Page 55 of Palingenesis

Pursing my lips, I climb to wobbly legs. “No. And yes.”

“Dear gods what have I done?” He hides his face in his hands. “I just fucked my nightmare.”

“You didn’t fuck me, I mounted you.”

“Jesus Christ.”

He tips off the spectacles perched on his face and pinches the bridge of his nose.

He’s irritated.

Nodding, I absentmindedly pet my smoke that curls between my fingers, its purr echoing in the back of my mind.

He will see soon.

With that, I leave him on the floor of my foyer to wallow, to process, in search of the salve for his aches.

He is gone when I return.

Chapter 29

Shannon

The remaining scraps of my clothes catch on every branch, vine, and bush as my legs pump beneath me. I trip my way through the woods, feet catching on roots and rock as they pound the dirt beneath me.

Moonlight paints the brush enough to make the shadows seem deeper, scarier, and my heart thumps as hard as my footsteps. Sweat joins the dew dampening my skin, the wind whipping around me in chilled gusts.

This was all a terrible idea.

Coming out here alone, spitting on the statue. Going to the fucking bar instead of just staying at home with my characters, typing away when they choose to speak to me and hoping that this story is the one I’ll be known for.

Moving to Bearcreek.

Coming here and pretending like everything is fine and that it’ll all work out the way that I did…

It’s all been one big fucking nightmare I don’t think I’ll ever wake up from. At this point, I’m not even sure I want whatever is on the other side of this fucked up turn of events.

Only the gods know what’s waiting for me when I do.

And they are some angry, vengeful fucks.

A soft mist coats my skin, chilling me further and my throat’s dry from the rapid breaths that scrape out from my chest.

It’s been… Fuck… I’m not even sure how long I’ve been running for my life but the trees seem closer together. The shadows denser. The canopy above too thick for even the weak slivers of moonlight to penetrate through.

I can’t slow.

My pace is the only reason I have the distance I do between me and whatever was waiting for me with the legend of Bearcreek, but my head start will only last so long. He’s been resourceful so far, in my head, and fucking with me at every turn.

Like he’s been two steps ahead of me the whole time, waiting for me to catch up, ready to go yet another round.

I’m not even certain this isn’t part of whatever it is that he’s been doing to me.

This game he’s been playing with me.

Watching me from a distance, teasing me, terrifying me, and invading my mind.

My ass still aches from the way he claimed me, my taint smarting with each step that puts distance between us.