Grabbing the poor man and slitting his throat was almost as heart wrenching as what I have been forced to do to Alina. Watching her run to him, I knew she would be able to save him. Little did she know, her healing powers have always worked to some extent. They just didn’t appear to in the cave because I wasn’t really dead.
All this time she has probably thought I’m just a walking corpse. Possessed but dead. What if she really knew the truth? Would she try and save me? So many times she had called out for me to help her, to save her. Except over the years the begging lessened, until one day they just stopped.
Was that the day she realized I couldn’t do anything but hurt her?
“Well, next time she won’t be so lucky. I’ll kill the unicorn the same way I slaughtered that boy. Next time, I’ll make sure she can’t heal him.” He grins waving the dagger in front of my eyes. I feel the edge of the blade connect with my cheek, the lightest of cuts but still deep enough to make me bleed. He repeats the motion with the other cheek and steps back to admire his handiwork. “You have been such a useful toy over the years. It will be a shame when I finally need to kill you. But then again, I suppose all good things need to come to an end. A bit like your pretty, Little Bird.” My head snaps up to meet his evil glare. His smug smile is sickening. He’s up to something, I know he is.
But even if he is, what can I do?
I feel useless, powerless, and empty without her.
I may not be able to do anything, but maybe now she has found people to stand up for her, to give her purpose, she will fight back. It will definitely result in my death, it has always been inevitable. I know the moment Alina decides to fight back, she will succeed and it will be the end of me. However, instead of feeling fearful or sad about my eventual demise, I feel hopeful. Maybe once she has let go of our past, she can look to her future. I know I won’t be a part of it, no matter how much I wish differently. It doesn’t matter anymore. As long as she is safe and happy, I will gladly lay down my life for her. Vemnos knows this. He knows I would sacrifice my life for her in less than a heartbeat if given half the chance. Which is why I am always restrained, so I can’t kill myself.
I don’t care what the bastard does to me, I would take everything he gives, if it meant keeping my Birdy safe.
Vemnos’s brow furrows and he stares at me with a quizzical expression. “What are you thinking about now, maggot?” he sneers.
“You’re going to lose. You know that, right?” I smirk back.
“Ha, you really think so, huh? Boy, you know nothing.”
“I know enough. I know my girl and she will end you, no matter what it takes.” I lean forward slightly, my shackled arms preventing me from moving any further.
“Your girl? Doesn’t look like she’s your girl anymore. In fact, it looked like she shacked up with the boy until we slit his throat.”
He crouches down in front of me until we’re both eye level. Tilting his head to the side, his black eyes searching mine.
“It took her some time to finally stay somewhere, but do you really think she hasn’t slept around? Acted the whore, taking her pleasures where she wants? I bet the bitch jumped into bed with the first man she came across after you presumably died, I—”
My spit lands straight into his eye, then drips down his cheek.
With a disgusted sneer, he uses his hand to wipe it away before slapping me hard across my face. Standing upright again, he looks down at me with hatred and contempt. Glancing down at the dagger in his hand, he twirls it between his fingers.
“You’re getting gutsy. Make no mistakes, Alina will die, as will you and any other fucker I deem fit. Just because she got away this time, doesn’t mean she’ll get away the next time we visit her.”
He looks from the blade to me, the corner of his mouth turning up in a sinister grin.
“You know, I have a brilliant idea. Yes, it’s fantastic. I think we may make an earlier visit to Little Bird. Catch her unaware. She won’t expect me to turn up this soon.” A soul wrenching laugh echoes around my small cell making my heart stop.
I can’t do anything but watch in dismay as my eyes haze over with purple smoke as his sinister voice sing songs out around me.
“It’s playtime.”
Acknowledgments
I’ve already dedicated this book to my hubs and kiddo who I would be lost without, but there are a few others I wish to say a huge thank you to.
First to my two fabulously crazy besties Ido and Bee. You are both such amazing people and I’m so thankful for meeting you two. Stay crazy my lovelies.
Next would have to be Reese. You started me on my author’s journey by introducing me to a wonderful reading community and encouraging me to pursue a dream I didn’t even realize I had.
To all the ladies in The Lady Gang and Harem of Bitches you are all fabulous and crazy. Don’t ever change. Especially you Sue, thank you for always kicking my butt and making me write.
To my Crazy Ridiculous Awesome Betas thank you for taking the time to read through my work and all your comments and suggestions; many of which made me snort laugh.
About the Author
Crazy flipping unicorns, I finished writing my first book!!!!!!
I live in England with my long-suffering hubby and mischievous son. We live with our furbabies; three asshole tabby cats and a tubby Jack Russell terrier.
I'm an insane coffee and chocolate addict and a passionate stalker of some amazing authors (keep sending me your pretties ladies; you know who you are)
When I’m not terrorizing my hubs, kid and authors, I’m reading, writing, sketching; anything creative really. What can I say, I like to keep busy.
Want to know more?
Also find me lurking around my readers group on Facebook:
Regina’s Risque Readers
Echoes of the Past (The Alina Chronicles Book 1) Page 20