Page 39 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

All I could think of was how they might be attempting to take advantage of me. These were the same beings who were mass-murdering fae, who mercilessly attacked those who had done them no wrong. In fact, their kind had done more than offend me in the past.

“I feel the need to make something clear. I have no desire to harm any of you; I am no monster who finds pleasure in the pain of others. As someone who has been maimed by your kind, I think it more fair I question your intentions with me rather than the other way around.” My accusation was plain as day.

It was them who could not be trusted. As pleasant as they seemed, they were also a viscous species who tortured fae for the fun of it. The very same creatures who cut my ears and murdered my family sat at this table, and it was a struggle to contain my pain in that moment.

“Actually, that is not—” Lian began, but Bellamy quickly silenced her with a raised hand.

I reached out to her mind as quickly as the snap of a whip, but the demon prince was somehow faster. The earth below my chair rumbled, sending me flying backwards, breaking my concentration. Wind, fierce and cool, hit my back, pushing me upright. I gasped at the jerking motions, feeling a tad nauseous.

“Now, Asher, I thought we agreed you would stay out of their minds,” he said, a smirk on his stupid face.

I huffed and started scooping food onto my plate. No part of me believed he would tell me how he sensed my power, which rendered that question unnecessary and pointless. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lian glare down the table at Bellamy, as if she were angry at him for stopping me.

I ignored it, grabbing piles of eggs, pancakes, potatoes, and anything else my hands could reach. The assortment of spices wafted towards me, smelling far more exotic than anything I had ever eaten. From the corner of my eye, I saw Bellamy watching me, the heat of his stare threatening to undo me.

“Am I allowed to pick at your mind, oh glorious prince?” I asked. Without waiting for an answer, I looked away, shoving a few bites of food into my mouth and sending my power creeping towards him.

Whatever he did to block me was not in effect. In fact, his mind was unguarded, as if he was hoping I would invite myself in. The second I did, Bellamy startled me by speaking.

Would it be wrong of me to say I grow hard watching you devour your food like that?

I jumped, having never been spoken to through the mind. My power had only ever seemed to allow me to communicate to another, rather than the other way around.

“You are a pig,” I said, making sure to bite into the greasy bacon as I did. Bellamy licked his lips, watching me finish off the piece.

“Asher, we have no reason to harm you. I think you have misunderstood your reason for being here, though I am sure that was easy with what little information Bell has provided,” Pino said, his palms up, as if offering me invisible honesty.

Everyone at the table was watching me. I wanted to shout at them that I was not for their entertainment, their curiosity. I wanted to kill them all for their complacency in the murdering of my fae. So many horrible, intrusive thoughts beat down on me, and I knew that I had to be alone before I hurt someone.

As I stood to leave, I felt a prickle along my left arm and turned to see darkness creeping up my body. It seemed to be flowing from Noe, who was pouring tea into the cup beside my plate. The way it caressed my skin gave me the impression she was attempting to coax my own power out of me. Our eyes met, and a shadow slid under my chin. The table went silent, but I paid them no attention as I opened my mental gates, my power welcoming Noe’s mind.

“Noe, come here,” Father called. By the sound of his voice, he was angry. I held my breath, contemplating staying hidden. I knew though, that the longer I disobeyed, the worse it would be. So I pulled myself out of the small hole in the wall, crawling through my wardrobe and opening the doors. When I was out, I slid the wooden slab back into place, making the wardrobe appear whole once more, then pushed my clothes in front of it.

As I walked out of my chambers, an eerie darkness had encompassed the hall, devouring every inch of light. Before I could register the wrath that must have brought this on, I felt a fist slam into my back, throwing me to the ground. Searing pain shot through my wrist as I landed on it, my knees hitting with a loud thud. Crying out, I looked behind me to see father standing above, sneering.

“Let this be a valuable lesson, dear daughter,” he snarled, his face scrunched in rage, so much like my own when I am angry. “I will always win.”

This time, when his fist came down on me, my eyes shut and did not open.

When the memory faded into black, the heaviness of Noe’s pain filled me. Then, as clear as Bellamy’s earlier, her voice came echoing into my head.

We do not wish to hurt you, Asher. I do not. I know your pain, as you have seen. I feel it radiating from you as if it were my own. Let me say plainly what the others will not. If you go back to the place you call home, you will break, and no one will be able to put you back together.

Relinquishing my hold on Noe, I fell back into my seat and promptly heaved up the breakfast I had just finished eating.

III

Act III

~ Bargaining ~

Chapter Twenty-Four

No one spoke as I uncontrollably vomited. Any other time I would have felt embarrassed, but in that moment I only felt weak. When my stomach settled, my mind cleared.

“Something is wrong,” I whispered, face still downturned. Bellamy was on me in an instant, Ranbir not too far behind.

“How often has this happened, Asher?” the latter asked.

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