Page 35 of Shattered Heir
I tried to not let the snap of his tone bite into me and sear my heart, but it was hard. I didn’t know if I could ever erase the memory of him saying that to me. I flinched back;maybe this is the first memory that I will lock up inside of myself. I didn't want to remember that.
“I mean, maybe I did before, but I don't know you, and all I do know of you is that you lie, and you manipulate me.”
“I do not!” I defended myself, the monster rising inside of me.
“No? On the mountain? In the hotel? Blast it, Emma, you had every opportunity to tell me who you were to me!” He was shouting then, his chest rising and falling. He ran his fingers through his hair, and a scowl rose on his perfect lips.
“Why do you care so much? You don’t know me. You don't care about me, as you so plainly just put it, so why are you so upset? I did tell you that Keil would explain it all to you.”
He turned away from me, his shoulders still heaving. And still above everything else, I wanted to help him. It was obvious that he needed help; he was trapped and suffering. I reached out to him, and he flinched away.
“I don’t know.”
“Don't know what?” I whispered.
“I don't know why I care, but I do, okay?” Then he walked away, down the hall, and I was alone—once again, alone.
Chapter Fifteen
Icouldn't go to my math class. It wasn't just that I couldn't look at Shad right then, which was incredibly true. Unfortunately, I just didn’t need to see his beautiful face as it scowled at me. But even more than that, it was also thatI really needed to shower and get the feeling of Cade, the smell of him, off of me.
Hey, I can come over and help. I could use a shower, too, but I would prefer your smell on me,Cade said into my soul.
I wished at that moment that Cade had been right in front of me so that I could have smacked him again.
Go away! You are so gross,I shouted at him with my melody.
How could I have even for a split second thought that that pervert was Shad? Like, seriously? I walked slowly off campus and dodged the lady who worked the exit to prevent ditchers, but she was, thankfully, distracted by another student, who appeared to have been caught smoking.
Serves him right; smoking is gross.
And it kills you; couldn't agree more, sweetheart.
I hate you,I growled, thinking about his soul-speaking with me during the past week, his sick infiltration into my thoughts.How much had he figured out? How much did he know? As I walked across the parking lot with my head down, I tried to hide the cold shiver that seemed to eat at my insides. It was getting colder, being fall and all, and my wimpey, long-sleeved shirt and thin sweatshirt was not going to cut it for much longer.
I can make you warm, sweetheart,Cade broke in.
I tried to push my melody down inside of me in order to quiet it, but it was no use. It was, now, actively seeking out Shad’s melody, and I couldn't do much to stop it.
I know what haunts your insides. I know the corruptor has you.
I shook my head.I am not going to listen to him. He has no idea what he is talking about. He doesn’t know me.He didn’t know anything about me. He just decided to murder or hurt everyone I cared about.
Harsh, Emma, I take offence to that.
Stop talking to me!I screamed at him, within my melody as I approached my house. I pulled the beast up from the depths inside of me, knowing that she would cast away my melody. It was better to have pure anger than to havehis voice inside of me. I ran upstairs to the bathroom and stripped off all of my clothing. I clawed at the fabric, and finally, I was free. The shower felt like new life on my skin, and I sat in the shower, again, under the steady flow of water. I was not sure how long I sat there when I heard a knocking on my door. I lifted my head from off of my knees and waited. Again, I heard a knock, and I wondered if Mary was already home from her shift.
“Em, let me in.” It was Ryker, and I wanted to feel his warmth, realizing the shower was cold.How long have I sat under this numbing cold?I turned off the shower without a word. I toweled myself off and looked around, realizing that I didn't have anything to change into.
“I need to get clothes. Can you go outside the bedroom for a bit?” I called.
I heard shuffling feet.
“Yeah, let me know when you are done.” I heard my bedroom door click shut, and I quickly entered my room. I walked to my dresser, not missing the dried-up roses sitting on top of it—the roses that the Shad I loved, had given to me. They were broken and dried up, but I had kept them. I swept them across the dresser, realizing that eventheywere tainted by Cade. He had moved them around my room, hadn’t he? I shivered, afraid of him more than ever. I willed myself not to cry as I grabbed my underthings, and a pair of pajama pants and a large t-shirt that used to belong to my father.
I sat on the edge of my bed with a brush in my hand, trying to untangle the snarls in my hair.
I wish that I had put in some conditioner. This is going to take forever.
