Chapter Fifty-Eight: Letting Go - Jartre

I nod. “I did a lot of things. Gabriella…I…I killed the sanguidae in Oshmin’s care,” I say, closing my eyes tight in shame as images of terrified faces exploding in a shower of blood fill my vision, followed by the memory of me painting a message on the wall in their blood…

I didn’t just kill them, I slaughtered them.

“You what?” she whispers, though her voice is still perfectly clear to my ears.

“I got so angry about everything. I wanted to hurt him. He was given everything, and he was taking it for granted…so I wanted to take everything away.” I look away, unable to see the nauseated feeling she has right now reflected in her beautiful eyes.

“You murdered innocent people in cold blood…”

“They were already dead,” I feebly defend myself.

“Don’t even try that, Jartre,” she snaps, yanking her hand out of mine so quickly it leaves my palm stinging from the cold left behind. “You know damn well they were innocent, living, breathing people. You wouldn’t feel so shit if you didn’t know that