AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I resist the urge to check on Mathias. But I don't need to in order to know what his face will look like. He'll probably be pulling a face that ref
lects the way I feel about all of this.
Angela holds her head up high. "I pledge myself to the Shadow Association until the day I die."
Annalise swears proudly.
Silence descends on the entire room as all eyes turn to me.
"Syxe?" Angela prompts once it becomes clear I'm not going to say anything.
I meet her gaze, hoping my defiance shows on my face. "I do not swear on the life of myself, nor on those of my descendants, that I will uphold the laws of the Shadow Association. I do not forswear any allegiance to a supernatural organisation that is not the Shadow Association. I do not pledge myself to the Shadow Association until the day I die." I pause to make sure the meaning of my words reaches everyone who is assembled to witness this occasion. "I reject what the Shadow Association stands for and will have no part in it."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, I turn around. Annalise reaches out to stop me.
"You'll regret this," she hisses.
"No, I don't think I will," I reply. "My place is not in the house. I am not a puppet. I will not sign away the lives of people who are not born yet. I will not be a part of this system."
I hold my head up high and walk out of the room. No one stops me, I think they're all too shocked about what I've just done.
Mathias hurries behind me. I hope he's checking to make sure no one is following me. But even if they do, I'm not sure how they can stop me from leaving.
I push through the front door and out into the fresh air. I take a deep breath and ready myself for what's to come.
"You were amazing in there," Mathias says once we're away from the building and anyone overhearing.
"Thank you. It was terrifying," I admit. My heart still pounds from the exhilaration and fear.
"I'm proud of you for doing it anyway."
"Thanks. But I don't think this is over." I glance back at the Association building. They aren't going to give up on me that easily.
But that's okay. I know their secret now. All I have to do is prove that they acquired me illegally, and I'll be properly free of them.
And after that, I can focus on becoming the best reaper I possibly can.
