Taming the Darkness

by Sarah Carter

  “Tell me yours,” Avery replies.

  “I’m only scared of two things,” I reply. “One is the devil. If he gets ahold of me, I’m never coming back.”

  “What’s the other thing?” Avery inquires.

  “Love,” I exhale.

  He sets his glass down, “I didn’t think you could feel love.”

  “I’m afraid that someday I will,” I whisper. “I’m just going to make sure that day never happens.”

  “So, you’ll die a virgin,” Avery laughs.

  Picking at a spot on the table, I say, “I guess so. So, what’s your darkest secret. And you’d better tell me the truth, because I can force you to tell me the truth. I’d rather you be honest.”

  “You’re an angel right?” Avery asks.

  “Yes, full angel, just a little dark,” I reply.

  “So, whatever I tell you stays between us.”

  “I’m an angel, not a priest, but a reaper doesn’t talk. Ever. But I also can’t stop the angels from listening right now.”

  He looks around. “But only the good angels are listening, right?”

  “Just the light angels, yes,” I reply. “Other reapers can’t hear us. Tell me Avery, what’s your darkest secret.”

  “My father killed my sister,” he says, “And one day, I will kill him.”

  “Hold up, what?” I stammer.

  Avery takes his full glass and downs it. So, I do the same. He takes the glass and throws it against the wall and it shatters everywhere. The abrupt collision makes me jump. Wasn’t expecting that. He looks at me with lost eyes. I take my glass and shatter it against the wall, too. He smirks, so I smirk back. “My sister was five years older than me. Her name was Hannah. She was great and so full of life, even though…”

  “Even though what…”

  He looks as though as he’s in pain and shakes his head. “I can’t do this.”

  Standing up, I walk around the table. “Give me your hand.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it.” I extend mine out and he grasps it. I let my walls down and touch him…in his soul.

  Avery takes a deep breath in. “It started before I can remember,” Avery sighs. “He started on her way before I knew what was going on. The things he did to us for our whole childhood. She got it the worst I think. Sometimes I could hear her scream. Our mom died when I was one. It was just us and him. He said I needed to do the same things he did to be a man. There was one time I went after him with a knife, while he tried to force my sister onto the bed. He stopped me and broke my arm…and he broke me. My world stopped spinning. When I was ten, I came home from school one day and ran up the steps so fast to see Hannah. I had gotten an A on this big spelling test. I ran to her room and whipped open the door and my world just shattered into a million pieces. She died…and I died too. I was too little to get her down. I had to call 911 and stand there and stare at her lifeless body.”

  “Oh Avery,” I whisper, a tear falling to the ground.

  He leans forward. “She couldn’t take it anymore. She left two letters. One to me and one to everyone else. The police found them. It told our whole story about the years of abuse. What we went through; it was all laid out there. I got taken away. The police poked around and took pictures. I was terrified. I had lost my one anchor in the world. She was gone and here I was alone and lost. He only got ten years. He’s out now and she’s dead. He can do whatever he wants and she’s gone.”

  “She’s in heaven!” I yell.

  “What?” He whispers, looking at me with wide eyes.

  “I can tell you that! I can’t let you talk to her,” I say. “But she’s happy and with your mom.”

  I can’t even describe the look on his face. “You know this for a fact.”

  “Yes,” I exclaim. “Yes, yes, to the thousandth degree, yes!”

  Tears just well up in his eyes and then he says, “You’re smiling.”

  Quickly, I stumble back. “No, I wasn’t.”

  “Yes, you were.”

  A steal door slams shut inside of me. “No, I wasn’t, but I’m going to make you smile,” I purr. “You get to experience your very first reaping.”

  “What do you mean?” He asks.

  “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” I yell. I skip over to the one closet. “Hmmmmm, what does a girl wear to such a festive occasion.”

  “Why are you changing your clothes?” Avery asks. “And what are we doing?”

  Pulling out an outfit, I say, “Got to lure him in for it to work.”

  “What are you talking about?” Avery asks.

  “The thing is…I can turn it on when I want,” I whisper. “I’m all angel baby. People are drawn to the beauty, but it’s the dark side that traps the humans.”

  Avery raises his eyebrow. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about, but I would hook up with you in a nanosecond.”

  “You are immune to it,” I say. “Don’t know why, but it’s probably good.”

  “I don’t think I’m immune to it,” Avery says. “I just really hate girls.”

  Turning to him, I ask, “Why?”

  “There’s been enough sharing time,” Avery mutters. He picks up the bottle. “I don’t feel drunk at all.”

  “That’s because that’s not alcohol. It’s a truth potion, so to speak,” I say.

  He throws a steely glare my way. “You tricked me.”

  I rip off my shirt and pull on a corset. Avery raises an eyebrow, opens his mouth, and then closes it. I have a bra on so it’s not like I’m baring it all. Tying up the ribbon, I say, “I didn’t trick you. You never asked what you were drinking. I needed to know about you and you drank and shared willingly. It doesn’t force you to do anything. It’s just a nudge.”

  “I told you my darkest secret,” he growls. “I’ve never told a soul.”

  “I also told you my darkest, scariest secret,” I reply. “I’m afraid of losing my soul both to the darkness and to the light. No one knows that.”

  “Why did you tell me?” Avery asks, walking over to me. When he gets only a few feet away, I take in a deep breath. His presence presses against my aura and makes my chest tighten. I tilt my head back and want him to touch me. I want him to touch me all over. The visions in my head and what my body is feeling is something I have never experienced. Suddenly, I feel his fingertips on me. I grab him and am about to kiss him, when I hear, “Raven, whoa.”

  My eyes flash open. “Damn,” I gasp. I push him away. “That was close.”

  “You know,” Avery starts. “I could be a total jerk and let you continue to do whatever it was that you were going to do, but I figured that could be really bad, and I don’t want you to reap my soul.”

  I shake my head. “No…I” I stutter. “I don’t know what that was. That’s never happened before.”

  “We should get on with whatever you are going to do, because the drive to give you the night of your life is very strong right now. I may not be able to hold back much longer.”

  “Fine, turn around,” I snap. He does. Pulling out a skirt, I slide off my boots and pull down my pants. I slide on the skirt and zip it up. Then I take out other boots, knee high boots, and slide them on. When I turn around, I notice Avery staring at me through a mirror on the wall. “Hey!” I yell.

  “I should say sorry,” he declares, “But, I’m not.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I whisper, “Jerk.” He smiles broadly and I smirk in return. Walking over to him, I ask, “Are you ready?”

  “I don’t know what we’re doing, but you are smoking hot right now, and sadly it’s not for my benefit.”

  “Oh, but it is for your benefit,” I say. “Just not in the way that you are thinking.” I grab ahold of him and he puts his arms around me. The sensation makes me take a quick breath in. Finally, I exhale, “Okay, hold onto your ass.”

  “How about I hold onto your ass,” Avery laughs. I laugh for a moment and then in an instant we are gone, and in someone else’s bedroo
m. It’s dirty and gross. Avery makes a face, as he looks around. “Where are we?”

  I frown. “Nasty. I’m going to have to take a long, hot shower after this.”

  “Now, do I get to join in this nice, hot shower?” Avery asks, with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes,” I reply, forcing a smile.

  His eyes widen. “Really?”

  With a deadpan stare, I reply, “No.” Suddenly, there is noise. “Come here,” I whisper. He steps forward and I grab him. Gently, I kiss him on the forehead. Avery pulls me tight against him, and we have a stare down for I don’t know how long. “It’s the angelic touch,” I murmur. “I’m not kissing you because I like you. It’s like a mark of protection.” He lets go of me, and I take a step back. Blowing out a deep breath, I say, “You are invisible to the human eye right now. I can hear you and see you but he can’t.”

  “Who?” Avery asks.

  Turning to him, I look him dead in the eyes. “Your father. It’s time for a reaping.”

  Chapter 4

  “My father!” He exclaims. I can visibly see his jaw clench.

  “You want revenge,” I whisper. “What better way than a reaper.”

  “He deserves to die!” Avery screams.

  I pull him against me and put my hand on the side of his face. “Calm down. Sometimes there are things worse than death and I’m the hand that deals it.” My eyes widen. “Here he comes. Remember he can’t hear you or see you and you can’t touch him.”

  I sit down at the end of the bed. Crossing my legs, I sit somewhat sideways, sliding the skirt up. Suddenly, this overweight, scruffy, sleazy guy walks in. This is seriously going to be so gross. Avery, I’m glad I can do this, but oh this guy is revolting. His father furrows his eyebrows. “Who in the hell are you?”

  “The name’s Peaches,” I giggle.

  “What in the hell are you doing in my bedroom?”

  “I’m a gift from God,” I giggle again. “He says you’ve been a naughty, naughty boy.” I push out my aura.

  Avery’s dad grins. “Well, Peaches, maybe I have been a naughty boy.”

  I stand up and slowly walk around him, tracing my finger on him as I go. “Are you going to confess your sins to me?” I purr. “I do like to punish.” I slap him hard across the ass.

  “I will confess whatever you want,” he laughs. “Just come here.” He grabs at me.

  “Uh uh,” I laugh. “It’s not that easy.”

  “I will do whatever you want.”

  Pressing my aura, I whisper, “Lay down on the bed.”

  He pushes me aside and lays down on the bed. I jump onto the bed and sit on him. Making a surprised face, I flick my wrists and a pair of handcuffs appear. “Oh my gosh,” I gasp. “What are these?”

  “Oh yeah, baby,” he slithers.

  I handcuff one wrist. Then with a flick of my other wrist, another pair of handcuffs appear. He licks his lips. Dude, you’re so nasty in every aspect. I handcuff the other wrist. He shifts his hips against me. Oh God, I’m going to vomit. For the very first time, I’m going to hurl all over my mark. I stand up and turn around. Avery’s fists are clenched so tight they are white. He looks up at me and I wink. “Show time.” I shove my hands out. Avery’s dad’s legs are pulled tight and secured to the bed by ropes. “OH!” I yell. I moan and act like I’m turned on, meanwhile suppressing the rising bile in my throat. Spinning around, I let all my walls down and bring the darkness forth.

  His dad stares at me in horror. “What’s going on?”

  “You look like death just walked through the door,” I purr. “Guess what…it did.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Nope, not at all. I have been sent by God, but not in the way that you think,” I declare. I let my seraph blade drop into my palm. With a thrust of my hand it changes.

  Avery asks, “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to have some fun,” I exclaim. Holding the crop in front of me, I say, “You like these don’t you?” His dad’s eyes don’t waiver from me. “Though you like to use them on other people,” I whisper. “I do feel like the favor should be returned.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I give you ten minutes to confess your sins,” I state. “If you do not, I will deliver your soul to hell myself.”

  “What?” His dad stutters.

  Throwing my hands in the air, I yell, “Ladies and Gentleman, it’s time for a reaping!” After a few seconds, I add, “Now, confess your sins,” and then push my aura out further.

  “Screw you bitch,” he spits out.

  I turn to Avery. “You want this, right? Because things are going to get dirty in a few seconds. Can you handle it?”

  “Yes,” he says, with a steely glare at his father.

  Turning back to his dad, I say, “Confess.”

  “Confess to what?” Drawing my hand back, I slap him with the crop. He screams with all of the pain inside of him.

  “Seraph blade,” I whisper to Avery. “I went through this yesterday. It can be whatever I want it to be, but it burns like the fires of hell. It’s like preparation for what’s to come.” I smile, but it’s not a happy smile. It’s a sinister smile. It’s a, I’m about to fuck you up, smile. “Now, confess,” I urge Avery’s father.

  “To what?” He growls. I take the crop and slowly draw it across his chest. There’s a smoke trail behind it. He screams. “Stop! Stop!”

  Avery jumps forward. “Don’t stop! He never stopped when we screamed. He never stopped when she cried.”

  “Okay,” I chime, my darkness enveloping me. I draw a happy face on his chest.

  “Stop! Please, stop!” He’s begging. You can see the pain in his eyes and the tears running down his face.

  “CONFESS!”

  “No!”

  I make a clock appear. “Your time is ticking away. You only have six minutes left. TICK. TOCK. TICK. TOCK.” Throwing it across the room, I slap him across the face with the crop. “Confess,” I repeat.

  “To what?”

  “To your darkness. To the worst deeds you have done. Confess to your sins.”

  “They were so young and so perfect. They wanted it.”

  My attention snaps to Avery. He’s crying. He’s not angry, he’s crying. Now, that pisses me off. “Come here, Avery.”

  “Avery,” his dad stutters. “Where?”

  Waving my hand, Avery appears to his father. “You’re going to die you bastard,” Avery spits out.

  “Avery, come here,” I whisper. I jump off the bed and grab his hand. Together, we step to the bed. I pull his arms around me and press him against my back.

  “I’m probably going to get yelled at about this,” I state. “Pretty sure, but even if it’s the last reaping I do and I live in hell for the rest of my life, it will be worth it. I’d even be the one who tortures you.” Holding the crop in my hand in front of us, I say, “Avery, don’t touch the blade, but grab my hand.” He does. “Here you go. Revenge.” We slap his father across the chest. His father screams. So, I do it again. He yelps like a dying animal, because that’s what he is.

  “I can’t,” Avery cries. He backs away. “I can’t.”

  It’s then that I realize how fucked up this situation is and how deeply he hurt Avery. That awareness pulls on me in ways I can’t explain. “TIME’S UP!” I scream

  “It hasn’t been six minutes yet!” His father yells.

  “Time is different in hell,” I state. “And that’s where you are going, but not before I do this.” I turn to Avery and my eyes flash silver. He jumps back and I look his father. “You shall now relive every torment you ever did to anyone else. This is Avery’s true revenge.” I grab ahold of his head and stare into his eyes. Then, on turbo replay, his father sees his past. He feels everything he’s ever done. Finally, he falls limp. “Bastard,” I spit out.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whimpers.

  “There’s no sorry for you,” Avery screams, tears running down his face.


  I turn to his father. “I’m giving you one last chance to repent. I have to, by law. Repent.”

  “I’m sorry,” his dad whispers.

  “Not really believing you,” I snort. I shove my hand in his chest. “Just like I suspected,” I state. “Ice cold.” I wave my hand over him and he’s held perfectly still. Turning, I look at Avery. He nods his head. Bending over, I place my mouth over his and extract his soul. When I’m done, I burp again. Why do I always burp? So ladylike. I spin around to Avery. “I’m pretty sure I am going to spend the rest of my life in hell, so I say we go big or go home!”

  He wipes his tears away. “What?”

  “Open your palms,” I say. He does. I gently blow out. A misty ball forms. “That’s all yours.”

  “What is it?” He asks.

  “Your father’s soul,” I reply.

  Avery’s eyes snap up to me. “What?”

  “Now, this is the tricky part. We have to deliver that to hell.”

  Furrowing his eyebrows, Avery says, “We can’t. We are trying to hide from them.”

  “I will open the window for a split second. You have to toss it to a demon, otherwise it will break,” I state. Come on, do it Avery.

  “What happens if it breaks?” Avery asks, staring wide eyed.

  “He’s stuck in hell forever. Lifeless. Open to torture but unable to scream. If you give it to them whole, he has the chance to repent. It’s your choice. I have to open the door for a few seconds and then transport us somewhere else. So, aim for a demon. Any demon will be happy to have him.”

  “If it breaks…”

  “He’s in hell for all eternity,” I whisper. I walk behind him and wrap my left arm around him. “Are you ready?” He nods. I sweep my hand over the floor.

  Avery brings the sphere up to his face. “Fuck you. Burn, you bastard.” He just drops it into the hole without looking. “Get us out of here,” he chokes out. I transport us back to my safe house. As soon as we land, Avery spins away from me and goes to the corner. I let him be. I hear him light a cigarette and I sigh. Going to the cabinet, I pull down a bottle and pour some liquid into a cup. Then I take another bottle and pour that into a different cup.