The Shadow of Gloom

Chapter 33 - Unexpected Entertainment

The asshole had captured me, had someone read my mind or fuck knows what, had me locked up with other people, and then in the end he lied about it and got away with it. He'd gotten away unharmed while the others had ended up dead, minus Judd who was long gone now. Maybe there were times to be the bigger man, but this didn't feel like one of those times. I couldn't turn my cheek from the slimeball any longer.

I felt my Vale churn and shift down into my fists as they curled into balls, itching to punch the scowl off Eirith's face. He wouldn't be the first person I'd punched, and he wouldn't be the last.

"You think I'm... I'm a coward?" Eirith asked, jabbing his finger at me now as sparks of lightening rippled across his skin. "I'll show you who's a coward."

Right as my Vale clouded my fists and Eirith's lightening sizzled and popped, a sudden loud command halted our fight.

"You will not." Ronan materialized beside Eirith from a cloud of black before he laid a sturdy hand on Eirith's wrist, pulling it down. Eirith fought and spat swears at Ronan until Ronan lowered to his level, eyes glowing a familiar red. "You will stay yourself or I will ensure all of the court knows of your crimes."

Eirith let his lightening die away but not without a huff and a glare towards me. He then turned his claws onto Ronan when he clumsily pushed Ronan's chest. I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting metallic on my tongue as my Vale surged through me, pulling me to burst out and melt Eirith into a puddle. I barely held back as Eirith drunkenly spewed his words as he continued shoving Ronan backwards towards the balcony's parapet.

"What of your... crimes? Who are you truly? Why does Magnus trust someone he's never seen himself?" Eirith pinned Ronan against the parapet, the two of them dueling with heated gazes and tense air between them. "What are you hiding from?"

That hit a sore spot when Ronan suddenly knocked Eirith backwards, sending him spiraling back.

"Still your tongue before I slice it from your mouth," Ronan growled as Eirith straightened himself out, with blood dripping from his nose and being cupped by his hand. Ronan put himself between me and Eirith, letting me feel the heat and seething anger coming off him in droves. "I have tolerated you, have entertained your lies and crimes, but I will not have you attacking one of my own. If you have a grievance with them, then you have to go through me."

As Eirith stood stunned with blown eyes, I finally realized that I was breathing heavy and that my pulse was thumping in my ears. I felt like I was coming down from a high, but this high wasn't an enjoyable one. It left me drained and like I had used every ounce of my strength without having done anything. Was it because of my Vale?

I shook my head and rubbed my forehead before focusing back to Eirith when he stuttered out incoherent words and then began to stagger backwards. He'd better run.

"Mark my words. You're all... goners, goners I tell you," he whined before he stumbled out of the balcony doors, disappearing into the castle.

I should've grinned as he tucked tail and ran, but I only felt like keeling over. So much for celebrating a victory over a slimeball.

"I feel sick," I murmured as I clutched my stomach, feeling ready to heave. A cold sweat dripped off my brow and my hands felt shaky.

"The usage of the Vale can do that, at least to those not pure demon," Ronan muttered, watching me as I moved over to the parapet. "It boosts the strength of your powers temporarily and can leave you feeling ill afterwards. I'd thought that hybrids wouldn't have that, yet I could be wrong."

"Maybe it has something to do with my halves not being equal or some shit," I replied when I leaned my back against the parapet, head tilted towards the sky and breaths coming and going deeply. "I don't always feel sick after it comes to the front. This was probably the first time in a while."