winced and cursed her own ill preparation as she stood on her tip-toes and looked for Abaddon amongst the throng of people.

  She pulled out her phone and shot him a text message, letting him know where she was, but he didn’t respond back. Did she have the right number? She hoped she did.

  Shoving her phone in her pocket, she stood with her feet shoulder-width apart and her hands on her hips as she surveyed the crowd for any sign of Abaddon.

  “Well, well, well. What have we here? Someone let the freak out of her cage.”

  Sorsha’s lip curled up in disgust before she gave Preston a fake smile. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my betrothal and worst nightmare.”

  He chuckled, as if he found her words amusing. She studied him as he strolled toward her, Bobby not far behind.

  Bobby’s eyes were wide with terror, his body trembling. He kept reaching for Preston, as if to grab his jacket, only to change his mind at the last second. He wouldn’t meet Sorsha’s eyes, and he did his best to seem small as he hid behind Preston. Hard for a large man like him.

  She wondered if he’d told Preston she’d been the one to break his nose. Her mother had told her that morning that Bobby’s mother had had to reset his nose the night before.

  “You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?” her mother asked her as they washed dishes together.

  Sorsha hadn’t answered, which seemed to be enough for her mother. She hummed her disapproval but dropped the matter, only saying, “I hope it was for a good reason.”

  That she hadn’t been sure about, but seeing Bobby cower behind Preston now, unwilling to get close to her, made it worth it. She’d never have to worry about Preston sending him after her again.

  “How’s your nose, Bobby?” she asked.

  He whimpered in response but didn’t reply.

  Preston looked between her and Bobby a couple of times. “So, you did do that,” he mused.

  “So?”

  Preston shrugged. “Oh, nothing. Bobby wouldn’t say what happened to him.” He smiled at Sorsha, and there was nothing pleasant about it. “You’ve terrorized my best henchmen.”

  Sorsha barked and watched as Bobby turned and ran off the opposite direction. “Your best henchmen took off with his tail tucked between his legs.”

  Preston spun around, and when he saw Bobby was gone, he whirled back toward Sorsha with his face twisted in anger. He stalked toward her, getting right into her face so that their noses touched.

  She stood her ground, unafraid. He wouldn’t hit her. He wouldn’t dare hit her in such a public place. “You’re not allowed to talk to me that way, Freak. My dad owns yours. I own you.”

  Sorsha snorted. “Piss off. None of you own me.”

  Preston lashed out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around and pinning it behind her before she could react.

  “It’s only a matter of time before we’re married, Freak, and just think. You’ll be dead before the day’s done, and no one will blink an eye.”

  Sorsha felt warmth spread throughout her body as her power seemed to wake up, and when she glanced down, she saw orange mist swirling around her hands.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me go, Preston.”

  Instead of letting her go, he pushed her forward until she was pressed against the back of the ticket booth. She grit her teeth and scrunched her eyes shut. Preston leaned into her. “Knowing how far up the chair my father is from yours, Freak, I wouldn’t be surprised if my father asks for his comeuppance in the form of your flesh. Once you’re my wife, you’ll. . .”

  “First of all,” Sorsha snapped, cutting him off. She struggled, trying to throw him off her. “Who the hell talks like that? What are you? The preacher’s son?” She grinned. “Oops. Sorry. Forgot. You are.” Sorsha frowned and pressed her forehead against the building. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she smashed her head back into Preston’s with a feral cry.

  Preston stumbled back, clutching his forehead.

  “Second of all,” Sorsha continued as she pushed herself away from the wall and moved behind Preston. She kicked at the back of his knees, sending him to the ground. “The only reason you say that is because you want me as your wife. Or did you think I’d forget that you did first ask me for my hand. Years ago, yes, but you still did it. Before you knew how much of a freak I am, that is. I am quite pretty after all. Isn’t that what you said? Someone would marry me despite my freakishness because I’m pretty? That all I needed was a good screw to tame me?”

  Sorsha leaned forward so that her mouth was close to Preston’s ear. He groaned in pain. Had she broken his nose too? She hoped she had. Maybe he’d think twice about shoving her against the wall.

  She rolled her shoulder as pain registered. He’d hurt it when he’d twisted her arm behind her back. “You’ll never be able to tame me—or any woman really. I hope you know that.”

  With that, Sorsha stepped back away from Preston. The urge to kick him again filled her, but she resisted it. She stood straight and took a deep breath through her nose and released it slowly from her mouth. She watched the teenager for another moment more, satisfied that he’d leave her alone for a little while.

  “Get up,” she commanded.

  Surprisingly, he listened. He avoided her gaze, holding his nose. She didn’t think she’d broken it the way she had Bobby’s. He was just a huge baby with very little pain tolerance. That didn’t surprise her.

  “Get out of my sight,” she told him.

  Once again, he listened, scrambling away from her faster than she could say, “Hallelujah.”

  When she was sure he was gone, she returned to her previous watch, gazing out over the fair-goers, looking for Abaddon and waiting. Still, her thoughts remained on Preston.

  She sighed in disgust. How could she have fallen for him so many years prior? Was she really so shallow to fall for someone based on their looks? She’d been like everyone else when she met him and thought he was the sun, shining too bright for anyone to get close to.

  “Sorsha?”

  Her face lit up as she turned and saw Abaddon striding toward her. He still looked as good as before, still made her legs clench with desire, still made her mouth tingle with the need to kiss him.

  There was something about his gait though, something sluggish about his stride, as if he were dragging his feet.

  Did he not want to be there?

  “Something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing to worry about tonight. Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

  There was something else lighting his face, over the sorrow and pain she caught hiding in his eyes. She remembered all the times she’d seen hesitation in his eyes, as if he wa
s holding something back, hiding something. He’d been fighting with a decision over the past couple of days, she’d thought. Whatever he’d chosen, he’d accepted it—good or bad. The resolution on his face said it all.

  She said nothing about it. Save him the chance of having to lie to her face, as she knew he would.

  Instead, she nodded her head. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  His grin was genuine. “What’s your favorite ride?”

  “Coaster, of course. It’s the adrenaline, you know? Yours?”

  “Ferris wheel, believe it or not.”

  She laughed. “Of course it is. What better place to go necking with your girl?”

  Something flashed across his face, the smile gone for a moment. Only a moment though. Then it returned. He tried so hard to hide his emotions from her, but she saw them as clear as day. She’d never been so in-tune with someone the way she was with him. She pretended not to notice his expressions changing. She really didn’t want him to lie to her and tell her it was nothing, when they both knew it was.

  “What do you want to do first?”

  “Oh, no!” He laughed. “This was your idea. You get to make that decision.

  She grinned, wondering if this was how it was for her parents when they first got together. She knew they were still in love with each other as they’d been the day they’d met. For her parents, it had been akin to love-at-first-sight. She didn’t quite believe in it, but the more she got to understand Abaddon, the more she realized she could be convinced of it.

  “How about we end with the Ferris wheel? It will help calm down any adrenaline we build up before then.”

  He nodded, his eyes dancing as he said, “Or build it up more based on your own calculations of what happens on the ride.”

  Sorsha couldn’t stop the flush that crossed her face and she looked away. There was no way she’d tell him that she hoped there’d be some necking involved with the ride. She desperately wanted to know what Abaddon tasted like.

  No reason to tell him that though. She cleared her throat and tried to play it off as unimportant instead, “Maybe.”