Page 59 of Song of Tenebrae

“Raiden’s room window.” I answer but they’re completely ignoring me.

“What was going on last night?” Torrent raises his voice to Hail.

“I got some water from the kitchen and went back to bed.” Hail shrugs his shoulders, but I don’t believe him; he was fully dressed last night and didn’t look like he was just off to grab some water. “What were you doing up?” He counters on Torrent, “everyone knows you love that maze.”

The door we heard Squall behind opens and we all stop and watch Raiden step out.

“Great, you’re both here,” he says to Torrent and Hail. “We got shit to discuss. Demon, back to our room.”

“She heard Squall say you’d have to be replaced.” Torrent looks from Raiden to me.

I did hear that but if he was talking to Raiden then what the fuck were they actually talking about?

“When?” Raiden looks at me confused.

“When I was listening at the door.” I answer honestly and Raiden crinkles his brow in confusion.

“Go back to the room,” he dismisses me and turns to the other two, “we have a little problem.” He guides them back to the room and they all go inside, the door shuts quickly behind them.

Raiden

Tonight is lace.

The second to last night and the last night for preparation before the sacrifice. This is our yearly tradition save for last year when the elders decided to make us do four, unaware that we would be sacrificing their people instead.

This year will be different too, I now have two to be sacrificed. We have changed our moral compasses and stopped sacrificing the innocent but we still need to give thanks the only way we know how, we just kill those who deserve it. I had a plan, tomorrow night, during black mass and my actual birthday, we would make a truly evil person fly. Tonight, I have another person more sinister than the last and I’m glad my brothers have all agreed with the new plan.

My demon comes into the room and the white lace pops against her olive skin, making her look like an angel. Her black hair has been styled into large waves and flows down her back, nearly hitting her ass. The others are in similar outfits but to me, Tempest is the brightest shining light.

“They look like a small group of angels.” Torrent chuckles and the rest of us join in.

“I’ve always wanted my very own angel,” Hail grins as he watches Sky. This is the most relaxed he’s looked in a while and I think it’s the prospect of our sacrifice tonight.

“Fuck an angel,” Torrent sneers, “I want my very own demon.”

I can’t help but feel like he’s taking a jab at me, I know how much he dislikes Tempest’s presence here, and he hates what she’s done to me. My demon.

The girls head to the bar and even they seem lighter, more carefree. Maybe they sense our attitudes have changed or that their time here is dwindling down.

“It’s cute that they’re happy they made it longer than last year,” Squall snorts. “No one was killed this time.”

“Yet.” Hail says, his smile broad.

I still can’t figure out where he stands with Sky. He looks at her like he’s ready to consume her and yet, his demeanor - whenever she gets too close - is closed and aloof. My feelings for Tempest were hot from the gate and no matter how hard I tried to deny them, they would incinerate me just to break free.

They chat with the bartender while he makes their drinks and when I notice him stare too long at my demon, I clench my fucking fist. Yes, she looks ethereal tonight, pure and good, but she still belongs to me. I may be the epitome of evil but that woman was made for every condemned part of me.

“Don’t worry brother,” Torrent leans toward me, “we can all still see that marking on her stomach.”

I know and when I chose that dress last year, I must’ve been having a clairvoyant moment. There’s no way I could’ve known her stomach would bear my hand’s carving and yet there it is, on display. She turns to face me, like she can sense my thoughts, and she smiles softly.

“I wonder if she’ll still be looking at you like that tomorrow night,” Squall mutters just before pounding back the rest of his drink.

“She’ll just have to get over it, she’s mine and that’s what matters.” I look at him and then Hail, “you both should start realizing the same thing.”

“Stay out of it.” Hail retorts and stares at Sky.

I do stay out of it because as much as I say Tempest is mine, tomorrow night will be a hard one, and I don’t know which way she’ll go. She can be unpredictable; I wouldn’t have guessed she’d take as much pleasure as she did whipping my back but I saw it before she admitted it.

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