Emperor of Annihilation

THIRTY FIVE

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Once we're out of ear shot, Clementine turns to me. The blues in her coloring the rim were a stormy shade, emphasizing her hatred for me. No sign of the Monroe I used to know.

Strands of her hair fell in front of her face and without thinking I lifted my hand to brush them away, tucking them gently behind her ear. Before I can, her hand slaps mine away so fast that if I had blinked, I would've missed it.

"Don't touch me."

I raise my hand to my eyes, narrowing them as I observe the red spot forming on the back of my hand. Tilting my head to the side, a frown tugging on my lips.

I lift my head and break out in a grin. "Feisty today, aren't we?"

As a scoff parts her pouty lips, all I can think about is how good those pretty pink lips felt around my dick.
"What do you want from me?"

I shrug my shoulders. "A lot."

"Meaning?"

"You. You're a lot." I press on, my gaze scanning her face for any sign of emotion—yet finding none. I continue, shoving my hands in my pockets. "I want your time, your laughter, your thoughts—everything," I admit, a hint of vulnerability in my voice. "You're not just a little to me; you're a lot. And I want it all."

"No."

"No?"

She shakes her head, eyes still narrowed, her lips forming a frown. She sucks in her cheeks, hollowing them out and accentuating her cheekbones. "You don't deserve me, you never did." Before I can make an attempt at defending myself, she interrupted. "I want you to leave me alone. I told you this a million times, and still you manage to find a path back to me." Her brows furrow the more she speaks. "Why did you even come here?"

My mind roams back to three hours ago when Atticus suggested we go out, and I suggested Vivienne's cafe where I knew Clementine would be after class, like she always was.

"I'm never going to leave you alone, even in death. I'll haunt your memories, linger in your dreams," I vow.

Her breath hitches, and a ripple of unease courses through her expression. Though not overtly obvious, a flicker of fear tugs at the edges of her features.

She takes a very, very obvious step back, shaking her head. "You're psychotic."

A grin, with a touch of sadistic satisfaction, slowly curves my lips. "Took you long enough."

A twitch passes through her left eye, her cheeks remaining sunken, and her face retaining its hollow demeanor. It's almost as if her inner light has dissipated. But she still shines even in school uniform.

"It didn't take me long at all. You know when I first met you I thought you were different—special even—it didn't take long for me to realize you're like the rest. Evil and disgusting. People warned me to stay away from you, you know? But I didn't listen and I regret it every day you sneak back into my mind after I try so hard to delete every memory I've ever had of you."