Beautiful Darkness

➵Good Enough

My fist connects with Natalia's jaw just as waves of light and color hit me. The blow sends her stumbling back as she wipes blood from her bottom lip. With narrowing eyes, her snake-like features focus on me. The burst of my returning eyesight leaves me completely vulnerable and exposed. I instantly glance down at my hands trying to gather myself.

I look up as Natalia thrusts her knee deep into my abdomen. The hit causes me to heave over in pain. In seconds my weight is effortlessly picked up and thrown onto the nearest table. Glass shatters around me digging into my skin and drawing blood. She proceeds to throw herself onto me. In a tangle of limbs and nails, Anessia is quick to take control. I, she, takes a deep breath and smirks.

"That's all you got?" The playful and deceiving tone of my voice is foreign to my own vocal cords.

Natalia wastes no time charging at us. In a display of unwavering strength and training she launches a series of punches and kicks all fueled with deadly force. Anessia absorbs my movements as she manages to avoid every hit. Natalia takes a step back stunned.

"Now it's my turn." I smile wickedly.

Several punches of my own land on her rugged skin. Bruises begin to form as Anessia shows no mercy.

"That's enough!" A loud voice calls from across the room.

With a flick of my wrist I drag Natalia back several feet into the nearest wall. I concentrate on Anessia as she pauses for a moment. She forces us to lean closer to Natalia, mere inches from her face.

"Pain." I whisper.

Instantaneous screaming exhales from Natalia. She writhes uncontrollably.

"Make it stop," Orion's voice fills my ears as he grips my shoulders. He turns me to face him and our eyes irreversibly connect. The screams stop instantly.

"Orion?" The voice is not my own.

"It's okay, you couldn't control it." He begins to soothe. I give him a confused look.

"Control what?"

It is his turn to give me a confused look.

"I can't believe you're here. I thought you were killed in the field," I take my hand and softly cup his cheek with affection. His expression is absolutely perplexed.

"Is nobody else going to lock this crazy bitch up?" Natalia rasps.

I shoot her a look that ceases all noise from her.

"Died in the field?" Orion continues to question. I shake my head in exasperation.

"None of that matters now," I smile sweetly at him. I take his face and drag it to mine. My lips assault his, demanding reciprocation. I know the action is directly from Anessia but her will is stronger than mine currently. I give it a shove to try and get her to stop.

Orion is hesitant at first but soon complies. His mouth moves in sync with mine as I grab the back of his neck. I deepen the kiss. I hear Natalia begin to voice her opinion once more.

Disappointed to end my current action I bite Orion's lip before breaking away from the kiss. He is breathless and flustered once I step back.

"Stop," I whisper through. Anessia forces me to heavily roll my eyes.

"Where did that come from?" Orion asks as he catches his breath. I can feel the eyes of everyone on me.

I give him a seductive smile.

'That's it. You're done. Knock it off.' I press against Anessia's control. She pushes me away.

"She wants to push me out, isn't that absurd?" My voice asks Orion. His movements become cautious as he slowly approaches his following question.