Circe Riddle (Book 3)

Chapter 42

TW: Mentions of death/killing, torture, blood

LGBTQ+ Themes

(Still Theodore's pov)

I followed her up to the astronomy tower and she sank down to the ground in the middle of the tower. "Circe" I called softly

She looked back at me with tears in her eyes but didn't say anything, just tried to wipe the tears away and looked the other way. I went to sit next to her and we sat in silence for a couple minutes before she spoke up "How are things with Mattheo?" she asked quietly

"They are decent" I replied "But let's not talk about me, what is really bothering you? Why do you look so sick?"

She looked away "As the temporary memory loss moments have become less and less, I have started seeing things. I keep seeing Malachi, almost as if he's haunting me and everytime I close my eyes I just keep seeing moments from when I was trapped there" She frowned and I tear rolled down her cheek.

I nodded my head and frowned "Anything else?" I went to put my hand on her shoulder to comfort her but she pulled away.

"I have been trying to distance myself from anything that reminds me of him, including my siphon powers" She glanced down at her wrist "The bracelet blocks off my siphon magic but can be taken off, and I have to fight myself every day to keep it on because it only brings death and reminds me of him" Another tear fell "I thought it would be easier to resist as the days went by, but I had done too much to ever get that, now all I want is to siphon more magic, but I'm afraid I'm going to kill someone again, I'm afraid one day I'm not going to be able to control it and I'm going to end up killing my brothers, or you, or Indu, or any of my other friends. I have been trying to find a way to reverse this, so that I am not a siphon anymore but I can't find anything"

As helpful as it was to have her be able to siphon magic, because it had saved my life, I could understand why she would want to get rid of it. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I don't think so, unless you can find a book about it. And make sure Thomas hides that pendent" She looked down and was silent for a couple seconds but I knew she had more to say "Can I trust you?"

I was taken back "Yes" I replied a bit confused "What?-"

"If- uh" She paused and took a deep breath "If I try to siphon another person or get my hands on the pendent, you'll- need- to- uh..." her lips formed a straight line and she glanced up at the sky "you'll need to kill me" She said quickly this time and pulled further away

"Circe" I looked at her "You can't ask me to kill you"

A tear ran down her cheek "If you don't kill me, I'm am going to end up killing other people, siphoning all their magic away, I don't want to do that" She was full on crying now and she turned her face away "Please, I don't want to turn into Malachi" She shook her head "I would rather be dead then use my siphon powers again" She turned her head back to my and looked me in the eyes "Please, you said I could trust you"

I ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes tightly "I didn't know you would ask me to kill you" I shot back, trying to control my emotions "Why me?" I questioned "Why choose me out of everyone, why not your brother or something"

"You and I both know they would never do it"

"And why do you think I would do it? Again, why me?"

"Your one of the few people I trust, you know me-"

"Barely"

"You know me better than most and you know that I don't want to live like that, I hope your enough of a gentleman that you would listen to my wishes and not let me become just like the monster that I hate"