Page 51 of Magpie
“I will go to your room and never leave it again. I will stay locked behind that door willingly, and never again test the bars of my cage. Justplease, don’t hurt him.”
I am damning myself to be eternally ready for him to use, but it is the only thing I have to offer. The only way I can protect Sean.
Alister turns slowly toward me as Sean convulses, and I barely keep myself from screaming. I remain stone-still, holding Alister’s gaze, letting him see the truth of the promise in my eyes.
He opens his hand and Sean drops to the ground, gasping in a strangled breath, the dark energy releasing him. I want to rush to him, to soothe him like he has done with me so many times, but Alister stops me before I can move by gripping my chin hard and pulling my face close to his. I think for a moment he is about to kiss me, but instead he presses his lips to my ear and hisses, “Never forget that I am the only key to your cage. No one canset you free but me, and I willneverlet you go.” He shoves me back. “Now go to my room, Magpie, and wait up for me. It seems you’re in need of another lesson.”
I flick my eyes to Sean. He stands slowly, rubbing his throat, shaking his head. “You don’t have to do this, Maggie.” He’s pleading with me, and my heart begs me to go to him and chase the anguish from his eyes, but a cold voice freezes me in place, reminding me of my promise.
“Magpie, go to my room.Now.”
It was foolish of me to think I could leave that easily. Alister owns me. No amount of distance will change that. I’m just glad I could repay Sean, if only this once, for the kindness he showed me.
For the love he showed me.
I hold Sean’s bright red gaze, pouring as much love as I can into my eyes. I hope he can see I am doing this for him. I know it is very unlikely that Alister will ever let us see each other again.
I begin to turn, to walk back to Alister’s room and my eternal cage, when Sean grabs Alister’s shoulder. In one swift motion, he turns Alister and punches him across the face. I hear the force of the blow and see Alister’s eyes roll into the back of his head. He takes a staggering step back, falling to the ground, out cold.
Sean wastes no time, stepping over Alister and rounding on me. He takes my face in his hands, his gaze intent. “This doesn’t have to be the life you choose.”
I grip his wrists, gently pulling his hands from my cheeks as I whisper, “Yes, it does.”
“No, Maggie, it doesn’t. I love you enough to tell you to get the fuck out of this house. To run as far as you can from this place. Run, Maggie, and never look back. Leave this place behind, but know that I will always be with you.”
“I’m not strong enough,” I cry.
Sean presses his lips to mine. “Yes, you are. You always have been. Now run, Maggie, and know that I will find you when I can.”
He puts a hand to my heart, like he can press a piece of himself in there that I will never lose. I feel it again: the strange stirring sensation caused by the mention of that unfamiliar name. It tries to cut through some veil in my mind, a whispered memory of a life before.
Maybe Alister’s flame didn’t consume everything. Maybe that life is stillmine…
Sean opens his mouth to continue, then freezes. I blink, confused, about to say his name, reaching out to gently touch his cheek.
The moment I touch his skin, Sean’s head crumbles in on itself.
His hands fall away from me as his chest caves in, crashing into his legs. It’s like watching a sandcastle collapse, until all that remains is a pile of dusty ash around my feet.
One moment, I am staring in confusion at the mess I’m standing in.
The next moment I’m screaming.
It’s a great guttural noise, dug up from the depths of a soul I’m not sure I have any more. Falling to my knees, I keep screaming, the noise pouring out of me like the grief rushing from my heart. I lean forward, my hand up to their wrists in the sooty remains, barely holding myself up as I begin to shake violently.
The click of metal hitting the ground draws my attention, pulling my eyes to the items that land before me, kicking up a cloud of ash. Two halves of a key, broken in the middle. The handle is adorned with a skull that has glowing red eyes. I watch as the light fades from the eyes before the key, too, turns to dust.
Alister steps slowly toward me, one foot in front of the other. I do not look up; I refuse to look him in the face. His are not the eyes I’m desperate to see. His is not the face of the man I love.
The man who is now gone forever.
With a great effort, I silence my cries, except for a few bursts of sobs that I quickly stifle. Alister kneels in front of me, grabbing my hair at the base of my skull and yanking it back. I grit my teeth, barely stopping myself from crying in pain. Alister holds my gaze for a few silent moments before he raises his hand and slaps me across the face.
My ears are ringing, my head reeling from the power behind the strike. But I don’t feel it. I am finally numb, and I think this time it is for good.
“Look at me,” he demands, tugging my head back until our faces are nearly touching. He strokes my cheek, exactly where he struck it, his tender gesture in stark contrast to the hatred in his voice as he whispers, “I gave away the most important thing in my life to obtain you. Do not think for a moment that I won’t do whatever it takes to ensure I keep you.”
He tosses me backward. My head cracks into the ground below, plumes of ash rising around me. I stay sprawled on the ground as he stands and dusts off his hands, straightens his jacket, and walks slowly from the hall. He doesn’t bother to see if I follow him. He knows I will have to, eventually. He leaves me alone, surrounded by the ashes of my love.
