Page 121 of Doesn't Count

Bile churns in my stomach threatening to punch its way out of my throat. I know exactly what he means. It doesn’t escape me that Ash resembles all the girls he’s ever tortured by branding them with his children.

A sob tears through her, stabbing me straight through the heart. I’d rather suffer through an endless stream of blows from Bordeaux’s rock of a fist, than to watch Ash fall apart. I’d rather die than let her be subjected to a life of defilement and misery. If those were my options, I’d happily accept.

But stuck between Satan and God, in a purgatory where I’m utterly forgotten or maybe even unforgiven, I find that those choices live as unanswered prayers.

Defiance blares brightly in every feature on my face, brighter than the torches’ fire. It’s enough forFatherto know my answer without even having to speak it.

“Then your other choice is to sacrifice her life for yours.” His tone plummets, cold and harsh.

“Take my life instead.” I offer.

“Oliver, no!” Ash screams at me, pleading repeatedly asFathercontemplates the exchange.

He stands, towering over me. His shadow engulfs my body swallowing me in his malice.

“That simply will not do.” He decides. “That teaches you no lessons in loyalty. Makes you prove nothing. It doesn’t even guarantee the girl’s life for fuck's sake!”

Panic slides down my throat like broken glass as I suck in useless breaths.

Think! Think! Think!

FUCK!

“What will it be, son?” He sneers, his hand brushing up against his robe, revealing a silver glint.

I stand, knowing my answer.

“I won’t be able to live with the sight of her by your side.” Igrowl, the thought of her ending up like May causing my stomach to roil.

“Then you’ve made your choice.”

He steps to the side allowing full view of Ash crumpled to the ground. Her tears have hardened into ice on her cheeks, her lashes frosty like fresh snow on the limb of a tree.

“I can’t.” I choke, my breath wavering as I stare at the love of my life.

“I’ve given you your choices.”Fatherreminds me softly.

He pulls out the knife tucked under his robe, holding it across both his palms like an offering.

For as long as I’ve known him, there have been two things that he lusts after; blood and a sadistic fuck and I’ll be damned if I let Ash live a life only knowing the latter.

“I’d be doing her a favor.” The words creep past my lips on a whisper.

Fathersmiles encouragingly. “If you say so, son. Though, I don’t think she’d mind spending the rest of her life by my side.”

The thought rakes down my skin like razor blades, gruesome and gutting. With hands shaking from violent tremors, I take the knife, the golden handle cold to the touch.

Whimpers and sobs swim through my head, Ash’s fear palpable. She knows I’ve done this before; she knows I’ve chosen myself in the past and now she questions if I’ll do it again.

My body quivers, but I barely notice. As I take the first step into the pentagram, the others clad in cloaks hum. A haunting harmony encapsulates us, trapping us in this delusive reality. My mind refusing to believe that any of this is happening, that I’m just stuck in a lucid nightmare.

Ash’s chest heaves, hyperventilation consuming her. I can see the sheer panic reflecting in her eyes as I inch closer.

Ikneel.

“I can’t let him have you.” I tell her, needing her to understand.

“No, no, no.” She groans. “Please, Oliver! Please, don’t!”

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