that connected us in my grasp, I repeated the process, dredging the bottom of my well for what little humility remained. That wasn't an emotion I had much of to begin with, after all.
I coated the thread over and over before shoving it towards them, hoping it would work. The instant it hit, their demeanor changed. Both of their mouths snapped shut, and they turned, the synchronicity and blank faces freaking me out a little. Perhaps I added too much. Oops.
“Have a seat, children,” I instructed, modulating my tone to keep the apprehension out.
They sank onto the couch and folded their hands in their laps. Kian elbowed me and whispered, “What did you do? They're all weird.”
“They're fine.” I hope. “It'll wear off.” Maybe.
My foot lifted, ready to carry me towards the two troublemakers, but before I could take a step, my gut ripped in half. My top separated from my lower limbs, and I lurched forward, clutching my waist as I tried to hold myself together.
Of course, I hadn't really been cleaved in two, but that's how it felt. Looking inside of myself, I found my monster beating on the sides of the well. Its chin lifted slowly until it peered up at me. The grin on its face triggered a violent shudder, and I dropped to my knees.
I don't understand. You should still be fine. It was always mostly compliant after sex, especially when it was with Kian. The monster seemed to like him the most, though I didn't know why. It certainly shouldn't be launching a one-monster revolution.
Arms circled me, but they weren't the ones I expected. The golden pearlescent sheen and delicate fingers surprised me. Lifting my head proved to be a monumental task as if I fought against Fate to simply move.
Grace's eyes—their shining light blue gleaming—competed with her frown. Our gazes locked, and I detected a depth of darkness I hadn't foreseen. Before I could study any further, another line of fire and fury raked across my middle.
Grace pulled me closer and began to rock. Her shushing matched the circles she rubbed on my back.
Kian appeared, and he pried her away, shoving a mug in my face. I wanted to take it. I tried. But I couldn't seem to loosen my grip on my sides. It felt as though removing my hands would cause me to slide apart. My fingers dug in deeper at the notion.
“What's going on?” Axton's voice vibrated with a host of emotions.
Must have lost control of them. At least they aren't fighting.
“I don't know. She just fell.” Kian lifted the mug to my mouth and tipped it up.
“Is that alcohol? I thought we agreed no more for her,” the asshole Trace interjected as he loomed over Grace.
“Fuck off, Trace. If you have a better idea, then feel free to share with the group,” Kian growled as he twisted to glare at Trace. The feral snarl that followed caused Trace to retreat a step.
I couldn't deal with them, not while I fought to keep myself whole. They proved to be a distraction, one that didn't understand what it was like to constantly battle a part of themselves.
With each incremental turn of my head, I bit back groans and grunts. Kian came into view, his twisted face still turned towards a pensive-looking Trace.
“Kian?” I whispered before another strike took place from within.
My body fell forward, smacking the floor. He forgot about the others as both he and Grace reached for me.
“What do you need?”
“My room,” I wheezed through the pain that consumed me.
I regretted the request in seconds because movement made everything worse. So much worse, and when Kian lifted me, blood filled my mouth. Even chewing on my cheek did nothing to refocus me, ratcheting up the howling in my brain that told me I would be stuck like this forever.
When he lowered me to the bed—an eerily similar reminder of the binal before—the monster lashed out again. Grace began talking, but I couldn't listen to her. Instead, I dove inside myself, aiming for the bane of my existence.
Its mouth opened in a parody of laughter, and it waved slowly, one claw at a time.
What do you want? I thought at the horrible creature.
One moment, it drifted in the well, and the next, its body smacked against the side as it zoomed towards me. I wanted to flinch, to back away, but I remained in place despite the urge to run.
The claws gleamed, an odd feat in the darkness that surrounded