Darkness Betrayed (Torn)

by Christine Hughes

His eyes narrowed. “Too fast for who? Ethan? The others? You?”

  I didn’t know the answer. Instead of pressing the matter, I turned my focus to Lucas. “Where is Lucas training? I’d like to see him.”

  “Let’s go then.”

  Stepping onto the back porch, I saw Lucas with Branna and Malena. Both women were holding back. I could tell Lucas was getting tired, but he refused to give up. He was fast with his sword, even when Malena forced him across the yard. He was up and ready when Branna attempted to surprise him from behind. I was uncomfortable with their restraint. I could hear it echo through the air. Malena was concentrating on not hurting him, much. Branna was focused on not losing her wings. And all Lucas wanted to do was tear them to pieces.

  I heard their thoughts like conversations in my head. “I need my sword,” I said to Damien and he nodded, retreating back into the house. Within minutes he was back and I strapped the sheath to my back. “Stop.”

  The three of them stopped where they were as I jumped down the stairs. I narrowed my eyes at Lucas. “My turn.”

  Branna and Malena made their way up to the porch with Damien. All eyes on us, I knew I needed to show them something to alleviate their fears that I was too scared, too out of control, to handle Lucas. I needed to not only dominate, I needed to show restraint. I needed focus and control to lead me. I placed my hand in my pocket and briefly enclosed my pendant in my hand, silently asking for strength and control.

  “Sam.” He nodded. “Your eyes are still black.”

  “Lucas. Nice track suit.” I miss my friend.

  “Brings out my eyes.”

  “You’re still an asshole.”

  “You up for this?”

  “I should ask you the same question. Ready to prove you’re not Sebastian’s bitch anymore?”

  At my words he struck out, sword swiping inches from my face. When I didn’t flinch, he growled in frustration. “You should talk. I hear you’ve been shacking up with the devil. Guess Ethan really wasn’t enough for you after all.”

  A familiar feeling of rage grew around me as I charged toward him, sword high.

  “Still so predictable.” He threw out his palm and sent me flying back. “You’re not immortal, Sam.”

  Landing on my feet, I grinned. “Losing your touch, Lucas.”

  “Just getting warmed up.”

  Our swords connected and I knew it was on. No more messing around. It was time to show him that he didn’t have the upper hand any more.

  I spun and his sword passed through my ponytail, lopping off a chunk of hair.

  “Really, Lucas? My hair?” I redoubled my efforts and continued to swing my sword until my arms threatened to give out.

  “You cut off my wings.” His heavy breath fogged in front of him.

  “So you think we’re even?” I circled.

  “Not quite.” He grabbed a low branch above him, ripped it from the tree and threw it at me, hitting me in the shoulder. Black blood barely had time to ooze out before the injury healed over.

  He was weaker than before, though his wings were healing faster than when he arrived. I knew his physical strength was no match for mine, yet. But he had years of experience fighting and training. I couldn’t focus on that, though. He and Ethan had trained me well. And I’d learned quite a bit over the past few weeks even if I hadn’t impressed anyone.

  He lifted himself up, wings working overtime, and landed in front of me, sword at the ready.

  I back flipped out of his reach and landed in a low crouch, swiping my sword in front of me, barely clipping his right knee. He yelled out in pain but continued, his face showing every bit of the determination and anger I’d expected.

  “You’ve been practicing. You’re not as slow as I remember.” He missed my head by inches.

  “I’ve been busy.” I dropped to the ground, swiping out at his feet, catching his shoelace.

  “Still not in control, though.” He buried his sword into the earth, finding the spot I’d just vacated.

  “Yeah. You forgot to teach me how to control anything. How convenient. But I’m learning.” I jumped up behind him and shouldered him face first, into the tree.

  I retreated back, risking a glance at the others. Branna and Malena watched with a measure of concentration on their faces, no doubt taking mental notes on how to fix my awkward fighting style. Damien, on the other hand, was unreadable other than the eerie red glow projecting from his eyes. Momentarily confused and drawn to him, I was surprised when Lucas rammed my knees sending me crashing to the ground.

  Face to face, I saw concentration set in his familiar eyes. The old Lucas was still in there. And I used it to my advantage. When I caught my breath, I asked, “Hey Lucas, wanna play the lyrics game?”

  I caught him off guard and rolled him to his back, punching him square in the nose, blood spattering across his face. New Lucas clouded over the old and his face twisted, for a moment, into a demonic mask. He threw me off and we stood, feet apart, contemplating each other. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand and glared at me.

  I squared my shoulders, closed my eyes and lifted my arms, palms up. As I did, pebbles, rocks and stones lifted in unison, swirling in anticipation. I opened my eyes and focused on Lucas. I threw my arms forward and, as I did, everything flew at him, some pelting his body, some smashing to dust on nearby trees and boulders.

  Blood appeared every place he was hit. And I could see him begin to heal. The sight brought back the memory of Lucas in the kitchen months ago when I’d shattered the window causing glass to embed itself in his skin. I shook the memory free. I’m sorry.

  Outstretching my arm, I began to lift him from the ground. I fought the urge to close my fist and rip out his heart. My body began to vibrate with the effort it took to keep from ending him. It felt like my blood was boiling over and in that moment, killing him was all I wanted.

  I dropped him to the ground, ready to walk away.

  “I never wanted hurt you, Sam.” Rage began to subside before it was renewed full strength.

  Images, of my father, of me, of Ethan, of Jesse and of Scott, flashed through my mind.

  “Too late.” I threw my sword towards him.

  Time slowed down as control began to leave me the second I let go of my weapon. I watched as my sword flew toward his heart.

  No, Sam.

  Dad.

  I threw up my palm and barely knocked Lucas out of the way as time sped back up. It nicked his shoulder before lodging itself into a tree behind him as Lucas’ wide eyes followed it.

  “What the hell, Sam?”

  He was tired, beaten and defeated. Without a word, I dropped to my knees shaking. Lucas came to me, gathering me up in an embrace whispering over and over. “I’m so sorry.”

  Malena and Branna joined us, their arms circling us. Damien turned and walked into the house.

  I sat with the three of them, rocking myself back and forth, trying to calm the storm.

  Samannnnthaaa…

  Warm air kicked up as leaves began to swirl around us.

  This time I wasn’t the only one who heard it. “Did you hear that?” Malena’s muscles tensed around me.

  “Sebastian.” I could barely hear my own voice over the wind that whipped up dangerously. A bolt of lightning struck the earth feet from where were huddled. Scrambling up and running towards the house, bolts followed us, connecting to the ground just behind our footsteps.

  Our bodies stung as we were pelted with quarter-sized hail and tree branches that flew through the air, intent on making contact.

  Sebastian’s laugh filled the space as we flew through the kitchen door, falling over one another until we were heaped in the middle of the floor. Thunder shook the windows. Branna covered her ears and began shaking violently.

  As she lay convulsing in the fetal position, I threw my body on hers. A scream erupted from her throat and her hands moved to clutch her chest. “Stop! Stop! No!”

  I couldn’t find the source of the att
ack though we all knew Sebastian was behind it. The door crashed open and Branna was pulled, feet first, by some invisible force towards the door. Her fingers clawed at the floor as her nails snapped leaving trails of blood.

  Lucas and I held onto her arms but the force was too strong. “He’s going to kill me! Don’t let him kill me!” Her screams shot through me like knives.

  Cal and Noah ran into the kitchen and helped us, completely unaware of what was happening.

  You cannot stop me. I will kill everyone who ever meant anything to you, just as I killed your father. I will win. I will always win.

  Shaking my head to rid it of Sebastian’s unwelcome words, I concentrated on keeping Branna in the house when Malena stopped her attempts at helping. Standing, she walked to the door as her sword clattered to the floor. Damien bolted into the kitchen as she stepped to the threshold. He stood frozen, watching and I could’ve sworn I saw a hint of amusement in his face.

  “Malena, no! Don’t do this. Don’t let him win!” I screamed.

  “That’s your job now.” She whispered into the howling winds.

  “There’s another way! Don’t!” I scrambled to reach her, my feet slipping on the hard tiled floor.

  Shadows crossed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can choose now.”

  Sebastian’s cackle had us covering our ears and Branna stopped fighting as the invisible force stopped pulling her towards the door. Malena was ripped into the air as soon as she stepped outside. A stinger-like sword of an Exiled flew through the air, impaling her through the chest. Eyes wide, she didn’t even have chance to scream. She reached toward my outstretched hand and was jerked back, out of sight. Moments later, her wings dropped to the ground, bloodied and shredded.

  I clawed at the hands and arms that wrapped around me as I tried to run towards where she stood moments ago. The sky outside blackened and an explosion tore the sky. The electricity went out in the house. I felt like I ants were crawling over my skin. Slowly sinking to the floor, my voice hoarse, I could no longer feel Sebastian’s presence.

  “Oh my God! She’s dead. She’s dead. She’s dead.” Branna repeated over and over.

  “Why would she do that?” Noah, face ashen, spoke from the doorway as he looked out into the now serene fall day.

  “She sacrificed herself for me.” Branna’s hand covered her mouth and she closed her eyes, tears falling down her face.

  “You could’ve saved her!” Jumping up to face him, I screamed at Damien.

  “I couldn’t.”

  “Yes you could have. I know you could have! What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Samantha, Malena made a choice. I couldn’t very well step in the middle of that, now could I?” He dared me to respond and I knew he heard the conversation she and I had earlier. By not stepping in, he punished her for questioning him and for warning me. She hadn’t really made the choice. He’d made it for her. This time to silence her.

  “She couldn’t have!”

  “It’s what she wanted. I decided it was time to grant her that wish.”

  Breathless, my heart raced as we stared each other down, waiting for me to question him, to tell the others what he did. But I couldn’t. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t turn against him. The very thought of it pinched my heart. He reached out and grazed my chin with his soft fingers. I closed my eyes at the touch and our bodies became magnets. I had to fight the urge to pull him in.

  Ethan must’ve, at some point, gone outside because when he came back in the house he told us what we didn’t want to hear. “Her body’s gone.”

  I tore my eyes from Damien’s, not sure if I was still in shock at his callousness or my silence on the matter. Or because I wanted him.

  Chapter 14

  “What do you mean ‘her body’s gone’?” Christian asked the question that must have crossed all our minds.

  “I mean there is no body. Just her wings.”

  “Maybe she’s in the woods somewhere. Some of us should go look,” Mara offered her logical solution.

  “Yeah, that’s probably it.” Ethan looked confused as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.

  “No. That’s not it.” All eyes turned to Damien as he brushed past me. “Sebastian has her body.”

  “Why would he need her body?” Mara asked.

  “He will turn her into a winged minion.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” I wasn’t following.

  “The flying minions, the scaly creatures with spindly wings and thin swords. When someone crosses him, he reincarnates them as those mindless killing creatures.”

  “That’s awful!” Branna tears flowed more heavily.

  “Why didn’t we know about this?” Ethan’s tone forced through Branna’s sobs.

  “It’s common knowledge, I would think. You think someone would choose to become something so foul?” Damien spoke like we were caught not studying for a test.

  “Wait. If Malena is one of them now, or will be soon, then that means…”

  Ethan cut off Cal’s thought process “…Jesse. Scott.”

  “My father.”

  Everyone in the room looked at me and I turned to face Damien. “Is my father one of them?”

  “They were all buried. They can’t…”

  “I don’t know.” Interrupting Ethan, his eyes no longer showed anger or defiance. Instead, Damien looked at me with the softest, saddest expression and I felt all the pain in my soul evaporate.

  He wiped large, black tears from my face and leaned down to kiss me softly.

  Ethan’s thoughts pushed into my head. Sam!

  I felt his heart break and I ignored him. All I felt was Damien. With him there was no confusion, no questions and, most blissful of all, no conflict. There was only controlled calm as our lips slowly pressed together.

  His fingers grazed my chin. “If he is, I promise I’ll fix it.”

  I could only nod and take his promise to heart.

  “Mara, sit with Samantha. Ethan and I need to have a discussion.”

  ***

  “Are you okay?” Mara’s voice was warm as we sat on the couch.

  “No. She’s dead.” I didn’t wipe away my tears. They fell from my face leaving black stains on my clothing.

  “She is. I don’t know how to make sense of all of this. I don’t know how to make you feel better.”

  “You can’t. Sebastian probably took her body and who knows who else he’s transformed into one of those nasty things.”

  “For what it’s worth, I don’t think your father met the same fate as the others.”

  “Why not? Don’t you think Sebastian would’ve loved that?”

  “Maybe.” She contemplated as she tucked her feet under her. “But I think your father was too strong, too good, for Sebastian to have won that way. And like Ethan was saying, we buried them all.”

  “I hope you’re right. Damien will fix it if you’re not.”

  “You think so?” Her head cocked to the side, I could tell she was wary.

  “He said so.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? He’s done everything he said he would, so far.”

  “So he’s aptly trained you? Taught you the control you so desperately crave? Helped you learn to block the thoughts I can hear so clearly?”

  “It’s only been a few days.”

  “And you’ve lost control how many times? Malena has died, been taken by Sebastian. You’ve shut out Ethan and given your heart to the devil – you take him at his word. A word that, historically, has been regarded as crap.”

  “You don’t know him.”

  She leaned toward me. “And you do?”

  “I can’t explain it. I feel like I know him better than I know myself.” I pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and wrapped myself in it. “I feel…like we’re the same.”

  “You aren’t the same, Samantha. Get that thought out of your head. Damien is evil. He does nothing unless it benefits him. There’s a catch som
ewhere. He’s going to do something, take something in return for all his help. Mark my words. This is not going to end well. Never let down your guard Samantha. Remember, the devil may have once been an angel but he is no longer good.”

  I was too tired to deal with her. I just wanted Damien to come and save me from her questions and suspicions. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Just leave me alone, Mara. Just go.”

  “Yes, Mara. Why don’t you go? Branna is attempting to keep herself busy by making dinner. I’m afraid she’s not quite up to the challenge right now. Maybe you could help her?”

  He took my breath away. His dark hair was disheveled from constantly running his hands through it. His eyes looked worn but seemed to only find energy as they focused on me. Shirt halfway unbuttoned, dark jeans and barefoot, he looked every bit of the angel I wanted him to be. There was no sign of the demon, the liar, the punisher everyone else saw.

  Mara looked at him with hatred in her eyes. He, on the other hand, blanked his face. I couldn’t read him. As she rose to leave, she turned to me. “Be careful.”

  He waited until she was out of the room. “You’re so easy to read, Samantha.”

  “I don’t mean to be.”

  “Your thoughts fill the room. Everyone around you knows your fears, your strengths. It would be so easy to take advantage of that.” He settled next to me, leaning back against the arm of the couch and pulled me into his lap. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. Thoughts of his hands and lips on my skin swirled into a frenzy.

  “I don’t know how to shut it off.”

  I could hear the smile in his voice. “It is time to remedy that. It’s too much to have to constantly throw walls up around your head.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I generally enjoy what you’ve got streaming in there these past few days.” His hands raked through my hair. “I just don’t think the others need to hear all of it.”

  I bolted upright. “Do they know that we, what we…”

  His laugh interrupted my panic. “No. Walls, remember?”

  I turned to face him and he leaned forward to place his hands on either side of my face.

  “I want you to concentrate on keeping your thoughts to yourself. You need to be aware, at all times, of what is going through your head and who is around to hear it.”