Page 65 of To Free a Soul
Because she was human and had done nothing to help. Instead, she’d aided a monster. Katerina called Lindiwe a monster due to her ‘witchcraft.’ A woman who had sinned and whored her soul to a devil.
Weldir was no devil, and he’d spent much of his time trying tohelphumans. Whether that be by bringing predators and prey to Austrális, or letting her aid humankind, he was... benevolent. He cared for the souls he consumed and wanted to give them a peaceful eden to rest in.
But of course, talking to Katerina had always been an arduous and difficult task.
I thought they were... happy.Well, as happy as the cranky woman could be.I thought she was beginning to love him.
He doesn’t deserve any of this.
Sure, he was to blame for kidnapping her, as was Lindiwe, but had she just let the hate-filled human be eaten, then all would’ve been well.
Worse still, Katerina knew that. She’d detailed that she likely would be dead now if not for Lindiwe’s aid, and she wasthankfulfor it. It meant she could still escape, could still plot toendhim.
So... why go with Jabez?
Grabbing each journal, she placed them into a pile. She picked them up and held back a squeak when the stack began to topple before she righted it. Then she turned intangible and threw herself through the wall and outside.
Once solid again, she sprinted across his territory and into the forest.
“What are those?”Weldir asked when she stopped to look back at Orpheus’ home.
“Journals.”
“Why do you have them?”
“Because if he knows how to read, or ever learns, I don’t want him to read such filth. Such hatred,” she answered, hugging them to her chest tightly. When the top book began to slip, she quickly pushed it back onto the stack with her chin. “I... don’t want him to believe the words of a bitch.”
“That’s quite the insult for you, Lindiwe.”
She lowered her gaze. “I know I’m not always the most agreeable person, but I care about everyone. Even if they’re different from me, or believe in things I don’t, everyone deserves respect. I don’t have to agree with them, but that doesn’t make them any less of a person. She’s a bitch because she hurt my son, thinks of him in a vile way, and wants to kill someone who was trying everything in their power to keep her safe.”
Because... although I understand why she was upset about being taken, her actions since then have been less than pure.
One can’t fight evil with evil and then call themselves just.
And taking advantage of the ignorant is cruel.Even if that ignorant being had a skull for a face.Playing games with hisemotions, and finding ways to punish just so shecouldpunish, was unfair. And then blaming him for her own choices...
She abused Orpheus any chance she could. Manipulated him. Punished him over the smallest of things just so she had a reason to and then rewarded him simply to keep him compliant. Because a person, no matter who or what they were, could only take so much abuse before snapping, and she knew that. And still, somehow, with all the nasty things she felt guilt over, she blamed Orpheus for making her feel that way.
She blamed him for herownactions.
She even noted that had he not been a disgusting monster, she might have been happy. But then those lines were crossed out as if she’d regretted writing that truth.
If only Weldir’s magic had been able to go inside their ward so he could see their home properly.Him being trapped to the outside of it and able to look in from the other side had its drawbacks. Evenhe, someone who was inept with human emotions, would have seen how fucking wrong it was.I would have taken her to the closest village, with coin, and let her find someone else to throw her abuse at.
Orpheus’ only mistake was taking her, but she could have been taken away again just as easily had Lindiwe known the truth.
And that’s entirely my fault. I should have done more, should have tried harder to break down Katerina’s walls.She shouldn’t have trusted what she saw at face value, because it’d all been a lie. All the affection she’d witnessed, the way they’d apparently cared for each other, Lindiwe had never seen the hate in it all.
I shouldn’t have trusted Weldir’s judgement, nor Orpheus’.
They were both inhuman beings, who wouldn’t have understood.All of Katerina’s pain, all her hate... it should havebeen directed at me.I’m the one to blame, not my son, who just wanted someone to fill the loneliness in his big heart.
Orpheus was obedient – he’d always been. The fact that hecouldbe punished meant he understood commands and consent, and the latter had never been discussed. No, instead Katerinawantedthat as a way to fuel her hatred.
He stopped licking her when she asked.Sure, he’d made the mistake of doing so, but he’d quickly righted his behaviour.Because everything was always in her control.
“Weldir... can you take these and then destroy them?” Lindiwe asked, wanting to unload the weight in her arms.
