Fallen Angels (19 page)

“My powers have grown immensely since Chloe came along.” I laughed wickedly as she began to recover from my shocking news. “I want you gone Ravyn.”

“It’s my house.” She groaned as she slowly got to her feet. “I have something for you Kara.” Her hands were on me, holding my head still while she stared into my eyes. “I want you to feel my pain.”

My eyes shut tightly. A sudden pain invaded my head, then visions of past and present.  All of Ravyn’s pain and anguish when I was being tortured, the things she did to find me, her death, her moment of peace in her mother’s arms. The fires of hell and her pain when her body was forced to come back to life. The months of darkness and hatred while she was away. The constant pain of my mistrust, my constant accusations since she came back. Her pain and sadness were unbearable. 

Tears streamed down my face while I cried out in her pain, begging her to stop, but she continued. Letting me feel her pride and love on the day she met Chloe and saved me. Her constant longing to be with me. Her anger and disappointment in Abby when she caught her killing and having sex. And finally my crushing blow tonight, when I shoved my blatant lie about wanting Devlin in her face. It felt like she had crumbled to dust right there.

I wanted to take it back, but I couldn’t. I stared at her through teary eyes, whispering, “I’m sorry,” over and over again.

“I have suffered enough of your pain,” she whispered before releasing her hold on my mind and leaving the room. I hadn’t even noticed that Mom had undone my magic on the door and now stood beside Nebiros in my room. I crumpled to the ground, consumed with Ravyn’s pain and sadness. 

I cried and sobbed and cried some more while my mom sat holding me, letting me break down. I thought that I was being brave and bold standing up to her for a change, but I had overlooked everything. Ravyn never lied to me, and everything she did in this life was for me. I was her world and I destroyed it, all because I wanted to be in control.

Ravyn had stayed calm all this time, because she would do anything for me. She carried so much pain, failure, and guilt inside of her that I felt like I was being crushed. I felt like I was dying inside. I had single-handedly ruined the calm loving woman that she tried to be for me.

Chapter Fifteen

Ravyn

Mind Fuckery

Kara had given me a show of her power and in return I gave her a taste of the pain I had suffered for her. I gave her every ounce of my pain, guilt, love and hate. I could no longer tolerate her mistrust and her constant pushing to see the beast within me. I was suddenly glad I had hit Abby. Not that I wanted to hurt her, but because Kara finally got what she wanted.

She had been searching for a reason to kick me out of my own house. I hoped she was finally happy. I would no longer cage the fierce demon; tonight it would feast and be free to do as it pleased.

I headed to Devlin’s, to irritate my old friend. It was time to have a little fun and lose control. Control? I was done with that. I needed to get back in touch with the Ravyn that everyone feared. Not the Ravyn on a fucking leash. It was time to uncage the demon and let it taste the joys in life.

When I arrived I refused to give up my weapons and pushed my way into the elevator. The dance club was packed with gorgeous young women. Women who had no power over me, who could never control my demon, and who I could give two shits about whether they lived or died.

Devlin watched me like a hawk while I strode up to the bar, purposely sitting next to him. “What do you want?” he growled.

“A bottle of Jack, and some beautiful women to start,” I said, scanning the club, not really looking for anything, until I saw Abby and Volac. “Look at that. They make quite the pair, don’t they?” I laughed loudly. “Kara would be so unhappy. Then again, she is always disappointed about something. Why don’t you go back to her Devlin, you don’t want to be here anyway?”

“Did you leave her again? You always come and go as you please, mending and breaking her heart at will.”

“You should be thanking me, since you have another chance to swoop in and take advantage of her.”

I stood, welcoming his anger, but when he stayed seated I knew I would have to push a little harder. I set my demon free and moved to the young woman next to him, wriggling my claws in front of them. My claw moved down her neck, slicing her jugular wide open; her blood sprayed over my skin like a fountain of lust. Devlin stood and tried to help her, but I pushed him away with ease while my tongue lapped at her spurting blood.

“Ravyn!” Abby shouted.

I turned away from the dying women to find Abby, Volac, and Devlin standing behind me. They didn’t hold my attention very long, because my demon eyes were focused on the blonde beauty frozen in fear on the dance floor. I walked right past them, never taking my eyes off the young woman who watched me approach her.

“Do not fear me,” I whispered, letting my touch excite her.

Her clothes were off only seconds after I touched her, and I immediately sank my fangs into her breast. It wasn’t enough for me, for the demon. It wanted all of this woman, and so did I. Sinking to my knees in front of the beauty, her leg swung over my shoulder, inviting me into the warm perfection between her legs. My fangs plunged into her warmth, and my claws dug into her soft skin while I held her against me.

When I was done the woman was lying on the wooden dance floor, barely conscious. Her beauty and spicy, sweet blood was all that kept her alive. I felt alive, no, my demon felt alive, while I felt broken.

I was suddenly pushed from behind. I didn’t know who did it, but they weren’t going to live long. I pulled my dagger and spun, ready to kill anyone standing behind me. A strong arm hooked mine as Abby’s wide-eyed face came into view, in the path of my blade. The arm stopped my swinging arm, but I had let the dagger go, and it was heading directly for Abby.

Volac suddenly stepped in front of Abby, gently pushing her back with his own body before he leaned back to dodge the knife, his eyes watching the blade pass only inches from his head. The dagger abruptly froze in mid-air; Volac had reached out and caught it with ease.

I looked to see had stopped me. “Lokie?” He smiled at me then freed my arm. Angela was helping Abby to her feet and thanking Volac.

“I hate you Ravyn! I hate you!” Abby screamed while trying to take the dagger from Volac.

To my surprise Volac refused to give it to her. Instead he turned and handed it back to me. I honestly didn’t know whether to cut off his head or thank him. My friends all stared at me in shock, maybe even hatred. My only regret was nearly killing Abby. I missed this chaotic life something terrible. The uncompromising killer within me was free, and it was not ready to be caged.

“Let me go!” Kara’s scream echoed through the silent club.

What was left of the crowd parted to let the angry witch approach. A sinister smile spread across my lips, knowing this fight was a long time coming.

“Uh oh, it’s the bitchy witch, coming to lay down the rules.” I moved toward the naked woman still lying on the dance floor.

“Don’t you dare touch her! You’ve done enough damage, now stop this!” she shouted, stepping onto the dance floor with me.

“I’m afraid I have already touched her. She won’t live, her heart is weak.” I crouched next to the woman, carefully gliding the steel blade over her skin. “Maybe I will save her? Maybe she could love me without restraint or fear.”

“I loved you! I loved everything about you, and you betrayed every ounce of my love!”

“You loved how I made you feel, but you never accepted me,” I hissed, resting the point of the blade over the woman's heart.

“Don’t do this Ravyn, she’s innocent,” Kara begged.

“No one is truly innocent Kara,” I said, shoving the blade into the woman’s chest.

“Stop!”

Kara’s scream was the last thing I remembered while I ruthlessly killed the young woman. My eyes slowly opened and I recognized my basement, which only had one light on directly above me. I tried to move but couldn’t. I was chained the like a fucking animal. What the fuck happened? My hands were cuffed behind my back; my ankles were shackled and wrapped in chains. The chains continued around my chest, trapping my arms against my body. Then I noticed Nebiros sitting in a chair several feet in front of me, which made me laugh.

“Nebiros, what the fuck is this?”

“This is Kara, saving your life,” he replied calmly.

“Kara hates me. Tell her I want to die. I can’t stand her obsessive rules of life.”

“Be careful what you wish for Ravyn. My patience with you is wearing very thin,” Kara whispered as she appeared out of the darkness behind Nebiros.

“There she is. I can feel your hunger for my death. Come on Kara, let’s not disappoint each other anymore. You can finally get a taste of my dangerous life. You better hurry, these chains won’t hold me forever.”

“I did this. I tried to control everything you are, and then I pushed you over the edge. I’m done letting you hurt innocent people, Ravyn. And you will never hurt me again.”

“I never hurt you,” I growled.

“Not physically, but you love breaking my heart.” She paused. “I have to admit, I haven’t been completely honest with you either. I may not be stronger than you, but I am more powerful. A final gift from Astoroth.” She shrugged before crouching in front of me, sliding her hands over my chains, sending a tiny electrical current through them.

“It feels like one of those massage chairs, maybe you should turn up the juice?” I laughed. My laughter quickly ceased when the current grew. I watched the wonderful darkness dance in Kara’s eyes. Then it stopped and she backed away. “We would make quite the pair if you would just let go of your fears.”

“I’ve tried, believe me, I’ve tried to just let go. I just can’t get over my fear of losing you. I would have done anything to get you back.” Kara turned, looking at me with a crushing sadness. “I did what I had to.”

“Telling me the truth involves chaining me to a fucking chair? This isn’t you,” I said, watching her carefully. “Who put you up to this?” I watched her eyes move to the corner of the room, then back to me. Someone was watching, but no one else was down here.

“No one put me up to this. You can’t run while I tell you the truth if you’re chained up, now can you? You can’t cover your ears or fight. All you can do is listen,” she said.

I looked down at my chains, shaking my head. What was I missing? Someone else was with us at the club, but who? I couldn't remember. I couldn’t see anyone else.

“Ravyn, look at me,” Kara whispered. “You have to see the truth.” Her eyes pleaded with me before glancing to the corner again.

“I’m not going anywhere, so tell me what you did,” I replied with a grin. I searched her mind while she spoke, but there was a barrier keeping something hidden. It was very strong, like a concrete wall. I knew Kara had power, but this was different. Kara wanted me to see her thoughts. Someone else had planted the barrier in her mind. Yet I couldn’t figure out who would be capable of such a thing.

“I cast a spell on Devlin the day he came back. I needed him. I needed someone I could count on, someone to comfort me in my time of need. Let’s face it Ravyn, he would never betray your friendship just to get in my pants. I knew it would be easy to bind him to me. He was lost and lonely. Devlin needed comfort as much as I did and no one would be the wiser.”

Nebiros was looking as shocked as I was, which meant he didn’t know any of it.

“Leave us, brother,” I said, in an attempt to keep him safe.

“Always looking out for your friends. You are very loyal Ravyn.” Kara smiled, letting Nebiros leave.

“I could have killed Devlin that night in the arena,” I hissed.

“You wanted to, but I would never let you hurt those you care about. Angie has been a huge help to me. She brought Abby to the arena to keep you two from doing anything too foolish. Angie also contacted Jeanie, who jumped at the chance to watch over you. To keep you out of trouble. We had to keep things from Nebiros and Devlin, because they would never approve of our methods.”

“It’s nice to know I still have friends,” I replied sarcastically.

“I tried to tell you when you came back that I was not the weak girl you remembered, Ravyn. You just couldn’t envision me turning out like this. You didn’t want to believe it,” Kara confessed.

She was right; I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Yet it all made sense. Jeanie’s sudden appearance in my life and her constant need to repair the romance between Kara and I. Kara’s willingness to trust me with Jeanie during business trips. Devlin’s abrupt attraction to Kara after always treating her like a little sister. Kara constantly controlling my every move was to prove the power she held over me.

“Peter insisted you were dangerous. But my love for you wouldn’t allow me to believe him. I had to wonder if he was right when you hit Abby. Then I saw how evil you really were when you killed that woman.”

I erupted in laughter, blinded by love for so long. “You are quite a woman Kara. I have no idea how I ever trusted you,” I whispered. Inside I was trying to determine if she was lying or confessing the truth.

“Because you love me, Ravyn. And no matter how hard I try to hate you, I can’t. I love you as much today as I did when we were growing up. I never lied about that. I had to be cautious though. I thought you would be good for Chloe. I know now that your evil nature will only hurt her,” she whispered in my ear.

A daring move for her to expose her neck to my fangs, but I wouldn’t hurt her unless I was pushed, and Kara knew it. “Then kill me,” I growled.

“I could never bring myself to kill you. That’s why I am turning you over to Peter.” She kissed my neck.

“Peter is behind all of this? You think he will let me live after I killed his guards to save you?” I asked.

“No, you won’t be coming back.” Her lips brushed against mine while she spoke.

I turned my head away, refusing her kiss. “I should have killed you a long time ago Kara.”

“You don’t mean that Ravyn.”