is at her master’s feet. That’s how it’s been for centuries. We can be very powerful together. We can have a good life.”
“You want to wreak havoc. I want no part of it.”
“I am an instrument of Hades…of the Underworld. I’m not expected to be a choirboy. Yes, we could wreak havoc. Men will want to be us, and women will want to be with us. We can have it all.”
“I’m not like you, Gaire. I’m not cruel and heartless.”
Gaire nods. “Yeah, you always were soft and timid.”
“Leave me alone then. Let me live my own life.”
“No can do, girl. No can do.” He’s smiling. “You are mine. I want you at my side. At my heel…now, Nia. Get your ass here.”
“No,” I say. In the next instant, I feel pain flood me. Every muscle in my body starts to pull tight. I fall to the ground as my muscles contract. I get out a garbled moan as my hands pull into claws.
Death is shouting something. He is tense. He has this look on his face. Gaire chuckles and says something back. All I hear is my heart beating in my ears.
Death’s face contorts. He reminds me of me, only more controlled since he isn’t lying on the floor.
At least I am able to think. I make a strangled noise. That’s also an improvement. If I’m honest, the pain isn’t as bad as it usually would be, which makes it merely excruciating, instead of unbearable.
Death groans and disappears. Shit! He’s been summoned. He’s gone. We’re alone with Gaire. I watch as Rage tackles Gaire. I try to unclench my hands. I try to get my limbs to work. All I manage is a strangled, “No!” it sounds more like ‘Naaaa!’. I’m far better than I was before but still completely useless. Gaire is right, he’s going to kill Rage slowly, and I’m going to have to watch. There is nothing I can do about it. If I want the pain to stop, I have to obey Gaire. What then? I don’t think I will be able to lift a hand against him. Gaire still has too much control over me. I need to fight this compulsion instead. I have to break free from this hold. Rage’s life depends on it.
17
Rage
I wait until the last second. I wait until all of my strength returns. Until my stomach stops rolling and my head stops spinning. I wait…and then I wait a little more, just to be sure.
While I’m waiting, I hear that prick commanding Nia.
I see her refute him, and then I see her go down.
I see Death trying to fight his own summons. I see him teleport away.
All the while, I listen to the things Gaire is saying. I feel my hackles rise and my blood boil. When I’m ready, I tackle Gaire. I knock him onto the ground, and I start kicking his side. I land one, but the second strike hits air, and I land on my ass. I scramble to my feet. I feel something hard ram into my back. I fly forward. That Gaire fucker likes to play dirty. I hate him with everything in me. I find that I hate him even more than I hate myself, which is saying something.
I try to keep my footing, and in so doing, I stagger forward again. Just when I think I might stay upright, I receive a blow to the side of my head. My ear immediately starts to ring as I fall hard.
The sound of laughing seems to surround me as I push myself to my feet. Where is he?
Gaire suddenly appears. He’s looking down at Nia. “Are you sure you won’t concede, Bitch?” he asks her. “Are you sure you want to watch your boyfriend die like this? He’s going to suffer.”
Nia says something. She’s breathing hard. Her eyes are wide. Her body is convulsing in much the same way as before. “Fuck…you!” she gets the words out loud and clear this time. I watch her hands flex and unflex.
Good!
I like how strong she is, even if she doesn’t know it. I hate how life has hardened her from the naïve young woman she once was. That’s on Gaire. I wish I could let loose on him. I wish it so hard. I feel my power just below the surface, coursing through my veins. I can’t! I hold back.
“Don’t be stupid, Nia. You were never all that bright. A boring lay but—”
I tackle that bastard again,