The High Priestess - The Darkest Desires Series

XXXII

E

cho trembled again as she felt the wrath pool off Sydney. Free from the cuffs made no difference; Echo felt as trapped as before and Sydney was very, very unstable. Echo had only ever seen someone like this once and it had left Adin and herself trembling under their bed, tiny three-year-old hands clutched tight together as they rode out the waves.

Sydney was beyond mad; yet not even that, because mad didn't... couldn't cover it. She was infuriated but calm, which were two emotions that spun Echo on her head. Jealousy covered her like a heavy fog and yet Echo could taste the pride coming off her and sticking on the roof of her mouth. Needy but strong, fearful but empowered, invigorated but unsure... Echo could only guess that everyone in the house had done a real number on her. The constantly spinning emotions were making Echo feel sick and that was the aftermath. She couldn't imagine what Sydney was feeling.

"What's wrong Sydney?" Echo asked, channelling her best Sage Willows impression. The Nurse had infuriated her, but she seemed like a calm person you could speak to. Lizzy reacted well enough to her... maybe the same could be said for Sydney. "You're not a killer. I know you. Why would you want to kill me? We're not the best of pals but...I mean... murder? It's a little beneath you?"

"Isn't it obvious by now?" Sydney chuckled in a voice a little too high pitched to be completely sane. To Echo though it wasn't obvious. "You've claimed everything that I've ever wanted." Sydney span round, venom in her words but a wild smile on her lips. Pointing at Echo with her finger rather than the gun she laughed hysterically. "I had it all planned out you know. I was so grateful when they gave me a job. I needed it and this place was so renowned I couldn't' believe I was invited to work here! But I quickly saw I was second to you. Wonderfully wicked Echo. So damaged. So destructive. How could I compare to you?" Going back to pacing, she shook her head over and over, as if sill in denial. "I knew then I couldn't beat you. Not when I found out the truth of who you were. Who they were. So, I thought if I couldn't beat you, I would just have to make you less desirable." Sydney smiled, like she'd been doing Echo a favour. "I knew you were stuck. Stuck in your broken life with your demonic family." She laughed getting side tracked. "Family isn't quite the word I would use to describe the Hellions." She looked at Echo before looking at McQueen. "Does he know?" Sydney asked.

"What's there to know, Sydney?" Act stupid, she thought, make Sydney out to be crazy.

"Oh, don't act coy darling." Sydney scoffed, barking a laugh, "You didn't tell him? Did you think he would peg you as crazy? I did. When I first discovered the truth, I couldn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. But then I saw the mastery in it." Sydney was shaking her head as if she was still in awe of it all.

"What's she talking about Echo?" McQueen asked, very, very weary.

"He doesn't know, does he?" Sydney let out another laugh. She was becoming more deranged by the second. "Ha, the pretty detective who is so devout in his beliefs doesn't even know his booty call's dirty little secret. Some Detective you are." She mocked, "Oh this is so precious! So, so precious." Eyes sparkling, she looked to McQueen. "You know when I saw you pursue Echo here, I thought you'd flash and burn like all those before and become smitten. I could have hoped you'd drag her into the real world somehow, make her repent from her old ways, but miracles only happen to the worthy. No, instead she dragged you down. Pretty, broken Echo in such need of a helping hand. You know she enjoys playing in the mud Detective? She likes the low life's and the Sinners."

Echo felt her teeth grid, but she put on a sinister smile instead. "Is that what you want Sydney? To be down and dirty in the mud? Because I'd be happy to put you six feet under."