Page 32 of Scars and Burns

“And what… was that exactly?”

He smirks, “Death”

He walks over to his desk and sits down, motioning for me to sit but I just walk over and stand right across from him.

He’s leaning back in his chair. Resting his elbows on the armrests with all his fingertips pressed together.

“You are not meant to be anything else. You are meant to be death itself. Your darkness will consume everything and everyone.”

“What if I don’t want to be, death itself?”

“You don’t get a choice.”

Of course not.

“Did you kill her?”

He gives me a curious look. “You’re going to have to be a little more specific.”

“My Mother? Did you kill my Mother? Tonight?”

Parting his hands. He rests them down on the chair’s arms. “Yes. Why do you think the raid was so short? Why do you think I sent you elsewhere? Instead of having you at my side like usual.”

I stare at him. This wasn’t about me proving myself to him. This was about keeping me from seeing my Mother one last time. Because he knew I would try and stop him. He didn’t care about the life of the Queen. Sending me to kill the her was all about distracting me. I played right into his hand. Doing exactly what he needed me to do. Staying away.

I rage. Blasting my magic toward him. He’s ready for the attack. Standing, his black flames engulf me. Wrapping up the length of my arms and legs. Burning through my clothes. Branding my skin even more. He absorbs the shadow magic I had barreling toward him. Throwing it back at me tenfold. It begins to seep into my mind and body. The smoke meeting every inch of flesh that isn’t covered byflames. Absorbing into my every pour. I feel it spreading through my veins. Invading my bloodstream. My vision begins to blur. I blink against it. Going in and out of reality. I see the darkness closing in.

My jaw hurts from how hard I am clenching it. I swear I am about to break every single one of my teeth. I cannot let this happen. No, I will not let this happen.

I have suffered and endured so much at the hands of my own Father. My Father who has lied and manipulated me. My Father you tortured me for as long as I can remember. Never actually caring about me, only that I could comply to his plan.

If he wants me to be death, then that’s exactly what I will be.

I clench my fists and eyes. Then with all my strength I push back. My eyes fly open, my hands shooting out toward him. Breaking his bond. Shattering his flames around my body. Dissipating his shadows from my soul.

I coil my blue flames around his entire body. Wrapping around his ankles all the way up to his throat. A cocoon of blue fire. He’s completely immobilized. My flames then begin to turn color. Changing from blue to black. My magic has overcome his. I push my shadows toward him. Surrounding the entire area around him in a cloud of smoke. My magic is seeping into his mind. I don’t know what he sees, nor do I care. This man probably fears nothing at this point. Although, I can tell by his struggling, the mental incapacity I’m causing him is evident. Then I feel it.

His soul.

Who would have thought he had one after all these years?

It’s there. It’s mine for the taking.

But I don’t.

I release my magic. My shadows recede. My fire unravels.

My chest is burning.

My Father takes in a loud gulp of air once his throat is able to again.Reaching a hand up to his neck. He smirks at me, saying, “Finally”

He’s smiling.

Why is he smiling?

He’s staring at me. But his gaze does not meet my own. I follow it down to my chest. Where a complete goddess mark sits on my sternum.

I have no words. I stare at my Father in awe. Searching for something on his face, in his eyes to tell me anything. To guide me the way a Father or King would. But he doesn’t.

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