The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 25- Corinth

"Destiny is a worrying concept. I don't want to be fated, I want to choose."

***

Although the breakup between Amias and I was fake, some of it seemed real. I wondered if he thought that way deep down or was it just an illusion. Did Amias not think he could give me a future with him? A life. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me every single second I dwelled on the last ten minutes. Okay, Soari, time to think about something else.

My legs seemed to be in control of the rest of my body as I turned the doorknob and walked out of Erebus's bedroom, turning right down the large hallway. I was not sure what I was looking for, all I knew is that I needed to get out of that damned room for a little bit. My bones screamed at the balcony a few steps ahead, the sun shining brightly in every which way–as though it knew exactly what I needed. The sunlight. As soon as I entered, warmth radiated throughout my body as I bathed in it for a while. This, at my core, is my power the Earth gave me when I was born. Healing, sunlight, it was all mine. And no matter who takes it away, it still lives within me. "Hello, darling Lianna," a man purred from behind me.

I turned around, realizing it was one of the Gods. Though, I might have forgotten his name. He was dressed in a charcoal suit as his hands were placed in his pockets, his auburn hair slicked back with product. His smile was poisonous, filled with venom and it made me take a step back from him. "I must have forgotten who you are," I smirked back, not caring if was capable of hurting me or not. "What is it that you want?"

He laughed. "Eris, God of Chaos. I'm surprised you do not remember me."

My arms crossed over my chest. "Why would I?"

Eris's gray eyes brightened with mischief, similar to Erebus's. I guess that is what they have in common. Such cold eyes that made me want to freeze to death. "I did help save your life, so you might want to be a little nicer to me."

"Or what?" I questioned. Eris took a step closer to me now, towering over me while I did not blink once at him. I would not give him that satisfaction. "You cannot do anything to me unless you want to feel the wrath of Erebus. So why don't you go on your merry way and leave me the fuck alone."

Within seconds, his hands clasped around my throat, squeezing until I could barely breathe. My back slammed into the wall behind me as I thrashed for him to let me go. Eris did not. "Be careful, Lianna, with that little game you're playing with him. Bastard Gods like him have a temper when they cannot get what they want." He growled.

Eris pulled his hand away, letting me breathe again. I coughed slightly, while my eyes held daggers at him for even placing his hands on me. "Let's see who wins in the end, hmm?" I backed away from him, almost leaving the sun room before turning toward him one last time. "Speak of our conversation and I will have to tell dear Erebus that you put your hands on me. And you would not like that, right?"

Eris's gray eyes darkened with rage while I curled my lips into a smirk. My whole life led me up to this fight. All the secrets and lies I kept from my family let me to the ultimate game I would play with the Gods. Though, they did not realize it. And that was the fun part. As I left Eris, my hand touched my throat slightly, a bruise already forming on my skin. No doubt Erebus would see it and maybe I wanted him to destroy Eris for it. Maybe. My blood boiled as I walked back to the bedroom I shared with him–every inch of me filled with rage and helplessness. I hated this feeling. Not being strong enough to fight against a man, even when I hold more power than anyone in my family. Still, I am weak.

I slammed the door behind me, immediately pouring myself a glass of blood as tears slipped down my cheek. Once I drowned the glass, I reached for another and another until I wasn't hungry anymore. Instead, the rage built up even more and no one could stop it. My knuckles grew into fists and I hit the wooden wall between the bathroom and my closet. The audacity these men have, I thought. These fucking Gods think they can own me because of the power they have. But no one owned me.