Wicked Destiny, page 15
It continued for however long. I thought it would be better when I went to sleep, but it wasn’t. Simon was always there waiting and I’d jerk myself awake.
“Why are you fighting me, Sloane? You and I are meant to be together.” Simon voice came from over my head.
“I have a choice in the matter. What are you going to do with me?” I asked.
“Well, we’ll continue until you break, so if you save us the trouble and time, maybe things can be a little easier for you.” He appeared in front of me again. “Think of what you will have. The world would be ours; everyone will bow at your feet. No more feeling helpless and out of place, because your place is with me. You will lead.” A chill ran down my back.
I could never do the things he spoke about. I didn’t want to lead, to be feared, or to be with him. I didn’t even know what Simon actually was. He had to be stopped. Maybe if I pretended it would buy me some time. So when he offered his hand to me again, I took it. I could see the smile on his face, and even though it was so dark, he still wore those damn sunglasses. He pulled me to my feet and held me close beside him.
“Do you really mean to surrender to me, Sloane?” he asked.
I honestly didn’t know what the hell I was doing or if it was the right thing to do, but I did it anyway. It was the only thing I could come up with instead of waiting for no one to arrive.
“I do.” Those two little words I’d been saving for a certain special day was all that came out.
And what happened next was so surreal. Simon kissed me, and to keep up the act, I kissed him back. But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and the essence of everything else became intoxicating. I remembered wrapping my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. I became greedy for more and he gave into my every wish.
I was his.
He won, I was broken.
DECLAN
“Where the hell is she?” Declan demanded from Viktor.
Viktor was sitting in his loft drinking shots of brown liquor. He looked as if he hadn’t showered in days.
“I don’t know. He has her. I can’t get to her even if I try.” Viktor continued to drink from his glass and refilled it.
Declan took three strides and he was across the room in front of Viktor, slapping the bottle clear across the room and shattering it.
“That was my last bottle. Now I will have to actually leave to get another.” Viktor shrugged and realized there was another beside him.
“What’s he going to do with her?” Declan cried out. “Or do you not even care?”
“Wake up, Almighty Declan. What do you think he’s going to do? He’ll start with making the pain go away.” He got up to look for another bottle. “Then she will surrender and give in to him. From there, she’ll be lost.” Declan grabbed Viktor by the neck. “Do you want to hit me? Then do it, because I’d rather feel that instead of the pain gnawing at me right now.”
“What did you do to her? Tell me, now.” Declan was on the verge of ripping him apart.
“I wondered. I started getting too close. It wasn’t in the job description to fall in love, so I tried to fall out.” Viktor didn’t move, but he had a realization. “But ask yourself, brother. What did you do to her?”
“What I did was years ago! Don’t put this on me. You were supposed to protect her, but you were a coward and left her alone!” He was beyond pissed at this point.
“Why do you care, little brother?” Viktor taunted. “Don’t you have someone waiting on you?”
Declan released Viktor. “You don’t understand. If I hadn’t left, they would’ve taken her. I couldn’t have that on my conscience. But if I left, I knew I could keep an eye on her. To maintain the position I had, I had to have a fill in.” Declan turned his back to Viktor, ready to leave.
“Does Gabby know she’s a stand in? Just someone to pass the time with?” Viktor tossed back what was left in his glass.
“She knows I’m not her companion and that I’ve been really distracted here lately.” Declan rubbed his hands together as if to wash something away. “Enough of all the small talk. You’re going to get a meeting with Simon and we’re going to get her back. She never wanted this, Viktor. Can’t you see that? All she wanted was a normal life, but we fucked it up for her. It’s time we set things straight.” Declan was speaking through gritted teeth.
“Let me make a call,” was all Viktor said.
Viktor walked into the other room as he spoke with someone that sounded like a secretary or assistant. Viktor continued to drink the brown liquid and soon began to stagger. Declan took the bottle away from him as he hung his cell phone up. Viktor tried to grab it back from him, but failed. Viktor stumbled to his couch as Declan went through the loft looking for all the liquor bottles.
“What the hell is your problem? This is my house and you come in trying to take over?” Viktor was slurring his words and on the verge of passing out.
“I need you sober and so does Sloane. So why don’t you go take a shower and, please, brush your teeth.” Declan was helping Viktor to the bathroom. “I’ll cook something to help sober you up.”
“I bet you love this, don’t you?” Viktor was basically talking out of his ass now. “I’m your ex’s boyfriend and even though she still loves you, she loves me too.” He laughed to himself. “Do you know how I know? She painted your eyes—perfectly, I might add, which are quite beautiful.” Declan just looked at him and rolled his eyes at him. “It’s true, she loves you. So why should I help?” He began to yell at Declan.
Declan slapped him in the face to get his attention.
“Get a grip, damn it! This isn’t about you, it’s about Sloane and saving her from making stupid decisions like us, you big pompous ass.” He got Viktor to the bathroom. “Dude, I’m not undressing you, so are you good?”
“Wouldn’t you love to see what I was working with—” He was still jabbering when Declan shut the door.
When Declan knew Viktor was in the shower, he left him a towel on the sink. Seeing Viktor naked was not on the agenda. And Viktor was in the shower for almost thirty minutes. His cell phone began to ring and Declan ran into the bathroom, barging in while Declan was drying off.
“Really? If you wanted a peek, why did you bring the towel?” Viktor screamed at Declan.
“Just answer the damn phone!” Declan yelled back.
Viktor took the phone and answered it as soberly as possible. All he said were small words like, “OK,” or short phrases like, “I see.” It was beginning to irk him. He was on his way to pulling every hair out his head and Viktor’s when Viktor finally hung up.
“Well, is he going to see you?” Declan asked.
“Yeah, he wants me to meet him at the office,” Viktor said. He slammed the door in Declan’s face so that he could finish drying off.
“OK, so when do we go?” Declan asked through the door.
“You can’t go.” Viktor said as he walked out with the towel wrapped around his waist.
“Like hell I can’t,” Declan yelled.
“More like in hell you can’t.” Realization sat in Declan’s eyes. “You know the drill. The only way you are getting in there is if you fall and I don’t think you want that.”
“If it means getting her back, I don’t care. Let’s go.” Declan walked out of the room. “We’re wasting time.”
“Declan, I’m all for a great rebellion and all, but you know as well as I do that she wouldn’t want you to give that up for her.” Viktor was right, but Declan already made up his mind that if it came down to it, there wasn’t another option. He would go to Hell and back, literally, for Sloane.
“Trust me for once. Let me try to get her and if there’s no other way, you can make your decision then. Don’t do it like this. Give me a chance.” Viktor made his plea.
“Fine, you have one day and if you don’t bring her home, I will make my own decision.” Declan opened Viktor’s front door and cast him one final message, “Don’t make me come find you. I’ll be at the cabin.”
And then he was gone.
Chapter 19
I woke up in a bed of black satin sheets wearing nothing. The satin felt cool against my skin. I rubbed my legs around and felt how comfortable it was. I refused to get up, but realization hit me. Where was I again and who was I with? I jumped up, stumbling over what seemed like clothes, shoes and whatever else. What the hell is going on? I was in what looked like a hotel room somewhere. I heard talking coming from the other side of the door.
“Of course she’s here. She’s sleeping.” That’s Simon, I thought.
“How do we know she’s the one?” said another creepy voice.
Laughing at the creepy person, Simon snapped, “Do you dare question me?” I could see a shadow moving as if trying to get out of the line of fire, and then the sound of choking as if they couldn’t breathe. “I know because I have looked into her soul, which I now own. She surrendered to me! She is mine!”
I stood at the door that was cracked open, trying to peer out.
“But she’s not meant for you. It’s not your army she’s to lead.” The other figure was gasping as Simon had him—or it—by the throat. “He will come for her. She is the key.”
“Yes, she is. And I hold her next to me.”
Crack!
Simon snapped its neck and dropped whatever he was talking to.
I started to panic and backed away from the door, but fell backwards over a small chair. I heard Simon coming. I reached up and grabbed the cover from the bed to wrap around me. He stood in the doorway in his black trousers and white dress shirt that was left unbuttoned. Something in me called to him the more I tried to fight it. I backed myself into the furthest corner of the room. He walked over and bent down to look at me as I tried my best to cover my naked body. I didn’t want to meet his gaze for some reason. I remembered looking into his eyes; those eyes that he always hid behind sunglasses. They were totally white and completely soulless.
“No need to be so modest, my pet. I think we’ve been more than acquainted.” He was trying to tip my chin up to meet his gaze. “Ah, resisting are we? I can fix that.” Simon then grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up to set me against the wall. He held me there by my throat and whispered in my ear. “Stop fighting, Sloane. As you can see, I’m here to keep you safe.” He kissed my cheek. “Sloane, we can have everything. Power… People will lie at our feet.”
“I told you before, I don’t want this and never did,” I said as I still kept my eyes shut.
“Pretty soon it will be the only thing you will crave.” He forced my face to straighten. “Now look at me, Sloane. I need to see those beautiful eyes of yours.” He rubbed his stubby cheek against mine. “If you open your eyes, I promise to make it all go away.”
Although I knew it was against my better judgment, I just couldn’t fight anymore. So I opened my eyes and looked him square in his soulless eyes. The last thing I remembered was Simon’s mouth and eyes opening wide and something black and misty flowing out from them and into me. I tried to fight against it. He must have sensed it too.
“Stop fighting me, Sloane.” Those were the last words I heard before I passed out again and Simon carried me to the bed.
I can hear someone calling my name. “Sloane!” They are telling me to wake up, but all I want to do is sleep. I have no strength left to even open my eyes, but somehow I manage it. I’m lying in Declan’s arms. He is shaking me, begging and pleading for me to open my eyes. And how can I deny him?
“Dec…lan? Is it really you?” I mumble.
“Sloane? Jesus, Sloane, look at me. I need you to tell me where you are.” He looks awful, like he has been up for days.
“It’s a hotel somewhere. Declan, I’m scared. I think…I think I’m losing myself.” Declan caresses my face. “He feeds me darkness. I try to fight it, but it makes the pain go away.”
“Listen, Sloane. I don’t know how much time we have, so here goes. Viktor is trying to find you as we speak. We will find you.” I touch his face, scared it’s the last time I will ever see or touch him again. He leans into my touch and uses his hand to cover mine on his cheek. “Sloane, I don’t care if I have to go to Hell itself to find you. I will find you and bring you home. I should have never left.”
“Shhh, you have to leave now,” I whisper.
“I’m not leaving you,” Declan says again.
“I have to stop dreaming about you. It’s unhealthy.” I laugh at myself, considering my situation of being healthy. “This isn’t real and I need to let you go.”
“That’s where you are wrong, Sloane.” A tear drips from my eye. “It’s always been real. These dreams you pull me into are real.”
“It can’t be,” I say, still lying there in his arms.
“Listen to me, Sloane. I need you to find more information on where Simon has you. Then when you go to sleep, I want you to meet me here.” He’s talking so fast, it seems.
I reach up to touch his face again and I notice my nails change from the French manicure to straight midnight black. I try to sit up on my own, but Declan helps me forward. He doesn’t notice my nails, though I know something was wrong. My nightgown, from the hem, starts to change to black. I see the fear in Declan’s eyes.
“Fight, Sloane.”
“I don’t want to fight anymore. I just don’t want to exist. Take pity on me, finish what you were supposed to, or run before I hurt you.” I start to cry, but instead of clear tears, my tears are black. “It’s starting,” I say, and just like that, out of nowhere, I’m yanked from Declan’s arms.
I can see Declan standing there on the bank looking up at me with fear in his eyes as I levitate. I look down at myself and see where the silk nightgown changed to a medieval corset dress that is strapless and black as night. I can hear a part of me screaming to get out, but there was another part of me that is relieved. As if she were a caged animal finally set free. The darkness caresses me, and man does it feel good.
I feel as if the weight of the world has just been lifted off my shoulders and I can finally breathe again. I look up at the moon and it’s full and bright. I glance at my reflection in the lake, and there I am all in black. I am made for Darkness. This suits me.
“Sloane, you have to fight,” Declan calls out to me.
“You know what, Declan? I fought for many years and look what it’s gotten me. A boyfriend that abandoned me, another cheating boyfriend, an ungrateful friend and lousy employees. Tell me, Declan, what is worth fighting for? Before you answer me, refrain from saying love or I will zap your ass good.”
“Because you know this isn’t right,” Declan says.
“And tell me, what is right and what is wrong?”
Simon walks toward us now.
In a small part of my mind I’m screaming for Declan to run, but I know he won’t. He watches Simon as he walks up to the bank as if joining casual conversation.
“Simon, you know I will find you. And when I do, I will finish you for good,” Declan says as he stares at me.
“I suppose you will try. I doubt you will succeed, though.” Simon reached the bank and looks straight at Declan. “Declan, look at her. She is more alive than she has ever been. I have released her from the bonds she’s kept hidden. Funny thing is, she never knew they were there. It was quite easy, actually. She just needed a little…push, if you know what I mean. Then again, I think you do.” Simon wears a devilish grin on his face and Declan takes a swing at him. Although, Simon is way too fast.
As they start to fight, I can start to feel the dream coming apart. I am no longer levitating, but I stand there by the two males fighting over me and I became protective. But not over Declan. It’s Simon I need to protect. Declan starts to get the best of Simon and I decide I’m not having that. Declan has Simon by the shirt collar as he beats him with his fist. Just as Declan comes down with his final blow that would finish Simon, I step in and catch his fist. I can feel the fire in my eyes building as I think about him ever hurting Simon.
“Sloane! Wait!”And without even a blink of an eye, I throw him clear across the lake.
I turn to Simon, who still wears a smile on his face. I am bending down to help him to his feet when I’m knocked off my feet. Declan has me pinned to the ground and I can hear Simon struggling to get up.
“I’d really hate to hurt you, because I know there is a part of me that would regret it for only a moment,” I say.
As we struggle there on the ground for what seems hours, I grow tired again. How can you be tired within a dream? I haven’t a clue, but it must be from all the fighting within the dream and the inner fight I was having with myself. I was exhausted. Before everything fades away, Declan wrestles me to where he sits straddling me with my arms pinned above my head. He leans over to whisper in my ear.
“Remember this, please. If anything, just please remember this. I love you.”
And then slowly, I wake up.
Chapter 20
When I woke up, I was lying on my bed dressed in the same dress that I was wearing in my dream. There was something a little off about me; I was no longer scared. Scared of who was in the next room or what I was capable of. I walked into the bathroom and I caught sight of my reflection. My skin seemed a little paler and my make-up was a little more…dark, I would say.
I walked out of the bedroom to face whatever waited for me. I was no longer the pathetic Sloane who cared. I was the badass Sloane that was meant to rule the world, and little did Simon know that his welcome was just about to be worn out as well. I could hear him talking to someone and that someone was Viktor. Fury spiked and I could feel it radiating off of me.
“My, my, now that is a vision.” Simon was sitting at my kitchen table with Viktor. They both were looking at me. “Have you ever seen her more ravishing, Viktor?”
“No, I haven’t.” Viktor looked conflicted.
