Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight
Sorrow and Starlight: Chapter 26

Rain pattered the window of my room in the R.U.M.P. Castle, and I watched the droplets tumbling down the glass while sitting on a window seat with my back to the wall. I mentally picked two droplets to race to the bottom of the pane, my eyes following the one I was banking on to win. But of course, it came last and I sighed. No matter how many times I’d played this silent game, I somehow always picked the loser.

Geraldine had given us one of the finest rooms on the second level of the palace, and there was a basket of bagels waiting outside our door each morning with handwritten notes from her. She always addressed them ‘to my sweet Pega-brother.’ I felt like an asshole because firstly, I rarely ate any of the food she left for me, Sofia, and Tyler, and secondly…I hadn’t offered her anything to help with her grief.

She was rising at the stars only knew what time to bake those bagels fresh and bring them to me daily, leaving little sympathy notes to help me through my grief, and what had I given her in return? Nothing. And honestly, I didn’t feel capable of anything. The hours of the day were on repeat, each one dragging its heels towards the next. My pain never eased or changed within those passing minutes, the weight of it never heavier or lighter. It just was. Like a woeful creature had crawled into my chest and made a home there.

I’d thought grief would be louder than this. It felt like there should have been people screaming, thousands of fists hammering at the walls, thunder cracking through the sky. But if anything, things were quieter. More still.

I gazed down at one of the training arenas that was being built by earth Elementals, watching the rebels work in the drizzling rain.

The atmosphere on the island was dark and rife with pain, people moving like zombies from one work post to another, eyes reddened by lack of sleep and loss of tears, faces gaunt, like something vital had been carved from the centre of them. I was them and they were me. There was no distinguishing us. We were meant to be the lucky ones, the survivors who’d made it through battle. But I had the sinking feeling that the dead were luckier than us. Being left behind while members of our families and friends passed on forever was an unending curse of unfathomable pain.

“Xavier?” Sofia said gently, perching on the window seat beside me and drawing her knees to her chest.

I could feel her eyes on me, but couldn’t turn my head to look at her, my mind hooked on racing raindrops again. The one I chose didn’t even make it to the bottom, swept away on the wind, while the other slid smoothly down to secure its win. Another loss. Figures.

“Tyler’s worked out a way to pick up a signal on his Atlas to access outside news,” Sofia said, continuing as if I was listening raptly.

“I’m a ghost,” Tyler called excitedly from the bed across the room. “I can see everything out in the world, but no one can see me. There’s a bunch of stuff coming out of Zodiac Academy. There’s students in there fighting back!”

“That’s great,” I said, my voice void of emotion, though I really was glad he had been able to keep The Daily Solaria going since the battle. The people of the kingdom needed to know the truth more than ever now.

Sofia shifted closer, her fingers brushing mine as she tried to capture my attention.

“Is there anything I can do?” she whispered, and my heart wrenched.

I was an asshole. Hardly able to give her anything, only the barest hints of affection. I wanted to, but I also didn’t. Because it seemed wrong to let myself feel anything but the agony of my loss. I didn’t want to disrespect my mom or Darius or Hamish like that. They deserved to have people sit and suffer over their deaths, not move on and act as if the world could happily keep turning without them. Even if it could, I didn’t want it to.

Any time I indulged in kisses or held Sofia and Tyler too long, guilt plagued me because those things made me feel better. And I had no right to feel better. I didn’t want to smile again, because smiling meant I wasn’t sad anymore, and I should suffer for as long and as deeply as possible. Though I was certain no amount of grieving would ever set the balance of the world right again. They weren’t coming back, and I had the awful feeling that I wasn’t either.

“No.” I remembered to answer Sofia, unsure how long I’d left that question hanging, only that I’d lost three more raindrop races on the window.

Sofia whinnied softly, pain lacing that noise and she moved forward, resting her head on my shoulder. She smelled so sweet, like candy apples and sugarcanes, and as she looked up at me, I saw tears rolling down her cheeks, pink glitter sparkling within them.

Her pain made my thoughts sharpen and I swam up from the depths of my stupor, reaching out to wipe her tears away with my thumb.

“Don’t cry, little mare,” I said.

“I want to help,” she begged. “Let me help.”

I brushed my thumb along her lower lip, staining her mouth with the glitter of her tears and frowning at my girl, wishing I could see her smile again. When I’d been at my loneliest, trapped in the nightmare of Acrux Manor, Sofia had been my escape. She’d been there for me when the walls seemed too close, and the pounding of my father’s footfalls had driven a sliver of dread into my heart. She had been my shining fantasy, and I’d loved her before I’d even met her. To see her here now, weeping for me, made me want to try for her. If this beautiful creature was cursed to love a zombie, then I needed to replace a way to restart my heart.

“Asshole,” Tyler growled, and I looked over at him, replaceing his brow creased, his eyes set on the Atlas resting on his knees.

“What is it?” Sofia asked.

Tyler glanced at us, his jaw ticking and his hand going to his light brown hair, fisting it tightly. “That piece of shit Gus Vulpecula has been printing all kinds of lies about the rebels. And he did another article on the battle.”

“Let’s see it then,” I muttered, pushing to my feet.

Tyler took his Atlas and shoved it under his ass, shaking his head. “Nah, man. It’s fucked. Don’t worry about it.”

His cagey bullshit only made me more determined to see it and I strode over to the wide bed, made with three people in mind with a headboard that had a rainbow carved into it.

“Give it here,” I commanded, pulling the Dom card on him, but he resisted still, not handing it over. “Tyler.”

“No,” he said, rising to his feet and barring my way to the bed where the Atlas lay waiting. “Leave it, Xavier.”

My chest crashed into his and I stamped my foot in warning. “Move.”

Tyler held it out, his eyes locked on mine and the furious pounding of his heart echoing through his body into my own.

“I’m trying to protect you,” he said in a low voice.

“I can handle Vulpecula’s propaganda,” I said through clenched teeth.

Tyler held out a second longer before his eyes dropped and his head bowed in submission. He stepped aside and I moved forward, grabbing the Atlas and looking down at the news article on the screen for The Celestial Times.

New information arises surrounding the King’s magnificent victory against the rebels!

Reports from the noble Dragons who fought at King Lionel’s side have been painting a wondrous picture of glory after insurgents made a callous call for war against the crown.

Our king, in a kind and humble manner, arrived at the battlefield in an attempt to replace a peaceful solution to the violence that has been running rife through the kingdom due to the rebels’ nasty agenda. However, his arrival was greeted with instantaneous attack, and our king was forced to meet his enemies head on. Witnesses stated they saw his own son Darius Acrux attack his father from behind in a vicious, unFae act that almost could have seen the king’s end, if only he were not twice as strong as his former Heir.

Darius Acrux’s widow, and most esteemed Dragon, Mildred Canopus, had this to say on the matter:

“Darius turned to the dark side, corrupted by the Vega whore and jealous of his father’s ascension to power, turning against his own family in a bid to seize it from our great king. His violence knew no end, and I watched as he led the traitor army with the Vega twins at his side and a wickedness in his eyes. His envy was obvious to everyone watching, and even as his adoring father tried to reason with him, Darius would hear no word of it. In fact, I heard him say ‘I want your throne and to have the kingdom do my bidding’, then King Lionel was forced to battle with his own flesh and blood, given no choice but to put him down. It must have been a terrible sacrifice for the king to make, but in the end, he showed his strength as the greater Fae and did what had to be done in the name of Solaria.”

More witnesses have come forward, painting a picture of Darius Acrux’s descent into madness after he and the other former Heirs were tempted to the dark side by Roxanya and Gwendalina Vega. The famed historian, Norman Gimplight, has uncovered new replaceings about the Phoenix Orders, confirming their abilities in manipulation and corruption that would have you shuddering in fear.

It is clear to see that Darius was a victim of such powers, and it caused his obsession with his father’s greatness to deepen until the man we once knew and loved, was lost.

It seems that in recent times, there was a far murkier side to the once Fire Heir that none of us could have known existed, and it coincided with the Vegas’ return to the Fae realm. There can be no coincidence about it, their influence ran deep upon he and the other former Heirs from day one, and Gimplight has confirmed that there is no cure to the taint of their power.

In the wake of Darius Acrux’s death, witnesses are coming forward in their droves now that they are no longer afraid of his wrath against them. It is apparent that he threatened many of the students at Zodiac Academy into keeping dark secrets about him, and the truth behind the mask is a frightening thing indeed.

Honey Highspell, a professor of Cardinal Magic at Zodiac Academy, had this to say of his behaviour:

“Darius Acrux was brash in class, often arriving with bloodstains on his clothes and a wrath about him that frightened many of my students. And though I had my suspicions that he was terrorising his fellow classmates, when I asked around to try and confirm it, there was a sense of fear among my students that worried me deeply and no one dared to speak up. I feared for my own life at times, waking in the night and replaceing golden eyes peering at me through the window of my chalet in the teachers’ residence. He wanted me in a way I couldn’t fathom, perhaps sexually, perhaps more.”

As a fellow student at Zodiac Academy, Mildred Canopus had this to add:

“I heard rumours of something called the blood ring, where Darius Acrux brought his victims somewhere on the school grounds. One night, I snuck out of my bedroom and followed Darius into The Wailing Wood. And that’s when I saw them. Seth Capella, Caleb Altair and Max Rigel, all teamed up with their ringleader Darius against one Fae. It made me almost vomit with how unFae it was.”

With much effort, I managed to track down a Fae who was a victim of the Heirs’ brutality regularly, who was brave enough to make this statement. To protect himself, the Weasel Shifter wishes to remain anonymous.

“I was dragged out of bed in the middle of night by Darius Acrux and brought to the woods where he and the other Heirs proceeded to beat me. They laughed while they did it. And Darius kept saying he was the true king – it was really weird. He also said he was going to bring all of his friends to the palace to stab King Lionel while he was sleeping. It was so unFae. I think about it a lot.”

All in all, I think we can agree that the king’s eldest son was a far more sinister character than we were led to believe, and the likelihood that this darkness came directly from the Phoenix twins is a truly disturbing one. I am saddened to think of his dear, devoted fans learning of this news in the wake of his death, but I cannot shield you from the truth any longer. It is my duty to bring you the facts as I uncover them, and I shall not let my own devastation over the Fire Heir’s real nature quiet my voice. Together, we shall overcome this grave news and move forward into a better world.

All hail the King.

-Gus Vulpecula

Great news! The esteemed choreographer, Janobee Moonbeam, is already working closely with the marvellous composer, Danith Aquanti, to create a ballet based around the battle and King Lionel’s victory. Tickets will be made available in the spring – sign up to our newsletter now and receive a ten percent discount!

Comments:

Seliene Ardon: Well, I for one am glad the truth has come out at last. Those Heirs always seemed off to me. I can sense a bad apple from a mile away, and I always knew something like this would happen #dingdongtheDragonsdead #hoorah #iknewit #toldyouso

Kass Bruinier: Good for you Gus! You’re a wonderful, brave man. Thank you for all the good you do by spreading the truth. #Gusforagoldengibbonaward #thefoxyfoxdoesitagain #thetruthwillout

Kirsteen Oliver: This is utter horseshit! Darius wasn’t unFae and neither are the Heirs. The Vega twins don’t have corruption powers it’s all propaganda! #justiceforDarius #longlivetheVegaqueens #SavageQueens

Kylie Gibbons: Does anyone know if the ballet will be held at the Sunshine Theatre? I hope not because the last time I went there the seats were sticky and the food tasted like ground mealworms. Fine if you’re a Woodpecker Shifter, but I’m a sturdy Manticore. They never replied to my email about it either. #terribleservice #sturdyManticore #letspetitionfortheballettobeheldatthepalace

Oriane Steiner: Round up the Heirs and burn them, I say! Back in my day, a good old Dragon burning was the way to deal with insurgents. The kids these days have it too easy, they don’t know the meaning of consequences. #burnthemall #Iloveagoodburning #nothingwrongwithabitofaburning #burningislearning

Sam Greene: Hello? I’m trying to contact my son Peter. Peter? Are you here??

Kenna Red: This is a comment thread for a newspaper, there ain’t no Peter here.

Peter Bamchamp: Hello, my name is Peter. Are you looking for me?

Sam Greene: No. I’m looking for my son. Peter??? Hello???

Kate Gaetano: I once knew a guy called Darius who was also an asshole – figures #dicksofafeathercocktogether

Josh Medley: I know two Sandras, one of them is a saint, the other is a total dickwad – you can’t just tar all Dariuses with the same traitor brush #insanity #notallDariusesarethesame

Kate Gaetano: You don’t even know me, why are you in this thread??? #allDariusesareevil #fact

Josh Medley: I’ll be on this thread if I want to be on this thread and I happen to know a guy called Darren who is actually really nice #notallDisequal

Kate Gaetano: Everyone knows that Darrens are nice! That was never even up for debate #Darrensforlife #DeathtoallDariuses

Darius Cumcount: I, as a Darius, would have you know that I am actually a really chipper fella #noneedtospreadlies

Admin: This thread has been closed for utter bullshit

Brown Cow: There isn’t a sane Fae in this kingdom who believes any of the crap you’re printing. Darius Acrux died fighting for the rights of the Fae who he had committed his life to protecting. He was a true and honest man and he fought to bring down a tyrant. We all know the truth which hides beneath the bullshit of these lies, and the citizens of this kingdom are just waiting for the word to rise up and end this reign of tyranny once and for all. #longlivethetruequeens #Dariusdiedahero #noFaeislesser #thepeoplearewaiting #deathtoLionelAcrux #dontbealiaraboutPhoenixfire #dontblametheVegaflame

I stared at the article, my grip tightening on Tyler’s Atlas as a sneer pulled my lip back, the comment from Brown Cow disappearing before my eyes as some admin asshole no doubt deleted it. I released a furious neigh, tossing the Atlas down onto the bed and stamping my foot in fury.

“I’ll kill him,” I declared. “I’ll rip his tail off and strangle him with it.”

“Woah,” Tyler breathed to Sofia. “Xavier’s gone dark. It’s hot.”

Sofia whinnied softly, trotting to my side, and tugging me around to look at her. She was a tiny thing, but she was powerful in her own right, and all that power demanded my attention from her now.

“Not everyone’s going to swallow Gus Vulpecula’s lies. Tyler is still getting articles out to The Daily Solaria. The people who want the truth will replace it.”

“I’ll write one now to counter this,” Tyler said, and I glanced over at him, nodding in thanks, though my heart was still racing from reading that bullshit printed about my brother.

I turned back to Sofia, my brows lowering. “I just can’t stand the thought that so many people will take this as fact. They’ll think Darius was a monster.”

“Lionel is the monster,” Sofia said firmly. “We’ll prove Darius and the Heirs innocent, and Darcy and Tory too.”

My father’s name sent a sickening tug through my chest, and I whirled away from Sofia, picking up an iridescent glass lamp from the nightstand and hurling it at the wall. It exploded into glittering fragments, and my heart thumped keenly at seeing it break. It gave me an outlet I so desperately needed, but it wasn’t enough, not even close.

“I wanna destroy something,” I said, my hands fisting tightly and magic rising to the edges of my skin. “I want the world to look like it looks inside my head.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Tyler said, a note of scheming to his voice. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.” He grabbed his Atlas then ran out of the room, leaving me frowning after him.

“I’m gonna jump in the shower.” Sofia squeezed my hand then slipped away from me, pulling off her clothes as she went until she was fully naked, disappearing into the ensuite.

My cock twitched to attention, and I fought the urge to go after her. We hadn’t had sex since before the battle, and this was the first time I’d even had half a mind to lose myself in my favourite girl in the world. But it felt selfish too. Like putting aside my grief to claim something good for myself.

I dropped onto the bed, kicking my feet up and releasing a heavy breath that came from the depths of my lungs. When Sofia returned, she was wrapped in a fluffy towel woven from moss, her short blonde hair hanging wet down to her chin.

She walked to the closet and my eyes tracked her the whole way. She always moved on her tiptoes when she was barefoot, like a little pixie. Apparently, her mom had called her Tiptoe when she was a toddler. I hoped I got a chance to meet her family someday; they were in hiding out in Solaria somewhere, and Sofia had only managed to get them a few messages.

She’d invited them to join the rebels, but they were with a growing herd which had a bunch of young foals who needed protecting. It was best they stayed away until the fighting was over. If it ever came to an end.

Sofia dropped her towel and a knot rose in my throat as she picked out some pants and a plain white t-shirt some of the rebels had provided us with. The earth Elementals had been working hard to produce clothes and food for the masses, and there was still work going on to divide up the items that had been salvaged from The Burrows. Tyler had been selected to be given an Atlas so he could keep getting news stories out, but I was yet to get hold of one myself.

Sofia rummaged for some underwear, and I found myself on my feet, my eyes riveted to the smooth sheen of her skin and the droplets running from the wet hair at the nape of her neck, all the way down the length of her spine. I came up behind her, picking one of those droplets in my mind and deciding that if I won this race, I’d give in to this want in me. I’d let myself quiet the chaos and I’d remind Sofia how much I loved her.

The droplet charted a path along the soft ridges of her spine, and the one I’d chosen to race against it slowed its pace. Impossibly, my droplet made it to the base of her spine first and I reached out to circle my fingers over that very spot, making Sofia gasp in surprise.

“Xavier,” she said breathily.

“Between all these goodbyes, I forgot to remind you that I love you,” I said quietly, and her skin began to shimmer at my words. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant.”

I trailed my finger up the length of her spine, making her shiver before I gripped the back of her neck and turned her to face me, stepping closer.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” she said, her chest heaving as I continued to move into her personal space, admiring the way she glimmered just for me. “You’ve gone through hell.”

“And you haven’t?” I asked.

“Not like you,” she said.

I took the clothes from her fingers, tossing them aside. “You’ve been there for me, while I haven’t been there for you. I’ve been a shit Dom.”

“No,” she said firmly.

“You and Tyler deserve better,” I pressed. “I’m not going to let our herd fall apart, little mare. I promise.”

The door opened and I straightened, replaceing Tyler returning with a glint of some plot in his eyes. His gaze fell on us, and he kicked the door shut at his back, his expression falling into something far more heated.

“What have you been up to?” I asked.

“I’ll show you in a minute. It looks like you’re busy right now,” he said, stepping closer before halting and looking to me. “Do you want me here?”

“Always. You’re a part of us,” I said, my heart ticking a little faster. “Unless either of you want to replace another herd, which…I’ll understand. I’m a wingless Dom now, I know I’m not exactly your best option anymore.”

“Don’t say that,” Sofia growled.

Tyler snorted angrily, practically cantering over to us and gripping my arm. “You’re our Dom. That’s never going to change; I swear Xavier.”

My pulse pounded more evenly, and I released a breath of relief. “Alright. Well, be a good Sub, Tyler, and get on your knees for our girl.”

“Yes, boss,” he said through a smirk, dropping down and I cast vines with my earth Element, curling them around the backs of her thighs and spreading them for her, creating a tree stump beneath her ass so she could perch there. I admired the gemstones gilding the skin around her pussy, loving the way they sparkled.

Tyler moved in, licking her clit and drawing a moan from her lips, and I dropped my hand to the back of his head, keeping eye contact with her while applying pressure to encourage him. She deserved to feel something good that had nothing to do with the darkness clouding our world. Both of them did.

I leaned in, swallowing her next moan as I sank my tongue between her soft lips, kissing her slow and deep. She tasted sweeter than candy and was far more appetising.

I drew her legs wider with my vines, dropping down to my knees too and muscling in next to Tyler, needing to taste even more of her. He rolled his head to one side, giving me access to her pussy and I leaned in, licking her with him. I groaned from the sugary sweetness washing over my tastebuds, wanting more as Tyler’s tongue met mine and we kissed each other between pleasuring her.

It wasn’t long before she was rocking her hips, her hands sinking into our hair and a whinny of purest ecstasy leaving her as she came for us, her thighs shuddering.

I released her from my vines, giving her a moment to recover and turning my attention to Tyler, taking hold of his shirt and pulling it over his head. He gripped my shirt too, a question in his eyes as he asked permission and I nodded, letting him pull it off of me. He reared forward, kissing my neck and nipping at my ear, making me curse in pleasure as the bulk of him pressed against me.

I knocked him back before I could get carried away with him, rising to my feet and scooping Sofia into my arms. She bit her lip, looking hungry for me as I lay her on the bed, pressing her arms out into the sheets with her fingers knotting in the material.

“Tyler,” I beckoned him, and he trotted to my side, his cock straining against his jeans.

I turned to him, unbuttoning them for him and moving my mouth to his ear. “Take them off and start fucking our girl. I want her glowing, Ty. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes, Dom.” He turned towards me, kissing me hard before dropping his pants eagerly, kicking them off with his shoes and climbing onto the bed. I wanted to run my fingers over the diamond that sat at the top of his cock, and all the rhinestones fanning out from it in a tempting pattern, but more than that, I wanted to watch every one of those stones press against our girl’s skin.

Sofia wrapped her arms around him as he pressed her into the bed, lining himself up with her slick core, their eyes locked and smiles dancing at the corner of their mouths. Damn, it felt so good to see them smile like that. It had been too long. I should have told them to claim each other before this, but they wouldn’t have done so without my approval, and now I wanted to make up for not thinking of their needs sooner.

I moved to the end of the bed and Sofia’s fingers dug into Tyler’s back as he held her in suspense.

“Watching?” Tyler asked me, his smirk spreading wider.

“Uh huh. Stop keeping her waiting,” I murmured, and he drove himself inside her with a punishing thrust.

She cried out, her neck arching back and her legs tangling around him as he started fucking her to a tormentingly slow beat. It was like music was thrumming through the air as my eyes hooded and I watched them replace that torturously slow rhythm between them, hypnotised by their bodies joining and replaceing something so pure between the friction of their skin.

My own cock was begging for attention, but I denied myself anything, taking in the two of them claiming each other and seeing the light return to their eyes. It stole away some of my pain, and made me feel one percent less of an asshole for how distant I’d been with them. I had to be better. They needed me to be better. And for them, I was pretty sure I could do anything.

“Roll over,” I commanded when I couldn’t resist them any longer, and Tyler moved onto his back, bringing Sofia with him so she was riding him.

She started to glow, her hips rolling in time with his as they created a beautiful cadence between them once more, their love for each other as clear as a rainbow in the sky. I walked around the bed, dropping my pants, moving onto the mattress behind Sofia and pressing a hand to her back so she lowered over Tyler, their bodies drawn flush together.

“Is she glowing enough for you yet?” Tyler asked over her shoulder and I realised his skin was gleaming too in the way only our kind could show happiness.

“You’re both pleasing the hell out of me,” I said, and they whinnied in unison, delighted by my praise. I almost smiled at that, but the muscles needed for smiling felt frozen and heavy, so I gave up on trying and shifted my knees between Tyler’s.

I slicked my hard length with my water Element, running my thumb over the gemstones pierced through it in the colours of the rainbow. Then I reached between Sofia’s cheeks and got her ready for me, my fingers soaked with a thick lube I made with my magic.

I shifted into position behind her and eased myself inside as Tyler slowed his pace, letting her adjust to the feeling of me filling her this way. She moaned as she took every inch of me and I kissed the back of her neck before starting to fuck her in that same heady rhythm they’d been moving to before.

Tyler met my pace so naturally, it was like we were made for this. And maybe we were. The three of us destined to come together, chosen by some celestial being somewhere in the universe. Or maybe we were a happy accident that had nothing to do with stars or suns or moons. We just were.

I kissed Tyler over Sofia’s shoulder and Sofia turned her head so she could join the kiss too, our tongues meeting as I closed my eyes and lost myself to the rapture of them. Time ceased to exist, and I fell into a river of pleasure, captivated by the carnal movements of our bodies, replaceing it easy to give into the trance they wrapped me in. It was slow, intense, and star-damned enchanting, built of nothing but love. And I never wanted it to end.

Sofia came once more with a shiver that seemed to echo into Tyler and me, our bodies hugged close together, pressing her between us. The heat of their skin was a pleasure in its own, my body having felt so void of anything, like I was one of those ice-forged caskets that encased my family. I winced as that thought invaded my head, focusing again and fighting to keep the grief from stealing into me once more.

“I can’t hold on,” Tyler rasped, looking to me like he was asking for permission to come.

“Wait,” I commanded, pressing my hands either side of both of them and thrusting forward, Sofia’s tight body building me towards climax I was desperate to reach.

“Glow for us, Dom,” Sofia panted, and I felt that urge rising. I wanted to. For them. I wanted that sensation of euphoria to wash over me and share in their light, but I didn’t know if I could. The cold hand of grief was sweeping over me again, and my thoughts were starting to scatter.

“Fucking hell,” Tyler said as he held off on finishing.

I found my way back to them and blocked all else out, continuing to take my time enjoying them, knowing as soon as it was over, the darkness would rush back in. I was once again focused on them and nothing else, but my body still wouldn’t relax enough to let me finish and bask in the afterglow with them.

“Xavier,” Tyler begged, his jaw tight and I champed my teeth at him in an order to wait.

I ground my hips down on Sofia’s round ass, driving in deep once more and my mind started flashing with unwanted thoughts, the battle, blood, death.

I forced my eyes shut, trying to maintain a grip on the present moment, but it was like the floodgates were opening and I wasn’t strong enough to keep it all out.

I cursed as Tyler’s fingernails bit into my arm and a sigh of defeat left me as I realised I couldn’t finish this.

“Come,” I told him, and he drove hard inside Sofia, climaxing with a groan.

I pulled out of her, heading away from them at a fast speed, leaving them glowing in ecstasy on the bed.

“Xavier?” Sofia called after me, but I slammed the door to the bathroom, locking it and stepping into the shower.

I turned the water on, letting it run freezing cold all over me and staring at the stone wall, my teeth grinding together hard. My chest was tight, like pythons were winding between my ribs, cinching around my lungs until I couldn’t breathe.

Tyler and Sofia called out to me, and I cast a silencing bubble so I couldn’t hear them anymore, needing to fall into oblivion on my own. I didn’t want them to watch me crack, didn’t want their words of pity.

I stood there until time was a blur and I was frozen through to the bone, my fingers turning blue and every part of me numb.

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, casting the silencing bubble away and opening the door. They were sitting at the base of it, Sofia wearing my shirt while Tyler had pulled on some sweatpants.

“Are you o-” Sofia started but I spoke over.

“Clean up,” I ordered, ushering them into the bathroom and pulling the door closed behind them.

I tugged my towel free, using it to scrub at my soaked hair and heading to the closet to grab some clothes. I dressed quickly then sat waiting on the bed for them to return. I only grunted in answer when they did and both of them pulled on clothes, sharing looks of concern over me.

“I’ve got a surprise ready for you, Xavier,” Tyler said. “Come with us, and I’ll show you.”

I shrugged, rising to my feet, not meeting their gazes as I followed them from the room, but I let Sofia take my hand.

Tyler guided us out of the palace and across the drizzly landscape of the island down one of the newly laid paths. He slowed before a roughly-built shed and led me inside, glancing back at me with a hopeful grin.

I entered a room with plain wooden furniture all around the space, and I frowned in confusion.

“What is this?” I muttered.

Tyler moved forward, casting a huge sledgehammer into his grip with his earth Element and handing it to me. “You wanna destroy something? Go nuts. I built it to be ruined.”

My eyebrows arched in surprise, and I looked down at the sledgehammer in my hands, the opportunity to smash everything in here seriously tempting.

“I can break it all?” I confirmed and Tyler nodded.

“Every last bit. Even the walls if you want, bro,” he said.

“Fuck it.” I moved towards a chair, not needing to be told twice, but Sofia hurried forward, stepping in front of me.

“Wait.” She raised a hand, brushing her fingers over my eyes and casting an illusion. I inhaled sharply as the interior of the shed changed to mirror my father’s office instead. I’d shown her photos of this place on my phone, and she’d even remembered to add the little green Dragon paperweight on the desk that was an exact replica of the asshole who’d sired me.

Sofia stepped aside and I moved forward with a thirst for vengeance. I raised the sledgehammer and swung it down at that paperweight with a roar of hatred leaving me. It smashed beneath my might and the desk cracked in two.

A savage sort of smile pulled at my mouth, and I swung the hammer at photographs of Lionel on the walls and his favourite fucking treasures kept safe in cabinets. I broke it all, watching it cascade around me in pieces, the outside finally looking how it felt inside my head.

It was a world of ruin and devastation, a place where everything around me was broken, fractured, half of what it once was. This was my mind spilling out and finally replaceing an outlet for the maddening pain within. It was destruction in its purest form. My shattered reality. And at last, it existed beyond my mind too.

“Cast an illusion of him in his chair, Sofia,” I encouraged, and she flicked her fingers, showing me my father right before me, his expression smug like he was fresh back from war, counting his victories.

A cry left me that was pure animal, and I swung my sledgehammer at him, striking right between his eyes. Sofia did a beautiful job of letting me see the blood pour, the light dying in his cold, unfeeling gaze and his death rushing in like the wings of the stars.

It may not have been real, but for a second it felt like it was. And my heart sung from the violent delivery of his death. I could almost scent his blood in the air, and I hungered for it like I was a carnivore placed on this earth to make this man my prey.

“One day,” I whispered to the image of his bloody corpse. “I will stand above you, and you will beg for a mercy I won’t offer. I’ll reap the pain from you that you offered my family, and revel in the moment your heart stops beating. The clock is ticking, old man.”