The Life As The Devil's Son

Chapter Fifteen: The Soul Severance (Mid Finale)

My fury was a roaring fire within me as I stormed down the palace halls. I felt like a tempest of emotions, a whirlwind of anger, frustration, and confusion.

"Austin, wait," Michael's voice called out, but I was in no mood to listen, my anger drowning out any response.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his words echoing through the corridor.

"I want to see Tara. I have questions that need answering," I replied bitterly, my determination propelling me forward.

However, Michael refused to yield. He sprinted ahead of me, blocking my path with a resolute stance. "Can we at least talk about what happened in there?"

"What is there to talk about? You watched me endure my father's torment and didn't do anything to stop him. I almost killed someone!" I shouted, my voice thundering through the hallway.

"But you didn't," Michael stated calmly, his eyes locking onto mine as he searched for understanding.

"But I could have! You saw the way Tara looked at me. She was staring at me like I was a monster," I muttered, my voice muffled by the swirling emotions within me. I struggled to keep my tears at bay, my eyes glistening with the threat of unshed sorrow.

Michael's eyes bore into mine as he reassured me, "Austin, you are not a monster. Your father put you in an impossible situation."

I wiped away an errant tear with the back of my hand, my frustration slowly giving way to a gnawing sense of despair. "I know, but I can't help but feel tainted by all of this. Like there's darkness inside of me that I can't control."

Michael placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me in that rugged moment. "We'll find a way to free you from your father's grasp, Austin. And we'll make sure that darkness doesn't define you."

I nodded, still unsure of his words, and sighed in despair. "I just want to do the right thing, Michael. I don't want to be a pawn in my father's game."

"We'll make our own path," Michael affirmed, his deep voice resonating through the dark hallway. "And I am sorry I didn't intervene, but if Travis found out I wasn't Jack, he'd do everything in his power  to break us into freeing him. Is that what you want?"

As he spoke, I sensed a slight tremor in his voice, revealing the emotional turmoil beneath the surface—a subtle quiver that betrayed the guilt he felt for not standing up for me.

I looked up at Michael, my anger and frustration subsiding. He had been trapped in the same nightmare I found myself in now, and I couldn't fault him for trying to protect both of us. I shook my head and sighed, a heaviness settling in my chest.

"No, that's not what I want," I admitted in a low voice, continuing with a deep breath. "I just... I don't know who I am anymore, Michael. I don't want to be a monster like my father, but I also don't want to lose myself."

Michael's expression softened, and he pulled me into a reassuring embrace. "You won't lose yourself, Austin. We'll find a way out of this together. And when we do, you'll be stronger than ever."

Once we parted from the embrace, I took a shaky breath and wiped away the last traces of my tears.

"Now, let's do this mission and get that Soul Severance," Michael mentioned while gripping my shoulders.

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. But the need for information clouded my mind. "No, not yet," I replied, gently brushing Michael's hands off my shoulders. "I need to ask Tara more about this artifact and what Travis wants with it."

Michael dipped his head in agreement, understanding the importance of gathering information. "Alright, but we need to be cautious, just in case Travis is watching."