The Life As The Devil's Son

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Devil's Mark

As time dragged on in that dreary cell, I lost track of the days. The constant storm of my own thoughts was as exhausting as the physical imprisonment. Each night brought a tormenting cycle as I woke up, screaming, cursed by the vivid replay of Valia's death.

The cold reality of the cell mirrored the chilling grip of my own conscience. I longed for escape, not just from the confines of the cell but from the relentless replay of that fateful moment.

I could still feel Valia's cold touch, a stark contrast to the warmth she once possessed. Her lifeless form crumpled before me, her eyes losing their vibrant color and fading into an abyss of emptiness. The weight of her body, as it fell, echoed in my ears, a relentless reminder of the irreversible act that stained my hands.

I banged my head against the cell wall, each thud resonating through the cramped space, in a futile attempt to shake off the relentless grip of Valia's death. Despite my efforts, I couldn't dislodge the haunting memory within.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of clanking keys, and the cell door creaked open. My eyes squinted against the sudden intrusion of light as Travis stepped into view, his smirk as cold as ever, his eyes calculating my every move. "Austin, you've had your time to wallow in self-pity. How about we make a deal?"

I glared at him, resentment burning in my eyes. "What deal could you possibly offer that would make any of this right?"

Travis leaned against the cell bars, a twisted grin playing on his lips. "Tell me where Jack is located, and I won't tell Michael what you did to his sister."

My jaw tightened, and I shot back, "Are you seriously blackmailing me right now?" Frustration bubbled within me as I jumped up to my feet, unable to contain my anger.

"Don't think of it as blackmail. Think of it as an agreement," Travis said, taking a step closer to me. His voice oozed with an unsettling confidence as if he held all the cards in this twisted game.

I shook my head in protest. The last thing I wanted was to bring my demented brother back into my life.

"And what if I refuse?" I challenged, turning my back against Travis.

"Not only will I tell him what you did, but I will also mark both your mother and Michael. A mark that will devour their souls and obliterate whatever is left of them." Travis threatened in a deep voice.

I clenched my fists as my jaw tightened. Travis always knew how to dig his heels in deeper when there was something he wanted. At that moment, I had grown tired of his manipulative games, refusing to succumb to his demands. I stood there in silent protest, holding myself back from unleashing the fury building within me.

"Think it over, Austin. The offer stands, and call me when you have changed your mind," Travis said as he left the cell, the door slamming shut behind him. The echo of his footsteps faded, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of the cell.

A deep voice reached my ears as I sat on the cold stone floor, contemplating the twisted choices ahead. The British accent was unmistakable—it was my father. Leaning towards the cell bars, I strained to catch every word he uttered, and my curiosity piqued.

"Austin will agree. Once he realizes, he will have nothing left." The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. It was the first time I had ever heard my father's thoughts. My powers were growing, and I couldn't shake the fear that it was a result of what I did and the person I felt myself becoming.

The cell felt like a test for my evolving abilities. The walls seemed to close in as I grappled with the truth of my father's words. Does he truly believe I will succumb to his offer, driven by desperation and loss?