What hit him even was the pieces of fabric he could make out here and there.
Tan scrubs.
“Are these patients?” He breathed, pain choking every word.
“They were,” she whispered. The dim light reflected off of her tear-filled eyes as her solemn gaze stared into nothing. “They were sons and daughters of the darkness. Ofyourdarkness, Brooks. They were drained of their chaos to make her stronger and to keep you weak, siphoning your magic from them and into herself. She has taken every single one of them from you.”
He was too horrified to speak. To ask her what she was talking about or who the ominous ‘she’ was.
“You’ve been living in a lie, Brooks. An illusion spun by a weaver of death who took advantage of you while you were lost, and this is the cost. This is everyone who tried to get close to you, and now they will never again see the light.”
“This… this is my fault?”
“The actions of others will never be your fault, Brooks, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to our choices. This is real life, and real life is ugly.”
“And you? What have you done to cause this?”
“Everything. I knew what was happening from the near beginning. I was born, and as soon as I realized I hated my father she was there, whispering in my ear and guiding my path to fit her agenda. I thought I was on my own path to rebellion and revenge, to bringing him down and living a life for me. It took me too long to realize that I was only a pawn. When the consequences to my actions became clear–”
“What have we here?” A voice slithered through the space between them and the door.
Lytta’s eyes bulged as they turned to see a feminine figure in the doorway.
“Dr. Kore?” A mix of fear and confusion slammed into Brooks.
“I warned you,” she spoke directly toward Lytta, her stare so venomous it made his heart flutter.
Dangerous.
A small figure stepped from behind the doctor and Brooks startled. He would recognize that demented stare anywhere.
“Rue?”
She tittered and waggled her fingers in his direction like a shy school girl with a crush.
“What are you doing here, Rue?” Brooks questioned.
“Who do you think has been reporting your every move to me all of this time? You couldn’t possibly think I wouldn’t know about your little rooftop escapades now did you?” Dr. Kore’s tone was smug and her face reflected every ounce of it. “Poor, Brooks. A victim to his own illusions and paranoia. It was easy enough for Rue to keep track of you when you believed the lurking shadows were of your own doing.”
Rue giggled, still positioned behind the doctor, and added, “I loved watching you, Brooks.” The infatuation in her eyes made his stomach cramp.
“Why, Rue? She puts you through the same hell as me. Why be loyal?”
“I thought you were smarter,” Dr. Kore tsked, “but perhaps I’ve mistaken your silent observance for ignorance. Our little Rue here is near and dear to me. Let’s just say she was the innocence of my past. A poor girl so in love that it left her blind to the world.”
Dr. Kore petted Rue’s head as she spoke and Rue leaned into the touch like she was starving for it. It wasn’t long before the soothing touch turned malicious and an ugly sneer distorted Mel’s face.
“She was stupid,” Mel spat and grabbed Rue by the hair. “I ripped her from me the moment she put her trust into the wrong hands. Never again will we be fooled by sanctimonious men who rape and pillage as they please. We will be the fall of Olympus and the obsidian throne of the Underworld will rule.”
Rue cried out at the sudden onslaught as fear flooded her eyes. Brooks felt his passenger unfurl in his mind.
“I warned you to stay away or I would be your eternal end,” Mel looked to Lytta.
“That was your one miscalculation, Mel. I was never afraid of death. I embraced it and I will revel in its release. The peace I find there will be eternal, and I’m sorry your rage has twisted you into something that will never find it, Melinoe.” The look on Lytta’s face was one of defiance and determination.
“You stupid little bitch,” Dr. Kore spat.
Brooks felt a strain in his mind as his passenger tried to take control. He was hesitant at first, but images of the bodies lying on the floor flashed across his mind colliding with every session oftherapyshe put him through. If losing himself to his passenger meant expelling the taint of her, he would take that chance. Rather than fighting his darkness, he let it in.
