Page 145 of The Sea Witch's Son

I reach inside my pocket and grab Calista’s blade. It looks the same as it always does, sharp and unyielding to the damage it has caused.

Untucking my shirt from my pants, I study the stained material. Majority of the shirt is red and soggy, but the material pressed against my back feels mostly dry.

My favourite dress shirt is the third casualty of the night. The expensive silk stands no chance against the ruthless blade, and pretty soon it is nothing but a mass of fabric hanging limply from my hands.

“Come here.”

My little saint doesn’t move, so I climb further into the car and start cleaning her up. Gently wiping the dirt from her face, I can feel the pain again, lingering and expanding in my chest.

When I reach for her legs, she jerks away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Little saint-

“Just go away.” Her voice quivers, those blue eyes refusing to meet mine, “I-I don’t want you to see me right now.”

My lips pinch into a smile, “I’m afraid you don’t get that choice.”

“Please.” She turns her head, “Get out of this car and leave, Marlin.Please.”

Letting out a sigh, I slowly unfold myself from the car. Melody doesn’t look at me, she just keeps her head turned away.

The blood coating my skin has me itchy and uncomfortable as I walk around the driver’s side. The keys I stole from her purse dangle between my fingers as I crank the seat back, trying to make space for my legs.

“I told you to leave.”

Jamming the key into the ignition, I grimace at the unfortunate turn of the engine. The old vehicle rumbles to life and I crank an equally old stick into drive.

“I did. I just chose not to go too far.”

Melody doesn’t speak for the rest of the drive. I find myself sneaking glances at her through the rearview mirror, but she never meets my eyes.

When we get to the Seaborn Mansion, I carry her inside. Up the spiralling staircase and into the safety of my bedroom. My little saint disappears into the bathroom and I find that excruciating pain has returned.

Stronger and so much worse than before.

I rub my chest with a wince, trying not to think about the closed bathroom door.

Trying not to think about the empty look in her eyes.

It bubbles up inside of me, the same feeling I got when I reached the parking lot and saw my little saint being raped.

I told myself it was anger.

My first taste of unleashed fury.

Sobs ring out from behind the bathroom door and I collapse onto the bed. The pressure is building, threading through my veins like some sort of disease.

The one emotion I promised myself I would never feel again.

Chapter 53

MARLIN

I always knew I would die young.

Death is a fact of life, and given my natural ambition, it was only a matter of time until someone came along and cut it down. It’s been many years since I accepted my fate, but I must admit, I did not expect to die quite this young.

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