Cursed (Cursed Superheroes #1)

I want to ask him where we’re going, but that would require breaking the kiss and there’s no way in hell I’m about to do that. So, I keep kissing him, letting him carry me toward the bed. I expect him to lay us down, but instead he pulls back.

I whimper in protest. Actually freaking whimper.

He chuckles, his eyes darkening to a smoky black. “Don’t worry, we’ll get to do that again soon.”

Nodding, I lean in to kiss him. But a heaviness overcomes my body, and I slump forward.

“I feel so tired…” I whisper as haziness fills my mind.

“That’s perfectly normal for your first time drinking souls,” he says, carefully setting me down on the bed.

“Drinking souls…” I murmur, knowing I should feel alarmed, but instead I feel so tired.

“Go to sleep,” he says in a soft, but demanding tone. “You’ve got a long, hard day ahead of you tomorrow. That is, if you choose to be part of the program.” He pulls the blanket over me and kisses my cheek. “Personally, I hope you don’t.”

I want to ask him why he doesn’t seem to like the program, yet is obviously helping the people in charge. I want to ask him more about the program. I want to ask him so much, but all I end up whispering is, “Do you know who cursed me to begin with?”

He answers so quietly, I barely hear him. But the two words he utters bring me more pain than I’ve ever felt.

“Your parents.”

I want to scream at him that he’s wrong, that my parents would never do this to me. That maybe he did this to me. That I want to go home. Back to my friends and my perfect, fake life that I’ve never felt like I belonged in.

But sleepiness overtakes me and I surrender, wondering what tomorrow is going to bring.





Chapter 7





I dream of being beaten, of hands on my body, of pain, hurt, agony, of my soul getting ripped out, of drinking souls. I dream of my old life, of my parents, my friends. A fake life.

Everything was fake.

But that fakeness was stolen away from me, and now all I feel is pain.

Beneath the pain, though, I feel a strength. It’s terrifying how powerful it is, but at the same time, invigorating. I don’t know where it comes from. The Grim Reaper blood inside me? If Cameron was telling the truth, then yes.

Regardless, I know I could do a lot with that kind of strength. Maybe even take over the world. But I have no desire to do that. No, what I desire may be worse. But I still want it.

I want revenge on those who hurt me. And when I wake up, I’m going to do everything in my power to get it.





Chapter 8





Leader





“She’s strong,” I say to my colleague as I return to my office. I run my fingers through my white and blue hair before dropping down into a chair. “The power flowing off of her…” I shudder, not in fear but in excitement. “It’s amazing.”

He leans back in the desk. “You know, I’ve always found it creepy that you could do that—feel power in people.”

“It’s a gift and a curse.” I don’t embellish, not wanting to talk about it because it’s part of my past. And I hate thinking about my past.

“A creepy gift and curse.” He leans forward in the chair, resting his arms on his knees. “You think she’ll be ready before the portal opens?”

“With the right training, yes.”

“And who’s going to train her?”

“I’ve arranged for someone.” Again, I don’t embellish. If he knew that I’m allowing the Grim Reaper to train her, he’d flip the fuck out.

Honestly, I don’t blame him. The Grim Reaper is the sort of creature we have to worry about coming out of the portal and destroying the city. But he’s is probably the only one that can teach Remi how to harness, control, and use all of her powers. Plus, I know the Reaper from my past and I can trust him with this.

I hope.

He eyes me over with a hint of suspicion. “As long as it’s being taken care of.”

“It is,” I assure him, resting back in my chair.

“So what’s next?” he asks. “Or should I say who?”

I take a look in my folder at the next candidate’s name. “Heartley Halilton. Her curse is expected to be collected within the next three days.”

He thrums his fingers against his legs. “Do we have someone keeping an eye on her?”

“Yeah, I’ve sent out a few agents.” Not true at all. Like with Remi, I sent out the leader of the paranormal creature whose blood will be put inside her. That creature will also be her trainer.

He nods. “And what’s this one going to be?”

A smile touches my lips. “A Maddening.”

His brows dip. “A Maddening? Why haven’t I heard of that before?”

“Because they’re very rare. But very powerful.”

Intrigue flashes across his expression. “What can they do?”

“They can create madness to anyone and anything they touch.”

He looks appalled. “Good God, that sounds fucking awful.”

“It is. But you don’t need to worry. Once she’s trained, she won’t use her power on anything or anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”

The horror remains in his eyes. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing. If this gets out of hand… it could be disastrous.”