Page 421 of Bride of Choice

I’m admittedly jealous that Rek is saying Buu’s his best friend now, when I’ve been Buu’s best friend for what feels like forever and a day, but all Buu’s ever wanted was a mate and a clan that loves him and how dare I even consider ruining that for him.

Snow fell fast, covering me. I was already freezing. Soon I’d look like a human meat-popsicle. I smiled a little at the reference. I used to daydream I was Leeloo and there was a space cabby out there somewhere for me.

The one named Rek called something out to me, warning me not to do something… Shart? Dart? Part?

What did he mean part? As in split in half?! My gaze frantically darted around the window ledge. It was rough with a bumpy surface, no sharp edges. What would cut me in half?

Pondering this, I gave myself a little wriggle, frowning at the lack of play. I’d crammed myself in here good.

A snarl from somewhere beyond the snow coming down like mad around me had me freezing in place. My words to Rek, asking what he meant, were cut off by the loud shriek I let out that was probably not helping things any.

Silence followed my panicked screech.

Then there was a soft crunch. The sound of a twig snapping.

“What was that?” I whispered fearfully. My hands began to tremble and it was no longer just from the freezing temperature outside. “St-st-stay back,” I whispered on a soft whimper. “Please…”

The eyes that peered at me from the whipping white. That sneer. Rage. Plain and simple.

The devil incarnate.

Gram-grams, my Gramps’ Mama, tried for years and years, until the day she died, to put the fear of God in me. She was a deeply religious woman. She never did quite manage to get the devil in my mama out of me.

It took a lot to get me here, a lot of bad choices, a lot of pain, regrets, and being nearly beaten to death by a monster I’d chosen to follow because I was a fool, an utter and complete fool. I deserved it, he’d told me as I cowered at his feet and he made sure I remembered what would happen if I failed him. I’d brought this on myself, he spat at me as kicked my belly until I’d lost consciousness.

My heart started to pound. I wasn’t sure if it was from the fear of the beast in the snow, or recalling the torture of the monster Mina’d had the guts to dispatch of.

I envied her the feat. She was sort of my hero. I’d never tell her that. She hated me. I’d taken her life, upended it and crapped all over it, then crapped all over it some more. She should hate me. She had every right to wish me gone from the village, a fact I’d tried to explain to Buu but he’d already heard it, he knew, just as he knew going back to the Suns caves would be suicide for me.

It hurt to breathe as I panted for breath, the chilly air piercing. The tears I’d yet to shed, glistening in my eyes, wetting my lashes, were aiding in helping the tiny ice crystals forming along my lashes.

My face burned, chapped from the wind whipping at me.

Gulping audibly, I could only sit here, stuck in the window, and gape as the shadow monster peeking in the snow drew closer.

Gramps used to call me his little hummingbird. He said I was always fluttering about, a little pest in his garden, hunting down the sweetest smelling flowers.

I’d never felt more like one than I did now, as my heart hammered and my hands fluttered about me.

The shadow devil beast was right upon me now. It would only be moments before he came at me, readying his killing blow.

Having barely eaten anything today, I was sure that must have contributed to the lightheadedness sweeping over me. I wobbled in place, mumbling, struggling to keep my head up. A strange buzzing filled my ears.

I was such a failure in this life. Perhaps I could do better in the next one?

“I’m so sorry, Gram-gram… Gramps… forgive me,” were my last words as I slumped forward. I wouldn’t even be reunited with them in the afterlife. The thought had tears rolling down my cheeks. They burned before cooling and crusting to my face.

Coming to moments later, my head hurt, eyeballs screaming. A deep voice commanded that I wake. “Lucifer?” I blurted as a clawed hand gripped my face and lifted it up.

The devil burned brightly in those black eclipsed eyes that met mine. They were oddly attractive, despite the hell fire brimming in them.

“Bad female,” the devil spat.

No, not the devil, my jumbled mind corrected. And all the same, I blurted, “Are you going to take me to Hell?”

The devil blinked down at me abruptly at that and jerked away. He cocked his head, eyeing me. “Hit head?” he grumbled. “In Lo denaii village, Candy-ass. No know?”

“I’d love extra fries. I’m starved,” I breathed, blinking up at him owlishly.

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