Page 10 of Vengeance Becomes Her

She would use all her strength to plunge it forward in

Three…

Two…

One.

As her muscles flexed readying to take action, a voice shouted from the corners of her mind.

DON’T!

The foreign voice shattered her resolve, shocking her out of the moment. Rhiannon’s hands shot to her ears, sending the blade clattering against the hard floor.

Her breath came in short pants as she ran over to the mirror. When she gazed upon her reflection, she saw a flash of green in her eyes, forcing her to do a double-take. But when she looked again, her eyes were their normal russet brown hue.

Rhiannon worried she’d finally become completely unhinged from reality. She’d heard solitude could do that to a person. She couldn’t deny how strong and real the voice had sounded. How determined it was, insisting she didn’t end her life tonight.

Rhiannon briefly wondered if it was her subconscious making her will to live clear. But that didn’t ring true either. She’d been ready.

She spent the next few hours restlessly racking her brain for an explanation. She tried to convince herself it was just the voice in her mind that always narrated her thoughts, just a little more forceful this time. Eventually, the adrenaline finally wore off and her anxious thoughts lulled her to sleep without answers.

That night, when she dreamed, the voice came to her again. It was a woman’s voice that was distinctly not her own. But now, the voice had a face, and an elegant one at that.

She had long copper hair that twisted in gentle waves down to her waist. Her eyes were the most brilliant emerald that Rhiannon had ever seen, made even more jarring by her porcelain skin and rose-red lips. Rhiannon was transfixed by the woman wandering around in the webbed shadows of her mind.

“Hello, Rhiannon.”

The beautiful stranger’s voice was enchanting, each syllable lyrical and coaxing. It captured her attention anddid not let go.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to help you.”

“With what?” Somehow the woman heard her.

“Help you remember that which you’ve forgotten. The memories you’ve buried to protect yourself can’t stay hidden forever. It’s time for you to move forward.”

“What if I don’t want to? What if I can’t?” The second question was barely morethan a whisper.

“You may feel weak right now, but I know you’re strong. So much more than you know for what you have survived. For who you have survived.”

“You overestimate me.”

“No. You underestimate yourself. But that’s okay, I will lend you whatever strength I can. It’s time to fight for yourself, Rhiannon. This isnot your end.”

“Why should I trust you?” She wasn’t sure why she was entertaining what must surely be an impressively vivid dream, but she couldn’t deny the sincerity of the words the red-haired woman was speaking.

“Because I know what’s happening to you and I can help you get your life back. But onlyif you let me.”

“Tell me what you want me to do.” Rhiannon felt herself tossing in her sleep, anxiety creeping through her veins as she anticipated what the woman was going to say next.

“For now, all I need is for you to remember.”

Rhiannon’s confusion over the mysterious message didn’t last long as images began to flash through her mind and the memories flooded in.

Silas degrading her. The pain in her chest as her body failed her. Billowing black mist. Shadow snakes. Deteriorating skin. Blood red eyes. All the pieces finally came together.

“Silas is responsible. Silas is a monster.” Rhiannon’s heart broke all over again at the confirmation of what she’d feared. The betrayal was so much worse than rejection and abandonment.

“Now you know who is responsible for your suffering and you must figure out what to do about it.”

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