Page 13 of Shadow's Sinner

The shadow man blinks at me, his head tilting as he studies me. I hold his gaze, trying to portray that I’m not moments from emptying everything in my stomach and curling into a ball while I cry.

“Who hit you?” he asks.

My hand automatically reaches up to my face, pressing my finger against the bruise Travis gave me.

“No one,” I mutter, my eyes breaking away from him. I shouldn’t be embarrassed, but I am. While I liked to think Travis was my boyfriend, that even if we barely saw each other because of my parents, he understood me. That is until he smacked me.

“Don’t lie to me. It’s a sin,” he growls.

I swallow and nod my head.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

“It’s not important.” I shrug, pulling my knees further into my chest.

“That’s a lie, again.”

“It’s not a lie.” I frown over at him. “It’s not important. It doesn’t matter.”

Growing up I never mattered to my parents. It was all about Lilianna. They both made it clear that I was an unwanted child, and while I know I have my faults, they beat me for any reason they could come up with.

“Tell me who hit you,” he demands.

I shake my head. Even if I did tell him it was Travis, nothing good would come of it.

“Don’t think about lying to me,” he warns.

I press my lips together, debating on still lying to him. But one glance at him and I know he holds no argument.

“It was a guy.”

Shadow man’s eyes darken, his hands flex into fists, and his knuckles crack from the force. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was upset that someone hit me.

“Why did he hit you?” he finally questions.

“I’m not sure. I…we…” I shrug, trailing off. I don’t know why Travis hit me; it feels like another life at this point.

“What were you doing before he hit you, Lakelyn?” he asks.

My eyes snap to his at the mention of my name. How does he know it? And why does it feel like this isn’t the first time he’s said it? But I don’t get a chance to say anything before he starts to stand. I can’t look away from him, the fear of being left alone grabbing me by the throat.

“Can you tell me your name?” I blurt out, trying to think of anything to say to get him to stay.

The shadow man glances back at me. I can see the words on the tip of his tongue, but he sighs and shakes his head. I plead with him to not leave me, but he doesn't care and continues to walk away leaving me here alone. Clinging the cloth to my nose, I breathe in its scent. My eyes slam close, the smell of citrus and sandalwood bringing me some calmness.

But I know somewhere in the back of my head, I’m about to die.

Chapter Eleven

The moment she sat up and turned her head to look at me full-on, I could feel my anger rise to the surface, threatening to break out and tear everything down around us. It’s irrational, I know that. The purple bruise that blooms on her cheek makes me want to kill someone, bleed them dry, and watch the life leave their eyes for putting a mark on her. The only one allowed to leave marks on her is me. I stop in my tracks at that thought, pondering the feelings that are churning in my stomach and head. She’s mine. I think she’s always been mine, but the universe must have had other plans. Or did it? She ended up in my clutches like a lamb to slaughter, but does it really need to end that way?

I glance back behind me, seeing the wooden cage sitting in the forest's darkness, catching a glimpse of her pale skin shining under the moonlight. She’s clutching the wooden slats, rattling them for dear life, hoping they will give way and set her free. I imagine it’s my arms around her, holding her tight, threatening to devour her whole instead of that cage. My mind flicks to the task ahead, and I’m unsure I can complete it. Watching the life bleed out of a sacrifice is therapeutic to me, but knowing it will be her under my blade makes me somber. The last time I felt this sadness was when my mother was the one in the ring. When my mother pleaded for me to save her, it broke my heart. What will it do to me when I hear the cries for help coming from Lakelyn?

She shouldn’t fucking be here. I turn back and trudge through the forest looking for my disciples. When I find them, they’re huddled around a large fire near the sacrifice pit. Creeping up quietly behind them, I hear their chatter about the girls that they brought here, one bragging about how they managed to convince them to come to this phony camping trip. A voice pipes up in front of me, and it makes me pause. The disciples around him still, staring at me wordlessly as the man in front of me continues to speak.

“I told Lakelyn that this was an eighteenth birthday gift for her, said that it would do her good to go camping with a group of girls. I even told her it would be relaxing for them all.” Mr. Wren starts cackling like a hyena. “I still can’t believe she actually bought it. She should know better. I wouldneverlet her go camping in the middle of nowhere without a chaperone. She must think I’m stupid, and for that alone she deserves to be here.”

I fist my hands at my sides, resisting the urge to reach out and strangle the ungrateful man before me. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I clear my throat, and Mr. Wren whips around like his robe is on fire. The look on his face is priceless and makesme wonder if he pissed himself in fear. “M-master Simon. Sir, I didn’t know you had made it back just yet from your hunt. Welcome.” He bows before me, spreading his arms wide behind him in some grand gesture.

“Hello, Disciple. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Please, why don’t you elaborate some more on why Lakelyn is here with the other sacrifices? I thought we had discussed this previously. She shouldnotbe here, Mr. Wren.” The threat in my voice makes him tremble before me. He stutters, his words panicking, and I have no idea what the hell he’s trying to say, making him guilty in my eyes. “Speak clearly, Disciple, oryouwill be on the other end of my blade.”

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