Destined

16. Dark Side

"You can't be serious, Jaiden; this guy put you through hell? You can't tell me you are taking his offer after all this. He took everything from you and all of Terra, so why?!" Simon yelled. "I knew you, and this is unlike you."

The Corrupted King chuckled and glanced at my friends. "There is a difference you fail to see, but he sees it. You were all frightened of him on the isles except for two people who pushed him to use that part of himself." His gaze focused on Mesmer and Artemis.

My friends stared at them both.

"Oh, they knew he could erase someone, and that was only the start. They tried to help that power grow, but he refused to use it." He bent down next to me. I avoided looking at him. "And it just so happens he and I have a little history. I have seen him kill without a lick of mercy, but he tried hard not to show that side of himself to most of you."

"Shut up, you scumbag. I would love to bash your head in again like I did that night." I glared at him. He grinned. "You are a little late in telling them that because they knew I killed criminals, but you made me kill an innocent person a few nights before that." I sighed. The heat bursts inside me made me cringe. "Stop playing around. I might reconsider going without a fight."

He scoffed a little. "Surprising, you would say that since you are rather stubborn. I thought I would have to kill one or two of them."

"Jaiden, you don't need to do this," Artemis screamed at me. "You idiot, you know he will kill us either way, whether that is now or later. What about your father and what Judas fought for when they protected you?"

My heart twinged at her words. I knew why she was upset. I could not give my response because I knew it was weak.

"Oh, does he now, my dear?" He peered at me, then at his daughter. "He chose that is all that should matter to you."

"Jaiden, you cannot want this?" Mesmer threw the question out there. Surprise swirled about in his irises. "No, you still don't want this. Everyone here knows the risk. You still want to play protector."

I felt myself sink in the soil. "You still don't get what I see after all the time you spent with me. All of you know there is something in me that has never been right. Do me a favor, and don't die for me."

"Idiot, stop acting alone like you did when we met. I am sick of you telling us the same excuse." Kay frowned and crossed his arms. "We chose to fight with you, so get off your hero high horse and kick their monster asses to the underworld."

The Corrupted King laughed. "Your friends have so much faith in you, but I know your limit. You reached it. That body of yours won't hold up though your spirit wishes to fight on." He lowered his hand down to me. "One of your best qualities, but also something else has changed about you. Shall we go, little wolf?"

I stared at his hand for a long moment. It was calloused just like mine. "One thing I need to do first." I peered over my shoulder at Artemis. "Hey, you need to know that none of this or what happened to Kader was your fault. He didn't feel it was a mistake. You shouldn't either. Right now, this is what needs to happen, but I promise you I have not forgotten anything." I turned my eyes away and grabbed the Corrupted King's hand. He pulled me up even though I struggled to stay steady on my feet.

My head was spinning. That damn heat still bursting under my flesh made me feel flushed. I tried to cover it, but I couldn't hide it. I felt arms wrap around my shoulder, frozen like crystallized snow. I glanced up to see the King, but my eyes shut. I didn't care anymore what would become of me. I fell off my high horse a long time ago when I realized it got those around me killed.