Page 25 of Liberating Water

Lailah

The restof the day was filled with fun, laughter, and quality time with each other. This is what it was like for me and my family during the holidays, and I didn’t realize how much I had missed this in my life. After the tree was decorated, we played games until it was time to start making dinner. Chadwick had us all working in the kitchen, giving us our own assignments. Once he figured out that I was no stranger to cooking, he had me working on a few of the more involved dishes. It was enjoyable to learn a new style of food and the tricks they used for ingredients I hadn’t worked with very often. Finally, it was time to sit down and eat.

“Père, we never use the formal dining room,” Grace commented with a slight frown.

“Well, Goose, we never have this many people, and with the meal we made, it might be harder to manage sitting in the living room,” Chadwick said, setting down the last serving dish.

Grace nodded her head and took a seat next to me, cutting off Parker at the same time.

“Ah, I was going to sit there, Grace,” Parker complained.

“You get to be with her all the time. I, on the other hand, have no idea when she will come back to visit,” Grace stated as she placed her napkin in her lap.

Parker opened his mouth like he was going to argue, looking between me and the fifteen-year-old who had just outsmarted him. Letting out a heavy sigh, he moved on and took the seat next to Jay.

Grace turned to me with a slight frown. “How do you manage having so many boyfriends? I would think trying to deal with five needy men is a lot of work.”

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing at the sincere tone she was using, like she genuinely wanted to know the answer. “I’m still figuring that out myself, Grace, since this is new for me still. Some days I’m better at it than others. Although, I was reminded the other day that it’s not just on my shoulders to keep up with what everyone needs. We all have to communicate and share when a little extra attention might be needed. Otherwise, we do end up spending a large amount of time together as a group.”

“Personally, I think I’m going to stick to only one boyfriend,” Grace said with a nod of her head as she grabbed the platter of food in front of her.

The rest of dinner was pleasant, and once it was finished, we all helped out once again, cleaning up. Ben asked if we could watch a Christmas movie, and everyone thought it was a great idea. Snuggled up between Brayden and Micah with a blanket, I couldn’t help but drift off to the sounds of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Ben’s movie of choice.

* * *

“Well,look at this. Little Synergy has Bonded with another one of her Knights. I hate to tell you this, but you’re going to have to work a lot faster on that if you want to save yourself,” the Dark Lord purred in my ear.

I was back in the void where he liked to taunt me, making me feel abandoned and alone.

I was getting sick of it.

“I know what you’re doing with the serum, the new perfect hosts it creates for your demons,” I shot back.

The Dark Lord chuckled, sending shivers down my spine. “You only know what I want you to know, child. Just because you’ve learned this tidbit doesn’t mean you have a clue as to what I have planned for all of humanity.”

“Why do you keep pulling me here to talk to me? Every time I give you the same answer, and then you threaten me. What’s stopping you from just removing me from the equation?”

I felt the tip of a claw run along my jaw, causing me to hiss as it cut into my skin. “That was very short-sighted of me, wasn’t it? I do so have a problem with controlling my temper. You, my Little Synergy, just seem to bring out the worst in me. I’m not used to people telling me no.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“Oh, but didn’t it?”

“My answer is never going to change, no matter what you do,” I growled as my frustration grew.

“Tut, tut now. I wouldn’t be making such bold statements; they always have the habit of making me want you to prove it. You say that nothing could ever change your mind. What about these men you hold so dear? No, that’s too direct—their families? Oh, I know! Your family,” the Dark Lord taunted. “Would you really let them be taken and used, left to rot? You see, for them, I wouldn’t use the serum. No, I would want you to watch them decay right before your very eyes. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Fury like nothing I have ever known burst forth, my powers reacting to my anger. The darkness was suddenly filled with golden light, creating a protective bubble around me. Tendrils of darkness tried to pierce the barrier, but they sizzled against the light, drawing back.

“I will not let you lay a finger on any of the people I love! One day soon we will find you, and we WILL stop you. I’d stake my life on it,” I screamed, hands fisted at my sides, shaking in anger.

Looming in the darkness, I could now see the Dark Lord’s face, his eyes pools of darkness, teeth razor sharp. He let one claw-tipped hand scrape down along my barrier, testing it. I knew he could break through it if he wanted to, since I wasn’t at my full potential with only two Knights bonded to me.

The Dark Lord tipped back his head and laughed, the sound shaking the ground I was standing on. “You ask why I don’t kill you? Because if I can turn you, oh, how you would be the perfect weapon to have at my side. Never have I seen someone so pure who also harbors the blackest evil in their heart.”

I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, but with a flick of his wrist, I was thrown out of the darkness and back into reality.

* * *