Page 7 of Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice

Standing tall and aloof, I masked the pain of being near them like this. Controlling the bonds as their center meant I could sense them, but they couldn’t sense me, and it left me feeling lonely. I tugged on the fading mark I’d given Lilah, using it to stay in character.

“I’m here for the information only,” I said, my tone cold and flat. “I don’t care about anything else. You made it clear last time that you’d rather lock me in my room than be my partners.”

My voice surprised even me with its icy detachment. Bones grumbled about his opposition to the locked doors, but he hadn’t stopped them, so I ignored him. They were all complicit in Kain’s decision to treat me like a prisoner.

When Trigger stepped forward again the black veins practically hissed as they descended further down my cheeks. I hoped he listened to my warning. I didn’t know if I could actually hurt them, but I could restrain them and run away. Thankfully, he took the hint and sat down with a huff.

The apartment hadn’t changed much, but it was noticeably messier. The small kitchen area to my right, with its dark-gray theme, did little to hide the dirty dishes piling up. Bones had sent his slaves to the Haven, so no one was here to clean up after the men. They clearly needed at least a reminder to not be slobs because ew.

Alaric and Dex never had slaves because they’d constantly be challenged for them, so they didn’t really have an excuse. Kain and Trigger usually didn’t either because slaves were a target for Tila's relentless torment, but they always had Bones’ slaves. Tila learned that Bones wouldn’t be nice if she touched his property. Some of the stories they told me about her making the lowers eat from a smelly shoe or have them crawl over glass still had anger flare inside of me. However, the men were grownups. They could clean.

The white fridge and tiles were meant to lighten the space, but the discarded jackets and shirts scattered around dragged the ambiance down. Vivian would have a heart attack if she saw her kitchen in this state.

Straight ahead, the small living room felt even more cramped with the five men scattered about, leaning against walls orlounging on the couch. The dark vigor about them filled the gaps in the air. If I got closer, it’d be suffocating.

Alaric had mentioned getting another room enhancer like the ones in the bedrooms, but his father apparently said no. He wanted Alaric to take over the pack, so he was being petty about giving him more gifts. Too bad, as the place desperately needed to be bigger. It didn’t fit six people comfortably.

The dark-gray side tables matched the kitchen color, but they sported knife holes in them now. Even the turquoise pillows and vases were destroyed. These men were acting like fucking animals. If they were trying to get back on my good side, they were failing miserably.

By the time I got to the large TV, which had socks hanging from it, Dex was shifting in his seat. Someone said they were about to clean up, but again I ignored them. The bored feeling was becoming easier to keep the longer I stood there, as if something inside of me was blocking my feelings and I loved it. My demon usually had to use energy to hold my emotions until I could deal with them. This felt like my emotions got devoured, so I didn’t have to feel them ever again. It was nice.

“Succy—”

“Don’t.” I put my hand up. “Let’s get on with this.” My tone was harsh, and it hurt to know I was speaking to my mates like this. I called on my wind magic, asking the energy to move a dining chair over to me by the door. I plopped my ass in the seat.

Kain growled out when the others sat back down. “You’re being ridiculous. I just want you safe.”

I hissed at him. It was a slow threatening sound like a snake gave to warn off people. “No, you want to control me and make decisions for me. You were shutting me out of everything, and then had the audacity to demand I stop going on hunts or trying to find my parents. We’re not working as a team, and I refuse to be pushed into a corner. You know my demon won’t allowit.” I moved my arms back and forth as if cleaning an invisible whiteboard. “This is not why I’m here. Tell me the information or I’m leaving.”

“Stop running from me,” Trigger growled out.

I growled back. “Stop giving me things to run from.”

My magic flared, making Dex jerk back, but Trigger shifted into his dark demon form. He became bulky, grew horns, and the red marks on him moved around his skin.

“It’s the cowardly way out.” Kain might as well have slashed my flesh opened with that one.

I stood, flinging the chair backward. “I run so I don’t hurt you. I promised I wouldn’t be another fucking person who hurt you, but you are making it really fucking hard. My demon has changed and will not tolerate being treated like dirt. She will force me into fighting for dominance and that would just hurt all of us. You assholes know this, but you can’t give up your top-dog spots until I rip them away.” I threw my arms up, my stomach twisting. “I’m done.” The numbness closed in, and I embraced the detached sensation.

I made it to the door before Alaric spoke. “Lucifer is committing mass murder in two days. He plans to kill every slave outside of the academy, no matter their age. He’s called all his troops and people in. The slaves have gone into hiding.”

My heart froze with the rest of my body. All the slaves who were eighteen years old and younger were trapped inside, so they would be easy to kill. Then, a hunt would begin, and my brother, Zar would be at risk. Until he had a Queen, he was considered a slave. They’d come to the academy last. I had to do something, but what?

“We need to work together.” I didn’t know who said it, but I shook my head.

“I don’t work with people I can’t trust.” I ran out the door, pushing them back with my magic, again, so they couldn’tfollow. I wouldn’t have the strength to fight them off if they tried. The desperation for their touch would leak through, and they’d never listen to me. I used a teleporting potion that hung from my belt. The green liquid splattered on the ground. As the magic had my body fading the mess on the floor turned to mist.

My body wholly faded and materialized next to Lilah’s bed. My heart broke as everything inside of me demanded I go back to them, so I didn’t notice the squirming form on the bed right away. Lilah’s face was scrunched as her hands gripped the blanket. For a second, I thought she was having a nightmare until I saw the body under the blanket between her legs.

The moment I realized what was happening, so did my shy-about-sex friend. Her mouth shut and her eyes widened. When the man moaned, she snapped out of her shock.

“Aaah!” Her screams pierced the shock holding me frozen and stung my brain. “Oh shit.”

I took a step away from her as the man spoke. “Yeah, let me hear you. This pussy is mine, not the fucker who bit?—”

Her body shot up in the air. “Stop. Demarcus, get away!” She kicked him in the face. With her strength he flew off the bed.

“What? What’s going on? You said yes.” Demarcus stuttered out. His head had hit the hardwood, so he didn’t notice me right away.

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