Page 14 of Found In Destruction

A glowing ray of magic weaved its way from Lucifer’s hands, past us and into the darkness, but it fizzled out before it could go too far. He tried a few more times, then paced our small lit area. Then he unleashed torrents of magical energy into the void, but to no avail.

I walked further into the void, using my magic to feel around me for anything hiding out here as I thought of how to fix this so we could bring her home. Technically her psyche wasn’t empty—it was dormant. Psyches could be fickle things, but they were the most alive while dreaming. If I could manipulate and weave dreams, maybe I’d be able to use that power to jump start Diana’s psyche. I needed all of my power, so unfortunately, Lucifer and Oisín had to go.

“Sorry guys,” I apologized before I broke the connection between us, throwing them out of Diana’s psyche and back into the real world.

I blocked all mindlinks, putting all of my focus onto Diana. I crouched down and put my hands on the ground. Channeling my magic through them, my mind filled with images of Diana. Her smile. Her blue eyes and the way she’d roll them at me when I was fresh. The sway to her hips when she’d walk. How soft her body felt when we’d cuddle after sex. Her pouty lips and how they tasted. With each memory, I feel my magic becoming more powerful as it moves through me, into her psyche.

Despite an increase, my magic still met resistance. A force that felt like a brick wall blocked me from penetrating Diana’s psyche, and I had no clue how to break through it.

I wanted to break it down brick by brick until it crumbled. Diana wasmywoman. She was the perfection that kept me up at night. My obsession, my everything. Knowing she bore my bite—my claim—wasn’t enough. Owning her heart and soul was never going to be enough. I could bind her to me and hide away in the most desolate, hidden corner of the world and it would never be enough.

No matter what, I’d always crave this woman. I’d do whatever it took to free her from her own mental prison. Because she’s mine.

Every dark, possessive thought made my magic more powerful—more determined—until it crescendoed, exploding like a bomb. The ground shook and I fell to my knees, gasping for air. A black, shadowed figure rose from the smoke, slowly gliding toward me, like some ethereal nightmare. As it got closer, I felt a familiar power signature. Smelled her familiar scent. Felt her overwhelming energy rolling over me in waves.

The smoke dissipated, and I’d recognize the curves and dips of her silhouette anywhere.

Diana stood before me, but she wasn’t her normal self. She was painted in shades of darkness, like a black and white movie. Her tight, black dress covered her completely, high neckline and all. Her face molded into a melancholy mask when she saw me. The energy radiating from her was devastating.

Hurt. Betrayal. Anger. I caused that.Wecaused that.

She stared at me, still and silent.

Cutting straight to the point was the only decision that seemed right. The longer I stayed in her psyche, the more magic I’d use and I could feel myself growing weaker by the second.

“I miss you and I’m so sorry for hurting you. It’s time to leave this place and wake up.”

She said nothing to me, but the expression on her face changed to anger. I may have been imagining it, but it seemed like there was a slight red tint to her cheeks.

“I’m serious, you have to wake up, Diana.”

“No, I don’t.” Her lips didn’t move, but the rasp of her voice rang throughout the space, as if it was over a loudspeaker. “I’m done with you all. I’m done getting hurt.”

A tear slid down her cheek. Then another. She looked like a dark weeping angel.

“The longer you stay here, the less chance you have of getting out. You could be trapped here forever.” I get up and try to move closer to her, but some invisible force keeps us a few feet apart.

The ground still shakes, and even though we’re in a dark void, I can feel the space shifting. The light above us that Lucifer left behind is pitching back and forth.

“Why would I go back to four men who shattered my heart?” she asked me as tears streamed down her face. “No.”

“Diana, please, there’s a war going on. Supernaturals and humans are dying, and Red is gaining ground again. The entire world as we know it is at risk.”

She turned her back on me, dismissing me.

“Birdie, please, come with me. If you won’t do it for us, or for the millions of innocent lives at stake, do it for Angie, Charlie, and Nonna. Your family deserves to be safe, and all of us are a target until Red is permanently stopped.”

The mention of her family gets her attention. "I miss them.”

The shaking worsened, causing the darkness to crumble and give way to bright red. Instead of feeling like we were in a void of darkness, there were clearly walls now, and they felt as if they were closing in on us. We had to get out, now. Something wasn’t right here.

“They miss you. We all do. Your fathers miss you, and so does your brother. Your men miss you, whether or not you’re done with us. We love you, and we’ll never stop fighting for you, Birdie. Please, take my hand?” I extend it to her as far as I can reach, given the force that surrounds her.

The walls get closer, and I give her a pleading stare.Please, Birdie, please take it.

“I’ll never forgive you, Bash. Or any of them,” she promised me as she took my hand.

“We’ll see, Birdie.”

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