The 13th Prophecy (7 page)

I cut him off, “You hid your book in a wall.” As if doing one cliché thing meant that he would do two. Collin lifted his hand from my back after pressing it to my shoulder, reminding me to keep my temper in check. I felt his eyes on the side of my face, causing my stomach to twist.

Eric’s gaze darted between Collin’s hand, and my face. Eric’s expression was neutral.
As always.
“It was a book no one could read, except me. It was hardly valuable to anyone else. But Satan’s Stone—anyone could find it. If they killed you and took the second half, they could use it.”

Collin spoke, “Is that your plan?” Eric’s attention shifted to Collin. “To kill Ivy and use the Stone yourself? Absorb her power and take over?”

Eric’s mouth curved into a smile. He laughed. “You’re very astute, but a child compared to me. Did Ivy not tell you? I already used the Stone. It cannot be used twice by the same person. Nor would I want to. I’m still paying the price from the last time I used it.” He paused, his eyes shifting between Collin and me. “That’s what you would do? You’d befriend her to gain her trust, then kill her and take her power.”

Collin shot out of his seat. He was nose to nose with Eric. Every muscle in his neck popped as he held his arms and flexing fingers tensely at his sides. “Don’t you dare try to fill her mind with
distrust.
Not now. Not after everything she’s been through. My reasons for being cruel to her are transparent, while yours aren’t. Why are you here, Eric?
If it’s not power, then what?”

Eric remained
unphased
, and shoved his hands in his pockets. He replied, “I like her company,” and tried to shoulder past Collin.

I sat from the couch watching. Collin wasn’t after my power. I knew he wasn’t. He could have taken it several times, but he didn’t. Eric’s words were carefully crafted lies to make me... hate him. He said one thing—a horribly nasty thing—and then did something else. His actions typically didn’t match his mouth. Ah, I started to understand. Was it possible that Eric was here, and it was not by choice? Was it possible that he was hanging around me for another reason—a reason that had to do with the stone? I rose before Collin had a chance to respond, and walked over to Eric. Looking up at him, I asked, “We’re bound together, aren’t we? It’s something to do with the curse, isn’t it? The cost from when you used the stone?” A triumphant smug smile formed on my face, and melted away just as quickly.

Eric’s eyes melted, and the soft-hearted boy I’d known was staring back at me. It was as if a veil had been lifted and I could gaze into his soul. His eyes widened and I knew I could see him in that moment. Truly see what drove him to do and say the things he did. Nothing was hidden. A knot formed in my throat and I slid my foot back, backing away from him. Pressing my fingers over my mouth, I openly gaped at him as shock washed over me.

Eric’s reaction was that of a cornered animal. The veil he hid behind slammed back down. It was masking something.
Something important about the curse—about his curse from using the stone.
Before I recovered from the shock, his hands reached for my neck. Eric threw me across the room. My back slammed into the concrete wall with a thump. Before I could slide to the floor his fingers were pressing against my throat.

Collin moved behind him, ready to attack, but I held up my hand. Collin stopped. There was something there, within Eric. More than it seemed. And I’d just seen something that for whatever reason, Eric kept hidden. But I didn’t understand why. Why hide it? Why was he so threatened by me?

Collin’s blue eyes were filling with fire. His body shook with rage as he watched Eric hurt me, and for some reason I told Collin to stop. And he obeyed.
 
I needed time to discover what I thought I saw within Eric.
 
And making him release me would reveal nothing.

I wrapped my fingers around Eric’s wrists, trying to breathe. “Was that intentional?” I asked, wriggling beneath his grip. He was still so strong. I tried to make sense of what I’d seen, but the only thing I knew for certain was that it was a secret—something Eric didn’t want me to know. When Eric didn’t speak, I added, “Did you mean to show me that?
Cause
I’m guessing it was an accident. Since you seem rather pissed off and all
…
 
”
The expression on his face gave one answer, and his eyes gave another.

He snarled in my face, “Never speak of it.
Ever.”
His grip loosened and I fell to the floor, coughing. He shouldered past Collin and bounded up the metal staircase two at a time. When his foot hit the top step of the landing he said, “If the stone is where I left it, I’ll be back.” The metal door slammed behind him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Collin was eerily quiet. His neck snapped back toward me when Eric crashed through the metal doors above. He pulled me up into his arms, as if he needed to protect me from the deranged angel. He pressed me tightly against his body, and then pulled back to look at my neck. But I just stood there, unable to believe what I’d seen. Eric. Soft, meek, kind Eric was still there. He was hidden by cruelty and pain, and all too happy to inflict it on others—except me. With me it was different. I could see it. He would slash Collin and revel in it. The pain he caused me was different somehow, but I didn’t know why. The only thing that I could see was that the agony of his life twisted him into a monster. And now he was a monster with a soul. And what I’d just seen—I wasn’t supposed to. If Collin had noticed, he wouldn’t be concerned about me. For some reason, I was the only one who saw. And Eric didn’t want me to.

I pushed my hair out of my face, and assured Collin that I was fine. “He won’t hurt me, Collin.” I tried to brush it off, and act like it didn’t affect me, but he wouldn’t let me.

“He just threw you into a wall and tried to strangle you.” There was tension in his voice as he fought to speak at a normal tone and not scream in my face. It was Eric he hated, not me. “I don’t think you quite get what’s going on here.” He looked down at me, concerned.

I turned away from him. The things that swam in front of my eyes, the revelation of Eric’s cruelty still crystal clear in my mind. I didn’t fully understand what I’d seen, but I was certain it was real. Otherwise Eric wouldn’t have stormed off. But speaking of things, things tied to dark magic was foolish. It was possible speaking of it would only make it worse—make the curse strengthen. I didn’t want that. At one time, I would have wished Eric
every happiness
in the world—but now. I felt so torn. Half of me wanted to kill him. The other half just wanted to submit to ease his pain. Pain I knew I was contributing to. Not from turning him Valefar. No, it went deeper than that and Eric knew it. Close proximity and luck enabled me to see the entirety of his curse. It wasn’t as clear as Lorren had thought. Eric was right—his curse for using the stone was much greater than anyone thought.

I cleared my throat and said, “Let me rephrase then. He won’t kill me. He has to act like that. He’s hiding something. He’s not quite human. I’m not sure what he is, but I know he won’t kill me. He needs me. And, at some point I’m going to have to give him some of my power.”

Collin’s eyes
widened,
and jaw locked as he stared at me with disbelief. His arms folded tightly across his chest, showcasing every ripped muscle, tense behind a flimsy black tee shirt. When Collin finally spoke, he lowered his head, pressing his eyes closed. “What did you see
... ?”

I saw Eric. I saw what he was. What I made him. I placed my hand on Collin’s forearm and looked into his perfect face. “I can’t tell you. That won’t do anything. It might even make it worse. It’s the curse. It’s affecting things—things he does. I can’t say more than that, but I need him here. Without him, I don’t think we can overthrow Kreturus. Please understand.” I waited, but Collin’s face didn’t burst into a smile. He glared at me like I was the most stubborn, stupid person alive. Maybe I was. But it was my fate, my destiny and they were both part of it. I pressed my lips together and explained the one thing I could—the one thing that I knew he wouldn’t refute. “The prophecy says I need both of you, or I’ll die. Collin, please. I know you realize it. And I know you want to protect me, but...”

He exhaled loudly, and shoved his hands into his hair as he turned away from me.
“
Gah
.
You drive me completely crazy.” He laughed harshly, releasing some of the tension that was strung in his body. “You want me to let this guy beat you, steal your power, possibly take more of your soul—and trust him not to kill you?” He turned back to face me as he spoke. By the time he finished, I could see the panic in his eyes. He realized what I was asking him to do, if the event arose. And I was certain it would.

“Yes, that’s what I’m asking, as crazy as that sounds. Collin, Eric can use my power. It has to be why he’s here. He’s used the stone, so he can’t steal it and use it again. And...” Collin started to say something, but I cut him off, “I know you don’t want it. No one in their right mind would want to use the stone after meeting people who have.” I laughed nervously. “And they were angels, Collin. Angels.
 
Lorren and Eric’s lives got ripped to pieces.
 
They’re suspended in constant agony for using the Stone. And here I am acting like I can do it and pay the price.” I shook my head. At best it was suicide.
And at worst...
Oh, God, I didn’t want to think about what the worst could be. I doubted Lorren or Eric could have ever dreamed up their curse. And here I was, getting in line to use the Stone for a third time. I didn’t want to. I looked up at Collin, “What choice do I have?”

Collin’s gaze rested on my face for a moment, before he reached for me and cradled me in his arms. “You always have a choice,” he smiled against the top of my head, “you’re the only person who doesn’t see it.”

I pulled away from him, shocked, “You think joining Kreturus is a choice? Are you insane? You were forced to be his slave for eternity. How can you say that?”

He reached for my face, brushing his thumb along my cheek. He leaned closer and looked down into my eyes. “Many people don’t have the heart it takes to do what’s right. Most people wouldn’t knowingly sacrifice themselves to save someone else. And yet, here you stand, not even considering another option.” He glanced away, breaking our gaze. When he finally spoke again, he asked, “So, your powers revealed something about him—something that I couldn’t see?” I nodded.
“Hmm.
And I’m supposed to let him beat you and not do anything?” I nodded again. He laughed and shook his head. With a heavy sigh, he finally answered, “That’s why you don’t, fight back. That’s why you let him treat you that way,
isn’t
it?” I nodded once. It was a fact.
A fact that I would change if I could.
But at this stage in life, accepting it was all I could do. Collin was silent for a long time. His heart beat rhythmically in his chest.

With a deep breath, he finally said, “I don’t understand, but I trust you. I trust this is important for a reason I can’t comprehend. I can’t say I won’t do anything if he hurts you...” I started to protest, but Collin put a finger on my lip to silence me, “But I promise that I’ll do the best I can. That’s all I can offer.”

A moment passed.
And then two.
Collin’s gaze fixated on my mouth. My lips parted slightly, as a breath slipped out of my body. His hands moved around my waist, sliding to the small of my back as he pulled me to him. The hollow place inside my chest felt like it was going to explode. I should feel something.
Some lust.
Some anger. Some need to feel his hands on me—but there was
nothing.
Just a hollow ache telling me that part of me was dead, forever missing.

Before I could stop him, Collin pressed his lips to mine. Lorren said I wouldn’t be able to kiss him again without taking my soul back, but nothing happened. That part of me seemed dormant, dead like every other desire within me. So, I allowed it and let the kiss linger wishing I could feel something. My fingers moved over toned muscles and up the curve of his arm to Collin’s neck.

I pressed my lips against his, opening my mouth for him to taste me. And he did. I should have swooned. I should have melted. But I didn’t. My fingers tangled in his silky hair as he kissed me. My eyes were closed tight, wishing I could feel something—anything. It was so lonely, all the time. Being denied touch, the emotions and sensations that went with it, was cruel. And yet, I’d chosen this. I’d chosen to not feel his hands on my body or taste his lips when they touched mine. I’d killed the bond between us, deafening it until it was so weak and muted that it no longer existed. Collin was my soul mate, but I felt nothing at all.