Hypnotic

Twenty Two

I'm not evil... am I? I never wanted to hurt anyone... I just wanted them to see that I was in charge.

Sleep didn't come easy. I could hear her desperate whimpers echoing through my dreams. I could feel the blood that soaked into the mattress burning me, starting a fire that ate me whole. I could hear her growls as her bright yellow eyes glowered at me from the darkness. I could feel her claws tearing into my flesh. I could feel her breath on my throat as she ripped it open.

I woke suddenly, body shivering, sunlight filtering in through the half closed curtains. Was it a dream? I lost track of time as I sat in the bed, my back pressed against the headboard.

I didn't want to kill her.

Tears sprung in my eyes and I bit my fist as I sobbed, willing myself to calm down. I couldn't.

What have I done?

I could feel my Blade next to me, just barely under the pillow. The point felt colder now. The hilt was sticky with dried blood. I felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to vomit.

Monster.

"Daddy," I choked out, my hands curled into my hair and tugging harshly. "Daddy, help me. I don't know what to do.. I don't know what to do!" I screamed freely, no longer caring who heard and who didn't. I hastily threw on a top and jeans, not bothering to do anything else. I stuffed whatever I could into my two suitcases and flung open my door, only to be met with Caleb who looked as though he were about to knock.

"Venus?" I shoved past him and hurried down the stairs, but I was forced to halt as his wings blocked my way out. "Move," I growled. "Not until you tell me what's wrong." "I said move!" "And I said no!" I snarled, letting my fangs show as my claws unsheathed. I moved to strike him, but he easily caught my wrist and flung me around, pinning me to the front door.

A grunt of discomfort left my lips as the doorknob dug into my hip. "Let me go!" I screamed, thrashing against him desperately. Pity flashed in his eyes, but his hold on me did not loosen. "Venus." His tone was firm, not malicious, and I settled slightly when our eyes locked together. "You killed Aviva."

My heart sank upon the realization that I wasn't about to walk out with anyone none the wiser. Of course Death would know when someone died. "I didn't mean to..." I whispered. "I don't know why I did it. I..." I trailed off and averted my eyes, shame blooming in the bottom of my stomach. "I know that." I let my body sag against his as his ghostly white wings engulfed me, shielding me.

"Waylon and Bune will never forgive you for it," he sighed. "Noen will be hurt, but he and Aviva weren't all that close." "And Damiar?" Caleb went silent. "I don't know..." "What do I do now then, Caleb? If you'll just let me go, then I can -" "No. I know how badly you want to run away from this, but you're safest here with us."

I snorted and pushed my way out of his grip and sat on the bottom step of the staircase. "You said you could convince the fallen angels to side with us?" Caleb nodded, moving to sit beside me. "At least some of them, yeah. We'll need all the help we can get." I paused, thinking it through for a moment before deciding how I needed to word my next question. "What about the other... Creatures?"

The angel looked at me curiously, and I took a deep breath. "Like werewolves and hippogriffs or something... I don't know..." A tense silence fell between us, and I shifted in discomfort. "Was my suggestion really that bad?" Caleb laughed softly. "No. It's not that. It's just.. Creatures like that tend to be loyal to God. For whatever reason, they highly respect him. But..." "But?" "But you could still gain their power."