The sound Kyro makes is unlike anything I’ve heard before, but it gives me immense satisfaction. He’s in agony, and it’s being delivered by the man who drives me crazy. Gore squirts everywhere, gushing from his eyes, and Hell’s face is a picture of revenge and hatred.
When Hell pulls his thumbs out of Kyro's almost empty eye sockets, blood trails down Kyro's face and Soul steps forward handing Hell a machete. I swallow hard, my throat dry, as Hell grips the handle tightly, his knuckles white.
Hell grabs Kyro's sweaty, bloodied hair tightly, then lifts the machete, the blade gleaming in the light before delivering a hack to the side of his neck. Each strike makes my body tense, but I keep my eyes glued on the action, wanting to see every second of his death because he deserves it. He starts to gurgle on his own blood, his body convulsing until Hell drops the machete halfway through, leaving him suffering and suffocating.
He stands, taking my hand and pulling me behind Kyro's almost lifeless body and as stands behind me, his breath is hotagainst my ear. “Shove your fingers into his fucking eye sockets and rip his ugly head off his shoulders,” he murmurs chillingly.
Without hesitation, I bend over, sticking my fingers in Kyro's sockets, the warmth of his blood coating them. I tuck them beneath the bone to get a good grip, and I start to pull with all my strength, each tug ripping more of the muscles in his throat. Hell leans over, his hands finding mine, and he assists me. With some powerful pulling, his head finally comes completely off, sending me and Hell falling onto our asses into the mud.
As Kyro's head rolls onto the floor, his dead features face me, and I collapse against Hell's chest, the weight of it all taking it out of me. In a blur, tears stream down my cheeks, the faint noise of the Dark Night members cheering in triumph over the brutal murder. Soul and Wrath suddenly pass us, kicking Kyro's head around like a fucking soccer ball, Soul chuckling like a menace.
Hell wraps his big arms around me, placing a kiss on my cheek. “It's fucking over, my pretty girl,” he whispers into my ear. His deep voice is soothing in the mayhem around us, and the adrenaline begins to fade, replaced by a strange merge of relief and exhaustion.It’s finally over. I am finally free of him.
It’s been a week since we killed Kyro, and Hell and I are walking through the bustling carnival, playing games, and spending the night together with everyone. With his arm around my shoulders, I slip my hand into his and tilt my head back. He glances down at me as I smile widely, and he grins ever so slightly before bringing his mouth to mine. “It’s good to see you smiling, my pretty girl,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble.
He gives me a firm kiss and as we part, I lift my head, looking forward at the bustling crowd as we walk through, everyone moving out of our way. The vibrant lights and sounds of the carnival surround us, creating a surreal atmosphere that sets my soul alive.
Suddenly, I notice someone in the far distance, and I come to an abrupt stop, causing Hell to do the same. My wide eyes stay fixed on her, her back to me and I take in her dark hair cascading down her back. I feel Hell’s hand slip under my blonde locks, gently grabbing the nape of my neck.
He lowers his mouth to my ear as he dips down from behind. “You’re not as insane as I thought you were, Dolly,” he whispers.
My eyes water, my pulse pounding, and when she turns around to face me fully, my breath hitches. Her blue eyes find mine instantly, and the world seems to stop.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing, Hell?” I ask, my voice trembling, wondering if I am losing my sanity again.
“I do,” he finally answers. “I found her in one of his properties in another city.” He turns his head, gazing at my side-profile. “Arabella isn’t a figure of your imagination after all. I shouldn’t have fucking doubted you.”
A sob escapes my lips, and he releases me as I rush forward, eager to get to her. I become frantic, pushing people out of my way, and as soon as I am close enough, I crash into her, wrapping my arms around her neck. She hugs me back just as tightly as I weep. I stroke the back of her soft black hair, my voice breaking. “I’m so sorry, Ara,” I whisper.
She pulls back, cupping my cheeks, her icy eyes searching mine, a reflection of my own. “Don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
I take in every feature of her face now that she is close, noticing how much she looks like me in certain ways. I place my hand on her cheek, my fingers trembling.
“What the fuck happened?” I sniffle, my voice choked with emotion.
Arabella’s eyes soften, and she takes a deep breath. “It’s a long story, but I’m here now. We’re together, and that’s all that matters.”
I nod, tears falling down my cheeks. “I thought I lost you forever. I even started to think you weren’t real and I was imagining things.”
She smiles softly before wrapping her arm around my shoulders, guiding me to a bench nearby. I throw a glance at Hell, who is standing beside Soul and Wrath in the distance, and he gives me a wink before looking away.
When we sit down, we face one another. “When we fled, we split, but I was caught and taken somewhere else,” she explains, and my eyes close, guilt gnawing at me.
“Don’t worry, Harley.” She assures me.
“I shouldn’t have left you.” I lower my head.
“Why? You deserved freedom. I had to listen every fucking day for a year to what those monsters were doing to you. I hated it and was determined to get you out of there.”
“Did he hurt you?” I ask softly.
She shrugs her shoulders before lowering her eyes. “Nothing he wouldn’t usually do. He roughed me up a bit, but it wasn’t like what he was doing to you.”
I give a small nod in response. “Did he ever…”
She shakes her head. “No. I don’t understand why I was there, in all honesty. Maybe to give you some false hope? He was fucked in the head.”
I inhale deeply. “Well, he’s dead now.”
