Page 91 of Court of Evil

“Do we even know where we are going?” Fang mutters, stumbling over a twig with a disgusted look.

“There has to be someplace we can fortify,” Tate murmurs.

“What about going to the pack of wolves Simon mentioned?” Addeus suggests.

“No, I won’t take our troubles to them. They have faced enough. This is my team, my problem. Besides, if some of the most dangerous monsters in the world cannot defeat five ghouls, then we don’t deserve to be alive,” she snaps, scanning our surroundings at all times.

“There’s an old electricity station about two miles up,” the ghoul says. We all look at him, and he ducks his head. “We scouted the area for the pack for a while and found it then. It had a fence and was locked to stop trespassers.”

“Why would you help us?” the fae asks.

He looks at Tate then, who glares. “I should have helped back then. I was weak and scared, but I’m trying to atone for that now.”

“We cannot trust him, mistress,” I admit quietly.

“No, but we don’t have much choice. We will scout it first.” She nods. “Okay, lead the way, Eric.”

He nods and slides past me, giving me a wide berth, and heads farther into the trees. Everyone is quiet, but then the ghoul’s voice fills the air again. “I have to ask, how did you survive? I was sure you were dead when Black came out. I thought he killed you.”

“He tried.” She smirks at him before her eyes go to the trees. “He didn’t succeed then, and he won’t now.”

He nods, glancing at her and stumbling over rocks before righting himself. “And the monsters you’re with? I always knew you sympathised with some, but Tate, they are the enemy.”

“No, my enemies are the very people I was supposed to trust who tortured me and left me for dead.” She glances at him, snarling, “You might not have driven the blades into my skin, Eric, but you watched and did nothing. A bystander is just as bad as those doing the act. You never once tried to help me despite being my teammate and friend. These people around me have fought by my side without me asking. They would die for me, so no, they aren’t the enemy. Monsters never were. It is our duty to cleanse evil from this world, but not all monsters are evil. I guess you will know now, though, since you’re one of them. Ironic, isn’t it? The man who hated monsters so much chose to become one just to cheat death. Tell me, Eric, where’s your stubbornness and belief now? Your unwavering dedication to Black’s belief that all monsters are evil and deserve to die when you are one?”

“I didn’t know this was what he planned,” he whispers.

“And that makes it better? You are not a child, Eric. Grow up. You cannot be innocent in this. You are as bad as Black,” she warns, tugging his rope to make him stumble. “Now focus and get us there quickly.”

Heading towards my mistress, I slide my hand over her side, offering comfort. This man betrayed her, and she trusted him. He was a friend, now he’s an enemy, and that is wearing on her, not that she will ever show anyone.

“Are you okay, mistress?” I ask quietly, hoping the ghoul does not hear. She doesn’t like to appear weak, priding herself on being so strong nothing can hurt her.

“Fine,” she snaps, and then her expression softens as she glances at me. “Thanks, Tem. Can you help me keep an eye on him?”

I know what it cost her to ask that, so I stand taller, proud to be able to help her. “Always, mistress.” I walk at his side, feeling her eyes on me, and when I glance back, she’s grinning as she glances around the woods.

I burst at the seams, knowing I could cheer her up, and nearly skip.

The ghoul glances at me. “So what are you?” he asks.

I don’t respond, and his eyes narrow. For a moment, I see something in the darkness, the veins crawling farther across his face. He might have been an innocent, weak human before, but he certainly isn’t anymore.

He’s a monster, and we cannot forget that.

“Answer me.”

“I only answer to my mistress.” I shrug.

“Mistress . . . Tate?” he scoffs. “Jesus, she really has lost it.”

My good mood disappears, and I feel the transformation come over me. My shadows pour from me, expanding into the woods and wrapping around him as I change before him. He falls to the ground, his eyes wide in horror as I roar in his face, shadows covering every inch of him.

I might be easy-going, and the others might look at me like I am nothing but a puppy to our mistress, but nobody, and I meannobody, will ever hurt her emotionally or physically when I am around.

I am hers in every sense, and I am the most powerful being to ever walk this Earth, and she controls me. It’s time they realise that.

“What are you?” he exclaims, gaping up at me as my shadows dive into his skin and start to pull him apart from the inside out.

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