Wicked Destiny

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.

I walked over to the table where the two guys were sitting and, with a wave of my hand, everything turned black with shades of red mixed in. I sat down directly in front of Viktor, which was right next to Simon. I could feel rage slowly pushing itself over the edge. The urge to let it go was overwhelming, but I wanted to see where this meeting was going first.

“How is Sophia? Is she well?” I snapped at Viktor.

Viktor looked as if he was about to sprint for the door as I stared him down. He didn’t know that he was the last man to break my heart. My heart was now iced over and I cared for nothing. I couldn’t help but tease him. I sensed the fear in him and it was just delightful.

“Come now, Viktor. How about we have one final roll around?” I laughed out loud as he squirmed, looking at Simon.

“Are you purposely trying my patience with you, Sloane? You know you are mine and no one else’s,” said Simon, as he folded his newspaper and then began pulling my seat towards him. I shot him a glare he overlooked. He was underestimating me already.

“You really should learn to be more respectful, Simon. Before you get hurt,” I said in a low, playful voice.

“Oh, please, do show me how you can hurt me, but please be careful you don’t hurt yourself.” Simon was being a smartass and it really pissed me off. He needed a quick lesson.

I sat there as if I was taking etiquette classes. My arms folded perfectly in my lap and a sly grin rested on my face. I was about to blow their minds. With just a mental note, I was able to hold Viktor in place where he sat. I’d hate for him to miss the show.

“Sloane, you are certainly bad.” Simon wore the biggest grin as he watched Viktor struggling to move but wasn’t able to. I turned around to face Simon head on. “What a devilish streak you have, Sloane.”

“You have no idea.” I smiled back at Simon and I turned to wink at Viktor. He looked confused.

“You can have whatever you want,” is what Simon told me. “The world is ours for the taking.” He got up to stand behind me and kissed me on the cheek. I smiled.

“I’m glad you say so, because I plan on it.” Simon started caressing my face and suddenly froze. He was also frozen in place. I got up to whisper into Simon’s ear.

“Come now, you had to have seen this coming. Did you really think you were in control?” If looks could kill, Simon would’ve struck me down then. “I have other plans in mind and you seem to be in my way.” I clasped my lips one last time to Simon’s and took whatever it was I needed to complete my transition from him.

I didn’t kill Simon, but I did weaken him. He had his uses, but Viktor was still here watching me with wild eyes. I sat back down at the table while Simon’s body lay at my feet. I grabbed the glass of orange juice and took a sip, and then I buttered a piece of toast.

“Wow, that really takes a lot out of you.” I looked at Viktor. “Rest assured, Viktor. I have other plans for you. I need you to deliver a message to Declan for me.” I released the hold on Viktor.

“Why Declan?” he asked.

“No questions. If you don’t want to end up like Simon, I suggest you complete the task handed to you.” I smiled as I took another sip of OJ.





DECLAN





I slung myself out of bed as if I was still fighting. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to get a grip on things. I felt a presence there and got up to look around outside and saw Viktor running to the cabin. I slung the door open for whatever news Viktor brought.

“Tell me you saw her,” I demanded.

“We have a problem,” he said, and Viktor walked past me and began to pace the floors. “She sent me with a message to give you.”

“Spit it out then, damn it!” I yelled.

I wore a smile. Just knowing Sloane was OK was enough for me. She had to have remembered the dream. She had to know that it would always be her in my heart. Telling her I loved her was a weight off my shoulders. I should have never left in the first place.

“She told me to tell you she was coming.” Confusion set on my face. Viktor didn’t want to say the rest, but he did anyway. It’d be a blow that would kill us both. “And you should have killed her when you had the chance.”

The smile that I once wore was gone. I shook my head as if to erase what Viktor said. He was lying. He had to be, because Sloane would never give in. Her heart was way too big.

“You lie!” I screamed.

“I wish I was, but after what I saw her do to Simon…” Viktor ran his hands through his hair too. “Declan, she’s gone.”

“No!” I got right into Viktor’s face. “This is what you wanted all along. You wanted her to be like you and the rest of you unheavenly creatures.” I started pacing around the cabin, desperately trying to get a grip.

“No, well maybe at first, but I knew that wasn’t her. Declan, I was sent to bring her back and hand her over. I couldn’t do it any more than you couldn’t kill her. So before you go on one of your tirades, you and I are the same.”

“We are nothing alike,” I spat through my clinched teeth.

“Oh, really? How do you think your father is going to feel when he finds out you are choosing love over his say? I didn’t choose love then, but I chose free will. Don’t think he doesn’t already know, because he does. Now, before you start again, I suggest we come up with a plan, and fast. She’s literally sucking Simon dry.” Viktor began to explain that Sloane was sucking the darkness from within Simon and horror flashed across my face. “Yeah, I know. Just think if you saw it firsthand. I thought I was next.”

“She’s gathering her strength. She’s going to continue with the prophecy.” I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer that I’d be able to save her from herself.

“Look, I can’t pretend that I don’t know there’s something between the two of you. Even when we were together, I saw the way she looked at you when you entered the room. There has to be a connection between the two of you still, especially now with this message just for you.” Viktor was trying to shed light, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough.

“And if this connection is lost, what do we do?” I asked.

“You have to make that choice. I can always take her back and watch her, but can you live with the fact she’s trapped in Hell, just waiting for the opportunity to strike again?” Viktor asked.

“It would buy me some time until I figured out a plan,” I said.

“You’re reaching. You know what will happen the moment she crosses over. She’ll get worse and become someone that neither one of us will recognize,” Viktor explained. “You know what being a Daughter of Lilith entails.”

Rage blazed in my eyes. I knew what Viktor was getting at. She already knew how to walk in dreams. This was just the beginning. I knew that time was running out and something had to be done, fast. But what would happen if word traveled to above about my lack of duties? What if I’d be forced to choose?

“I’d be damned if I let that happen. I’ve allowed too much as it is.” I turned to look out the window across the lake where she used to sleep. “I don’t care what happens to me, I have to get her back—back to the person she used to be.”

“What’s your plan?” Viktor asked.

“I have to talk to Gabby.” I bowed my head and wondered what she would say.

“I don’t think getting your girlfriend involved is the best solution. I would deal with one female at a time.” Viktor was shaking his head. “Trust me on this. You don’t want to have a cat fight right now.”

“Gabby is my cover. That is it. I thought if Sloane saw I moved on she would forget everything and do the same.”

“But what does Gabby have that can stop Sloane from fulfilling the prophecy?” Viktor seemed confused.

“Gabby is the Gabriel. She has certain instruments that can be welded to destroy the darkness.”

“What do you think she’ll say when you tell her what you need her help for?” Viktor asked.

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll just have to find out.” I left to get dressed.

“What do I do in the meantime?”

“Stick to her like glue. Whatever you do, keep her away from the one true being that may consume her.” We both knew who that was. It was Viktor’s direct boss. “This might get you bumped down a couple notches in rank, though.”

“Damn it, Declan. Make it fast. You know how he likes to make an entrance.”

Viktor was out the door and headed back to the loft where Sloane awaited. I sat there, trying my best to figure out what I was really going to do.