Page 106 of Demise

I don’t look down at the woman bleeding out, she’s gone now, whether she deserved it or not I…I’ll never be able to say. Instead, I lower the heart to my mouth, biting off the smallest piece I can manage, and rip my head away, blood seeping from the organ down my face.

Another round of thunderous cheers practically shakes the room as Christopher takes the heart from me, sinking his teeth into it as he rabidly shakes his head, then gives it to Henry Parris, who does the same, and so on and so forth. Even Asher and Ronan take a bite, though they swallow it quickly with grimaces of disgust.

That was probably the smart move. I’m still chewing the gummy tissue, the flavor burrowing its way deeper and deeper into my tastebuds. Oh God. With all of my willpower, I forcibly swallowed the mushed up piece of heart, my stomach violently turning as I do. I feel it heave and attempt to push it back down, but I will it to stay, breathing through it until my throat is clear.

Christopher pulls out a ring, sliding it onto my finger before grabbing my arm and lifting it up into the air, much like the winner of a fight. Everyone is to their feet now, apart from Horris Hutchinson in his wheelchair, as they surround me, slaps of congratulations coming to me from all angles. Their bloodlust high really knows no bounds. I’ve never seen a single Elderbehave this way, let alone all of them. My own father even comes up to me, cupping my bloody cheeks as he shakes me.

“I’m so proud of you!” He smiles, honest to God, smiles. I’ve never seen the man smile a day in his life. And he’s proud of me? For what? For killing a woman that, let’s be honest, may or may not have been a witch? For cutting her heart out and eating it along with all of these sick fucks?

I’m numb in shock, and thankfully, everyone begins filing out of the room, no doubt to go get cleaned up for the party. Ronan swoops in, grabbing me by the arm as he practically yanks me out of the room, Asher hot on our heels. We walk for a while before he pushes us into a room I’ve never been into. It’s a bathroom with a full walk in shower, a deep soaker tub with a sink and toilet.

Ronan quickly turns on the water to the shower and I numbly walk towards it. Asher undoes my sash, but I don’t reach for it, instead, I let it fall to the ground. When I step into the water, it feels cold. I try to turn it up, but still, I feel nothing. Hotter and hotter, I try, but nothing gets through.

I feel Asher’s hand come to my back, and just at that single touch, I collapse. My body hits the tiled floor as I curl up into a ball and sob. Asher tosses his robe to the side, diving to the floor beside me as he gathers me into his arms. I come to him quickly, letting out sob after sob as I cling to him. He shushes me softly, kissing my forehead over and over again as he rocks us.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re safe, baby. You’re safe.”

“She’s not,” I choke out. “She’s dead. I killed her!” I rasp before another pitiful sob tears through me.

Asher cups my cheeks, holding me tight as he looks into my eyes.

“You made a choice. She was going to die regardless, as soon as the Brethren saw her, she was done. You had a choice to liveor die tonight, you chose to live. You chose to stay. Stay for Skyla, stay for me. You did the right thing, you hear me?” he asks.

I don’t speak, and he winds back his hand, smacking me across the face.

“Do you goddamn hear me? The right choice is always to keep yourself safe, to keep yourself with me. You don’t feel guilty for one fucking second, alright? I almost lost you in there, Skyla almost lost you. I could feel it, practically see it and—”

Asher’s voice wavers for a second as he bites his lip and shakes his head.

“Don’t you ever fucking do that to me again, alright? You never force me to witness you with a gun to your head again, Liam? We won’t survive it. I—”

His words break off as he shakes his head and holds me tighter than before, rocking us quickly as his shoulders shake silently. I feel my tears begin to dry up, and my eyes come to see Ronan watching me with a brokenness in his gaze. He shakes his head in sorrow, like he wishes he could fix things, protect us. He’s always been able to before, ever since we were babies, he’s always looked out for us, but now…this…this is something no one could have prepared me for, no one could have protected me from.

Looking up to Asher, I pull his head down to mine, smashing our lips together. He doesn’t move, but then again, I don’t need him to. I just need to feel…something, anything. So, we sit there under what feels like freezing water, our mouths pressed to one another for countless minutes, hours, whatever it is, trying to feel, to cope and then to bottle this night way the fuck up.

Chapter Thirty Five

Skyla

Wesley and I are chatting with some of his acquaintances, maintaining an appropriate distance, of course, when I spy Liam’s parents. Well, more specifically, his mother. She practically floats through the room, all dressed in white.

I know the instant that she sees me, because she changes direction and heads straight towards me. It immediately puts me on edge. I’ve never spoken to her before, but I have heard some nasty stories from Liam growing up. Granted, a lot of those stories stemmed from Liam’s father, but his mother sat idly by as her husband beat him for stepping a toe out of line, so in my mind, she’s as much to blame.

Still, though, wanting to make a good impression, I turn on my charm, giving her a warm smile as she approaches us.

“Skyla, darling. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she says, pulling me in for air kisses.

I kiss beside her cheeks as I smile and nod.

“It is so good to meet you, Mrs. Walcott. Liam has told me so much about you.”

Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead, well, as far up as her injections allow her.

“You and my son talk often? Often enough to talk about family?”

I physically feel my eyes widen, and I kick myself as I scramble to try to answer before deciding to play everything casually. Nodding with a soft smile, I continue.

“He’s my husband’s best friend. He’s always around.”

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