Page 139 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Just suffering.

And it was driving me to madness. My mates had recognized the signs and tried to coddle me to protect me from myself, but it wasn’t working.

Nothing was.

Slowly but surely my ability to cope was eroding around me.

More often than not, I woke with my mouth open on a silent scream. It was bubbling under my skin at all times, and all it would take was a little impetus and boom.

I’d explode.

All I wanted was to open my throat and scream until my vocal cords were shredded and my body vibrated with the pleasure of letting go.

As a teenager, I’d have sworn I’d never lose control. I wasn’t a monster, so I’d never release my voice unless it was absolutely necessary.

Now it was not a matter of if; it was only a matter of when.

The years hadn’t been kind.

Every day, I woke up and wondered if today would be the day I’d do the unforgivable and push myself and my mates into total damnation.

Would it be in a crowded room? In a city surrounded by millions of unsuspecting sheep?

Someday I’d lead them all to slaughter, and the release would taste so sweet that I wouldn’t care.

Pain had a funny way of tearing you to shreds, piece by little piece.

And I was at my breaking point.

“Please, baby,” I whispered as loudly as I dared without using the full power of my voice.

Arabella shivered on the marble floor and didn’t turn her head to acknowledge me. She gave me nothing.

I took a step forward and touched her arm. Gently.

She scrambled away from me. Knees clacking against stone as she gathered herself to her feet and stumbled down the hall.

She ran.

Away. From. Me.

I slapped my hand over my mouth as I hurried after her, words burning my tongue and begging to be released.

As she sprinted down the halls, my vision wavered like it did when my tattoos activated. I felt the petals drifting down my neck and across my collarbone.

Arabella wasn’t supposed to run from me.

I’d been so nice to Aran. To her.

I was the one who kissed her lips.

I was the one who held her tenderly.

I was the one who told the men to back off.

I played the part of the good guy so she would run to me, not away.

I called her nice names and looked her in the eye and kept my body posture nonthreatening.

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