Page 19 of Divine Violence
“Hmm,” he grumbled and placed his finger beneath my chin, forcing me to look up. “I think you’re fucking lying, Sparrow.”
His eyes were the darkest eyes I had ever seen. The irises almost blended with the dark brown color around, and if it wasn’t for golden specs breaking the darkness in them, I would’ve thought that they were black.
“Who are you?” I whispered, afraid that loud talking would destroy this tiny bubble we were in right now.
“I am the reason you are here. Well…” he chuckled. “Me and my friends actually, but you’ve already met them.”
“I did?”
“Oh yes.” He frowned. “Especially Alexander.”
Shit.
Shit. Fuck. Shit.
“You’re Kairos Adair.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. As if he burned me instead of soothing the darkness swirling in my veins, I stepped back, regretting it almost instantly when the freezing wind slammed into me.
“Why did that sound more like an accusation than relief?”
Because I would have to kill you now, I almost said. Because I would need to tear your heart apart, and that would kill mine too.
“Sorry.” I smiled at him, hoping to mask the disappointment tainting the memories of the last couple of months. “I think I’m just tired.”
“You didn’t go anywhere else last night,” he said. It should’ve chilled me to the bone that he wasn’t saying it as a question.
“Did you follow me?” I narrowed my eyes on him. “Why?”
“Because.” He came closer again, lowering his head down until his nose pressed against my hair. “I needed to know you were safe.”
“That’s called stalking.”
“Not if it wasn’t me that was following you.”
“Tomato, tomahto, it’s the same shit,” I hissed. “You sent me the invitation as well?”
“How else would I be able to get you here?”
“Why?” I asked again, needing to know the answer. “You’ve spent months watching me, and not once did you approach me.”
“I wasn’t the only one watching you, little Sparrow. They did too.” He looked over my shoulder. As I turned around, I saw Alexander and Dominic walking toward us.
“Although, I must admit, there were times where I wanted you all to myself. But Alexander saw you before I could decide what exactly it was that I wanted to do with you, and it was done.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I looked from him to Dominic to Alexander, who wore the same painted makeup as him. “Alex.” I looked at him. “What is he talking about?”
“We’ve been searching for a Maiden for a very long time, but no one has ever fit the role as well as you,” Kairos answered instead. His chest pressed against my back. With Dominic and Alexander in front of me, I knew I had nowhere to run.
Think, Echo. Think, dammit.
“Welcome to the Triumvirat, Sparrow.”
“W-what ar—”
That’s when I felt it, the stinging pain in my neck, the weakness in my body as he pushed whatever was in the syringe. As my legs stopped cooperating, Kairos wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me close to him.
“What have you done?” I looked at him, before I fell into oblivion.
Her dark hairtickled my arm, spilling over it as I carried her inside of the Manor, avoiding the gazes of people gathered on the balcony. I could hear Alexander and Dominic whispering behind me, displeased with the way I handled the situation. But tonight had to be different from all the other Halloween Eves. It was now or never and we all had something to prove.
