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To the survivors.
With the light between us, a peaceful face comes into view. A white halo surrounds her, complete with her white cotton dress and bunny shoes. An angel. She’s like the angel statue Mum has in our garden. She’s the same girl from the other time.
“I’m sorry them monsters did this to you. They took Eli, but don't worry.” Her palm flattens on my cheek, determination shining in her sparkling blue eyes. “I won’t allow them to take you, too.”
I was blinded by Elsa and her closeness, I was over my head with irrational feelings and thoughts and I didn’t try to control them. Elsa has that effect on me; she has the power to fuck up the best-laid plans ever set.
Elsa’s father just shuffled all the chess pieces by showing up from the dead like a fucking ghost.
My attention slides to Van Doren who stands beside Ethan with a proud smirk on his bruised lips. The fucker. I knew there was something up with him since the first time he walked into RES, integrating himself into Elsa’s life like a parasite. I just didn’t know he was part of Ethan Steel’s plan. Well played, old man. Well fucking played.
He’s Steel Empire’s emperor back for his heir.
Ethan isn’t a man to be taken lightly. He’s as ruthless as Jonathan, if not more. If he puts someone in his sight, he won’t stop until that person is eradicated. The fact that he rose from the dead is one more proof of his ruthless personality.
Knox’s headphones rest around his neck as he sits beside my dad without a care in the world. He smiles like an idiot while scrolling through his phone. Please tell me he’s not going through memes right now.
“Are you comfortable, princess?” he asks with a low, yet warm voice. Princess. Back then, I was his princess. His favourite. His legacy. His masterpiece.
“I told you she’s not ready.” Knox doesn’t avert his attention from his phone. “That’s up to me to decide,” Ethan tells him. Knox lifts a shoulder. “Just saying, Dad.”
“Are you…” I clear my throat. “Are you my brother?” Knox lifts his gaze from his phone and winks. “Foster brother, babe.”
The tears I fought since I saw him today stream down my cheeks. “You’re… Y-you’re back.” “I promised you I would never leave you. I’m sorry I’m late, princess.” I shake my head frantically. “You’re back.” For what seems like forever, I continue to cry against his chest. My fingers dig into his shirt as if I’m back to being that little girl. Daddy’s little girl. “I’ll never leave you again. I promise.”
Though, from what I’ve learnt about Steel Corporation, Dad might as well be considered nobility in Birmingham.
“Elsa, this is Teal.” Dad squeezes my hand, bringing me out of the staring competition with the new girl. “Teal, Elsa.”
It’s only been a day, but it feels like we’ve been apart for an eternity — and I don’t even believe in eternity and all that shit. I sit here, wondering when exactly it was she became such an integral part of my life and the fucking air I breathe.
Being away from her for an entire day is messing with my senses. I’m on a fucking withdrawal and it’s irritating and pissing me off. I can only return to normal when Elsa’s beside me where she belongs.
“You don’t deserve her.” “Just like you don’t deserve Astrid?” “At least I changed for her. What did you do for Elsa?” “I found her again.” And no one will take her away from me.
My chest aches at the thought. It pains me how much I miss Kim and Ronan and even Xander and Cole. I miss the easy friendship we share, the laughs, and even the secrets lurking under the surface. The horsemen might be royalty in RES, but each of them carries a mystery so tangible, it’s enticing.
Deep down, I want to cry for the little boy he used to be. The boy with tousled, black hair and metal eyes. That boy was my friend, my light in the darkness.
Two pairs of eyes watch me closely. Hazel eyes and midnight eyes. That’s why both Knox and Teal looked so familiar when I first met them — or met them again.
Although Knox is handsome, Teal has a unique beauty that’s rare to find; both innocent and hard. Adorable and dangerous.
Cute is an understatement. She really has pinchable cheeks.
Teal’s appearance is not what meets the eye, that’s for sure. There’s so much depth in there, it’s kind of exciting to get to know her.
“And who is this?” Ronan drawls in Teal’s direction. “Teal.” I motion at her. “This is Ronan, Cole, and Xander from school.” She nods, barely sparing them any attention before she returns to her phone. “Bonsoir, ma belle.” Ronan devours her with his eyes, openly, with no shame. “This means we’ll be seeing a lot of you.”
“No,” Ronan clutches his heart dramatically, closing in on her. “I might die if I don’t see you again.” “Then die.” Teal turns around and heads in Knox’s direction without a glance back.
There’s no safe place from monsters. The darkness is their playground, and the world is their theatre. If they choose to, they’ll drag you into the shadows and it’ll be all over.
I thought the worst monsters were the ones from my childhood. Turns out, my worst monster had the most hypnotic metallic eyes and the inkiest black hair. He has a penetrating gaze that dissects me and sees straight into the darkest depths of my soul. My monster is all tall, powerful, and beautiful. My monster is Aiden King.
The moment his eyes meet mine, I freeze. It’s like those grey clouds have entered the hall and will now transform into a storm, wreaking havoc in its wake.
Aiden stands in front of me like a grim reaper. No, not a grim reaper. A monster. My monster.
He’s more intimidating and handsome than anyone should be. He has his father’s arrogant nose and the aura of a God amongst humans. Or rather, a king amongst peasants.
“I don’t give promises I don’t keep. You’re the one who does that over and over again. I told you loving me is a one-way road. I told you not to say the fucking words if you didn’t mean them.” I throw a glance at him over my shoulder. “I meant those words. I love you, Aiden, but I also love myself enough to walk away from you.”
Elsa’s small footsteps echo in the empty basement. She brings light with her — and it’s not only because of her torch. It’s her entire presence. Her little bunny shoes and her tiny sleeping dress. She smells of marshmallow, honey, and the beginning of spring. If light has a smell then Elsa is it.
Still, I say nothing. One, I’m hungry. Two, I like it better when she talks. Her voice is like a classical melody, soft, elegant, and… peaceful.
“I gave you my Maltesers, you have to be my friend.” I smile at her funny expression. She looks on the verge of taking back her chocolate and running away to eat them in the corner. “Okay,” I say. “Okay?” “Okay, I’ll be your friend.” She claps, giggling. “Yes!”
“Hey, Grey Eyes.” “Hmm?” I watch her twinkling eyes as she chews. Some of the chocolate sticks to her upper lip. “When I grow up, I’m gonna buy you a bucket of Maltesers.” “Why?” “Because Dad says you have to buy gifts for the one you marry.”
“When I grow up, I’m going to marry you.” “You can’t marry me.” Her face contorts. “Why not?” “Mum says you have to love someone to marry them.” “Then you can just love me.” She throws her hand in the air. “What’s so hard about that?” I remain silent. This girl is crazy.
I laugh and she laughs with me. Her laughter is like the sunshine after a rainy day. It’s the sun peeking through the cloudy sky. As I watch her, I realise I want to see her laugh all the time. Maybe she’s right. Maybe after we grow up, she needs to stay close so I can see her laugh this way every day. She has the most beautiful laughter I’ve ever seen.
“Promise you’ll marry me.” She holds out her pinkie. I curl mine around hers. “I promise.”
“Are you going to stop being a little bitch?” “Are you going to stop being a fucking whore?”
There’s no one before Elsa and no one after her. She’s a constant, and soon everyone will know that. Elsa fucking included.
This thing inside me that beats for her is boundless.
She’s all mine with a capital M. And now, she’s back. This time, only death would do us part.
He watches me as if I’m the only one in the busy hallway. The interest in his eyes is paralysing, suffocating even. His gaze studies me close, so close, as if he’s relearning my features, the curve of my shoulder, and the line of my collarbone. Almost like… he’s making sure I’m real.
“Ellie!” Ronan hops on my desk, nearly knocking my pens on the ground. “I was just telling King about how to bring you back. I even offered to sing.” Teal snorts from my side. Ronan grins at her, but it’s fake. It’s rare to see Ronan fake anything, he’s about the most honest out of the horsemen. “You have a problem, ma belle?” She searches around me. “Did you hear someone talk, Elsa?” Ronan leans in to whisper, “I’m happy you’re back and all, but why did you bring this freak?” “I heard that,” Teal deadpans. He feigns innocence. “Did you hear someone talk, Ellie?”
Is there a way to throw acid on his voice and stop it from being this good on the ears?
His thumb caresses my cheek in a sensual rhythm. Up and down, like a lullaby with skin against skin.
I would be lying to myself if I say I didn’t miss him, and I promised to never lie to myself again. I missed his maddening touch and that heated look. I missed his kisses and the baths he ran for me. I missed his scent and his crude words. But most of all, I missed him. The man, the monster.
I want him to see my expression. No idea what it looks like right now, but I hope it’s filled with anger and hate. I hope he sees he did this to us. He broke us. Broke me.
It’s weird. No. It’s disarming. His nice, grovelling side is starting to freak me out. Aiden doesn’t do grovelling. Aiden takes without permission, leaving disaster in his wake.
