RykerThe word rushed from her lungs on a current of magic that had the hairs along my arms lifting.“You’re not listening to me. I don’t care what he feels for me. He’s not going to treat me this w and continue fucking with my head and my—” Her lower lip wobbled. “You won’t listen to me though, will you? He’s your brother. You’re clearly on his side, no matter who he hurts. If I want you to listen, I’m going to have to make you.”There was a loud crack as the singular window above her bed shattered. The pieces were blasted inwards, raining over our heads as they clattered to the floor.Ophelia lifted a trembling hand, and the shards of glass began to quiver.It wasn’t possible for her to have this much control, and yet the pieces began to rise. They hovered around her shoulders and back, forming a wall between the two of us.One move and I’d be skewered.I lifted my hands slowly. Taking control of the shards hadn’t slipped my mind. It was an option, but it was one that would likely s
OpheliaAfter Ryker left, I was forced to face the mess I had made.Somehow, I’d shattered the entire window with my magic, and now I had no clue how to fix it.I tried again and again, for the better part of an hour, to will the shards of glass back into place or, at the very least, send them scattering off my bed.The cheap alarm clock on my bedside table read 2 a.m. by the time I managed to scoot all the pieces into a neat pile in the corner of my room.I was exhausted, embarrassed, and running on fumes. The enchanted liquor had slowly begun wearing off, leaving me even more bereft than before.Goddess, I made such a fool of myself.Well, it was never going to happen again. I wouldn’t allow it. Jude had played my body like his own personal instrument but didn’t hesitate to crush me under his boot when I stepped out of line.Fuck that and fuck him.I crawled into bed slowly, wary of any stray shards of glass I might’ve missed. The air inside was balmy, but the cool breeze rushing th
OpheliaI looked up at Lucille, who really hadn’t changed much since I’d pulled out my phone. My mind was soupy, thoughts swirling and churning without any rhyme or reason.I blinked. “I think you blew a blood vessel.”Had I said that already? Oh well.“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” She snarled, grabbing my wrist as I moved to walk past her.I looked down, frowning at the sight of her nails digging into my skin. A few inches higher and she’d be touching the dark-bond mark. We locked eyes, and I could tell she knew what I was thinking.She inched her nails higher, digging them in deep. Scorching pain shot up my arm.I blacked out.Seconds—or minutes—later I blinked. It felt like no time had passed and yet everything was different.Lucille was several feet away, cowering against the wall. Her skin had gone ashen white, eyes wide as saucers.There was glass everywhere.I stumbled, drunkenly turning in a circle.The numerous vases perched on expensive coffee tables had been s
OpheliaStaring at the five of them, I pinched down hard on my arm. The pain came in a short burst. Well, this wasn’t some kind of fucked up dream. That meant what they were saying had to be real.“Demons…” I trailed off. “Like, actual demons? That sounds impossible.”Sterling snorted dryly, “I’m sure my father thought the same thing before one tore him to shreds.”“At least yours died with a speck of honor.” Kimberly huffed, “Mine ran like a little bitch. He was a pathetic human, so of course he fled the island.”My entire life I’d thought Lucille was my mother. The one time I asked her who my father might’ve been, she shunned me for a week. Eventually, I learned not to ask questions.Sterling shook his head, dislike flashing within his dark eyes as he glared at my cousin.“Our parents cast the spell over the island seconds after the demons tore their way through. Our mothers didn’t make it,” Nova said quietly, “Along with Jude’s.”At the mention of her, Jude stiffened.Ryker jumped
OpheliaThe reflection in the water shifted.Gone was the orange glow from the single candle. Gone were our haggard, severe-looking faces.The water showed us the room we were in, but at what had to be a different point in time. Both curtains were drawn, pinned to the far wall. The moon hung like a droplet of blood in the sky. Even the stars had vanished, blotted out by its harsh light.Large pillar candles dripping wax sat in clusters, their flames casting a glow upon our faces. The furniture was pushed against the wall, leaving the majority of the room open and bare.On the floor, painted in dark ink, was a circle. There were runes dispersed like the numbers on a clock, their shapes unlike anything I’d ever seen before.There was something blunt about them that instantly set me on edge.“A blood moon.” Ryker murmured, “The demons were released on a blood moon.”Jude stiffened, “Not just by anyone. By our parents.”A man and woman appeared within the room. I knew instantly that the m
OpheliaRegina, her bun askew on her head, screeched at my mother.“Where is he? Where is Morningstar?”Our parents, what was left of them, were fighting the demons with everything they had. Morningstar, whoever he was, was nowhere to be found.It was a pointless fight, anyone with eyes could see that. The demons were unlike anything in this world, nightmare given form.Some spat acid that melted through the marble floors, others cackled and chittered, limbs protruding from their warped bodies as they scuttled forwards, blasted back by wave after wave of magic. Blood, black and scented like rotted flesh, coated the walls.And still, more continued to pour through.The image in the water wavered as my mother returned her attention to the portal. She flung her hands out once more, eyes glowing with magic. As the water rippled, the scene sped up.Abraham, Sterling’s father, was battling several demons at once. My heart slammed against my ribcage as I caught one creeping along the floor,
Ophelia A simple freeing spell was all it would take to unlock the doors of the prison my mother had been thrust into. Matteo Romero, possessed by a demon, had trapped my mother within the pages of the journal, hoping it would break the chantment she'd placed on the island. Plot twist, it didn't. Unfortunately, I had to wait until the third quarter moon at the end of the month. It was a time for release and new beginnings. According to my mother, its energy would be needed to perform the spell. After skimming her instructions, I swallowed my nerves and scribbled out a hasty reply. ‘Does the name Atticus Morningstar mean anything to you? He’s my father, isn’t he? I know you’re the one that put the spell on the island. Is there any way you can undo it?’ I wasn’t sure why, but her reply came faster this time. Right before my eyes, my questions melted into the page, replaced by a neat, delicate script. ‘Yes, Atticus Morningstar is your father. Tread carefully, daughter. There is muc
OpheliaI was screaming, screaming at the top of my lungs but the sound refused to escape my lips. Instead it lived within my head, scraping and scratching against the walls of my skull.“You want to keep me.” I sounded dead, dead, dead.I couldn’t even feel his fingers as they brushed down my cheek and across my jaw. “I made a mistake doing what I did, but I had to ensure you’d help me. My father thought it best I eliminated any inkling of doubt.” He shook his head, “I can see this is upsetting you, but you can’t possibly think that Alpha and his sadistic brother would care for you the way I could.” He paused, “You do, don’t you? Do they have feelings for you?”“I don’t know.”Hunter nudged my chin, forcing me to look him in his eyes. “Tell me what you think, then. Be sure to tell the truth.”“I think,” I dragged my tongue over my dry lips, wincing when Hunter’s gaze tacked the motion. “I think they want me. I think sometimes they might feel something more, but they throw it away so