Page 107 of Avidian
A heavy beat thrums in my chest, and the answer bursts forth from me like I’ve been holding it back for far too long. “I want it,” I say, my voice steady, the conviction clear.
I’ve never been more certain in my life.
Marco needs to die.
The thought of whatever horrors he’s concocted in his underground lab makes my stomach twist. For so long, I believed he was the lesser evil—the good twin. But now I see him for what he truly is. I have questions for Malachi, but right now none of that matters. We need to find Marco’s lab, save the Avids, the animals...whatever souls are trapped down there, suffering through unspeakable things.
Malachi’s touch pulls me back to the moment. His fingers trail over my face again, grounding me. Then he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head before pulling away.
“I’ll give you privacy,” he says, handing me a large knife he pulled from his waistband. “You heard her—the property’s secure. I’ll be waiting for you out front when you’re ready.”
He walks to the door, not sparing a single glance at his father when Marco calls his name. “And don’t take too long, Kat,” Malachi adds. The door clicks shut behind him.
The room feels colder now, the crackle of the fire the only sound in the silence. I turn to face Marco, my body tense, my thoughts swirling. It’s the two of us now.
“Katja, I’ve been like a father to you. I saved you from that place—the life you would’ve had without me,” Marco says, his voice thick with conviction. He believes it. And that’s the fucked-up part.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in the shadow of death. I’ve seen more of it than anyone should, and through it all, I’ve wondered what it would be like to end a life. To be the one who pulls the trigger, who takes the life from someone else. What it must feel like to do the unthinkable. I’ve imagined killing Marco more times than I care to admit.
And now, standing here, I finally know I have what it takes.
I move around him, circling until I’m behind him. My hand wraps around the hilt of the knife, and I press it lightly againsthis throat, enough to make his skin tremble. He shudders, his breath catching. I lean in, my voice a whisper in the stillness.
“This is the devil’s work. And I’ll do it gladly.”
You wanted a demon, Marco? I’ll show you one.
I feel the weight of the blade in my hand, the steady pressure as I prepare to end him. But then something shifts. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a flicker of movement. I freeze. My heart skips, my mind reeling.
No, not now. Why now?
I close my eyes, willing the image to go away, but when I open them again, he’s closer—Cade…my Cade. His presence is like a heavy weight, pulling at my chest. His green eyes burn into me, bright and unyielding. His black hair falls over his forehead, like it always did. He’s here. But he’s not saying anything.
I can’t do this. Why now?
My pulse pounds in my ears. I’ve never tried to communicate with his spirit before. I’ve kept my distance, unwilling to let him haunt me. But now, here he is, standing right in front of me—silent, staring. He looks different but not, and I can’t breathe. My heart aches, and my vision blurs. Why is he here?
Is this a sign? Am I about to make a mistake?
Did I somehow summon him? Did my subconscious call him to me because I’m about to kill Marco?
“Brian,” Marco says, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade of its own.
The sound of the knife hitting the marble floor rings in my ears. I don’t even register dropping it. My hand trembles as I step back too far, the cool stone of the wall pressing against my back. My breath comes in shallow bursts, unsure whether to clutch my chest or cover my mouth. My whole body shakes.
“Cade.”
When I say it, something inside me unravels. I can barely comprehend what’s happening.
He’s here.
He’s alive.
His nod is all the answer I need. “You’re alive… You’re Brian.” I can’t believe it. My mind spins, trying to make sense of the impossible.
I start shaking, my body betraying me, trembling with the weight of this revelation.
“Don’t cry, Kitty Kat,” he says.
