Page 120 of Gift from the Nexus

Something inside of me cracks at his comment. He’s no longer allowed to speak of her. He’s no longer allowed to even think of her.

My gaze snaps up to his and I let him see the tear that’s traveled down to my chin. As I stare into those lifeless shit-brown eyes, I swear it’ll be the last tear he ever causes to fall. That decision sends a serene feeling through me that I’ve never experienced in my life. My anger-ridden face smooths out to a delicate calm and I take a breath so deep, I’m sure I just sucked all the air out of the room.

Slowly, I stand, keeping my eyes locked on his. He’s pitifully convinced himself, my tear, my one single tear, is my show of weakness. But he’s so wrong. So very, very wrong.

“Do you believe in the beyond?” I ask softly.

“What?” he asks confusedly, staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

“Do you believe in the beyond?”

“I do. It’s said to be a paradise waiting for those worthy enough to enter,” he says smugly as though he believes he’s one of those chosen.

“Who deems people worthy?”

“The rulers of the beyond. Those who’ve come before us and passed before their time. Our family lives amongst those sitting on thrones as they so deserve,” he says confidently.

“Is that what your father taught you? He told you there were rulers in the beyond and they were your family?”

“Of course. It’s known and believed widely throughout the realm. Surely, you’ve bothered to learn this since being here.” He rolls his eyes like he’s always done when I say something he finds to be stupid or useless.

“I’ve bothered to learn a lot. Recently, actually minutes ago, I learned you were right. Well, right from your own perspective. See, the comment you just made about my mother cursing me. You’re right to believe that. Because that’s exactly what I am for you. A curse. But what she gave me is a blessing. She blessed me to be your downfall, your destruction. And I have every intention of seeing that through.

“One thing I will teach you, though, is you’re completely and utterly wrong about the beyond. There’s but only one ruler and she deems who’s worthy of entry.”

“You have no clue what you’re talking about. This realm and everyone who believes Elementra is more than a glorified goddess with a few powers to manipulate people’s souls is ignorant and naïve. My father is far more powerful than her and he walks amongst us rather than hiding away from his people,” he yells.

His face grows an angry shade of red and all I can do is shake my head at him. He’ll die on this hill and with his beliefs. There’s no other option than to just prove him wrong.

“Elementra.”

The atmosphere in the room intensifies the second her name is out of my mouth. She was with me the moment my body became blanketed in her power and calm. Now she’s making herself known to everyone in here.

“You are unworthy of a spot in the beyond, Franklin. You do not deserve to be in the same realm as my mother, our mother,” I say, laying my hand on Lyker’s shoulder. “You will die, and your soul will become nothing more than ash on the wind.”

“Willow, what do you think you’re doing?” he sneers.

“Showing you just how useless I am, Father.”

I admit, I’m happy to finally see a shred of fear fracture across his face. He deserves a minute of fear. He deserves more than a minute.

“By the Elementra-blessed responsibility placed upon me, I sentence you, Franklin Abott, to death. For the rape of my mother, for the murder of her Nexus, my brother’s fathers, for the treason committed against this realm, the nonmagical realm, innocent people, the royal family, for the threats and slurs you’ve uttered toward my true Nexus, and for every fucking time you tortured me, beat me, threw me in a grave, spat on me, slapped me, withheld food from me, sold me, drained my blood, and lastly, stood by while sixteen men prepared to rape me. Your sentence will be carried out now.”

Clapping my hands together just as Caspian told me his mom did, I didn’t expect it to go off like a bomb. The walls, the table, the entire foundation of the Castle shudders and a surge of Elementra’s power locks the room in a stasis as magic interweaves around me and Franklin. I know without a shadow of doubt, I didn’t just speak some words or a meager threat. I just made a binding sentence. One that’s woven together by fabrics of pure power and Elementra’s blessing.

One that has no choice but to be carried out.

As the power dissipates, Franklin stares up at me. Face white as a sheet, mouth gaping open like he can’t believe what I did. It’s like he’s seeing me for the first time. Not only does he hate what he sees, he fears it.

As he should.

“Willow, please don’t. Don’t do—”

“Begging is for weak women, isn’t that right? Isn’t that what you said?”

“I…Willow, you can’t. I’m your father.”

“You’re not. You’re a pathetic, useless man who raped and forced my mother against her will to produce me. You are absolutely nothing. Your existence means nothing. And I will make sure that is your legacy. I’m going to tear down the entire empire you and your father have spent centuries building. And you know who will be sitting on the throne one day? Me. A woman you’ve called useless and worthless more times than I can count. You know who will be treated fairly, equally, and like the fucking goddesses they are? All women. There will be no room for men like you and the Mastery in this realm. Every belief you’ve held so dear to your heart, I will crumble, decimate. While you, you worthless fucking excuse of a man, will die and that will be the end. Goodbye, Franklin.”

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