Page 53 of Colton
But then I remember who else she is.
Sophia’s sister.
Sophia, her wide eyes frozen in terror, her skin drained of warmth. She was snuffed out right before me, her life extinguished as easily as a candle in a breeze. The memory assaults me, vivid and relentless—the metallic tang of blood hanging heavy in the air, her screams silenced forever. The quietthat followed was deafening, a void that swallowed all sound, leaving only the dull thud of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I did nothing to save her. I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t do anything but stare as the light faded from her eyes. The fear of my father’s wrath was a paralyzing force, a cold hand gripping my heart, squeezing until I could barely breathe. The taste of bile rose in my throat as I watched, frozen, as her lifeless body crumpled to the floor.
And here Luella is, like a ghost from the past, trying to avenge her sister. Her eyes, so like Sophia’s, spark with a dangerous mix of determination and pain. But she doesn’t understand the danger she’s in, the depths of depravity that my father indulges in.
Stupid, stupid girl.
The words echo in my mind, a bitter mantra. She walked into the lion’s den, thinking she could tame the beasts within. But she doesn’t know the true nature of the monsters she’s facing, the darkness that has taken root in their souls—in my soul.
I gaze at her, returning to the present as the wind whips around us. I wanted to test her strength, for a start. I wasn’t sure how I would do it, but she took the reins and did it for me. She’s not like the others. I’ve never met anyone who fights like this—who refuses to break. It pisses me off, but it’s also...thrilling, and it makes me want to claim her even more.
Fucking firebolt.
Every breath feels like knives stabbing into my ribs, the pain radiating through my chest. It’s like my lungs can’t expand all the way, like they’re being crushed. Fucking carton, fucking her. I’m going to teach her not to fucking mess with me. I can’t understand the bitch—I’m trying to fucking protect her and she attacks me like that?!
You did rape her; Blackwood by name, Blackwood by nature, the voice reminds me sweetly.
“Fuck you!” I mutter, as Luella struggles in my arms.
She’s fucking strong, her body twists and writhes, every movement proving her strength and resilience. I can feel the raw power in her limbs, the wildness she’s been hiding beneath that sweet, innocent facade. It’s exhilarating and infuriating all at once. I tighten my grip, feeling her fight against me like a wild animal caught in a trap.
“You’re one tough bitch, aren’t you?” I growl, my voice laced with a mix of admiration and frustration. Her blonde hair whips against my face, the strands catching in my stubble. I can smell her fear, her rage, and something else—something primal and defiant. It’s intoxicating.
My vision blurs slightly, the pain in my chest intensifying with each struggle. Everything starts to spin, and I can feel the darkness at the edges of my consciousness threatening to consume me. But I won’t let it. Not yet. Not while she’s still fighting. I need to get her back in the bunker.
“You can either come with me willingly or fight me. I don’t care which, but you’re coming with me regardless.”
“Fuck you! I’ll fight you all the way, sweetheart.” Luella smiles at me, reminding me we aren’t that different after all. She’s as fucked up as me.
The voices in my head whisper again, their chorus a chaotic symphony of torment. They laugh, they mock, they remind me of every goddamn thing I’ve ever done—every mistake, every failure, every fucking sin.
You’re taking her as a prisoner again, Colton?one voice taunts.You’re just like him. Just like your father.
“Shut up!” I snarl, both to the voice and to Luella. I’m so distracted by the voices, I don’t see her elbow as it crashes into my solar plexus, stealing my breath and sending a wave of agony through my body. I double over, my grip almost loosening justenough for her to slip free. But I’m tired and in pain, so I do what I have to do.
I backhand her, hard, watching as the blood spurts from her mouth, the shock in her eyes. But she’s a wildcat, like I said, and even as she falls to the floor, she jumps back up, a fucking vision in blood and rage. Pure fire.
How the fuck does she do that? How does she keep fighting when anyone else would have crumbled?
“You’re not going to kill me, Colton,” Luella says, her voice suddenly calm, her eyes searching mine. She’s looking for a weakness she can exploit. She’s smart, too fucking smart. “You’re not like him. Not yet.”
Her words hit harder than any punch.
“You’re not like him.”
“I know I’m not. This is me, baby.”
The voices howl in protest, their screams deafening.Lies! They’re all lies! You’re a Blackwood, born and bred. You can’t escape your nature.
“Please, Colton,” Luella whispers, her voice barely audible. “Don’t let him win. Don’t let the darkness consume you.”
And there it is—the plea, the offer of redemption. But it’s too late. The darkness is already here, its tendrils wrapping around my heart, squeezing until there’s nothing left but pain and rage.
“He already has,” I say, my voice like ice. And with that, I lunge for her, the darkness roaring in my ears, drowning out the voices, drowning out everything but the storm inside me. She lunges at me, nails bared like claws, a feral scream ripping through the air. I barely dodge her attack, my reflexes slowed by the throbbing pain in my chest. She’s a whirlwind of fury, all pretense of the meek and mild maid vanished. It’s mesmerizing, even if it pisses me off.
