A Man From It

Angelique’s POV

He wasn’t my savior.

Yes, Malakai Phantom had killed Kross and his men. He prevented my abduction and future enslavement.

But he wasn’t my savior. What kind of savior looks at someone like that?

I’d seen the way he looked at me. Hell, as the Alpha King towered over me, I wasn’t someone.

I was something.

Every part of me ached. Maybe it was the beatings. Maybe it was rage burning through my bones, turning them into ash.

My limbs felt like lead, but I pushed myself up anyway.

My grunts filled the air, blending with my ragged breaths. My head tilted down, and I stepped right on the money scattered across the floor.

Blood still slid down my lips. I didn’t bother to wipe it.

Didn’t bother to look at him either.

I just wanted to get out and look for my pups. 

Still, my arms hung from my shoulders limply and I dragged my legs.  

I itched closer to the door, and I'd never take his money. Never. 

I refused to do so, and would rather bleed to death. 

“Come take this and get yourself treated.”

Then his sharp voice cut through the bar and my steps. 

Savoir indeed. 

I paused then gritted my teeth at the sound of his voice. That voice didn’t belong to a savior. It belonged to a man who broke things just to see how they’d fall apart.

“I don’t need your help” I hissed. 

I tried forcing air through lungs that felt like they were collapsing. So my breaths were shallow then trampled by thuds. 

Then they died, and a shadow swallowed mine. 

Still, I didn’t need to look up to know he was close. His annoyingly sweet scent hinted that well. 

“Look up.”

“Stop looking down at me!” I screamed before I could stop myself. 

My throat ached and trembling. Perhaps from dehydration or just pure rage. 

“You…” I began and clutched my aching arm, then sniffled.

Anger trembling at the edge of my tongue but I continued. 

“You made it clear that night; never to cross paths with you again. I’m doing just that. I’m doing just fine.”

Ha! That lie made the blood on my tongue taste bitter. 

Tears blurred the floor beneath me, but I blinked fast, refusing to let them fall.

“I do not care for that.”

I clearly saw his sparkly shoes as he stepped closer. Then his he stretched his arm. 

“You see, sweetheart…”

I froze. Not because of his chilly voice. But his contact. 

Malakai's fingers brushed my chin then he forced my face up until my eyes met his.

On that night years ago, these pair gold warmed me. But now, they burned so unforgivingly. 

Colliding gazes with those droopy golden eyes made my stomach churn. They still had that look of superiority. Degradation.

“My offers do not get rejected.”

His eyes thinned so sharply, they looked like blades, ready to cut me.

“Especially not from someone like you.”

My lips trembled, my nose scrunching slowly.

I finally felt my bones tense, and strength, rage rather, fueled them.

“Go back to hell, Malakai.”

I spat, then took a step aside and limped off.

He said nothing. Just tucked his hands into his pockets and watched. 

As the tavern doors shut behind me, even the air that caressed my face was cold. Just like him. 

★

With each second, the darkness grew deeper. I wasn’t talking about the day.

But the darkness that came from my babies’ kidnap.

Throughout the day, I had begged, bargained, and searched.

But I didn’t get up to three thousand. Much less a million.

My throat was dry, and my hope gone.

Injuries untreated, yet I limped home.

But now, it was a house. Without my pups, I had no sense of comfort.

I’d never have it.

I’d been left in the darkness. Never to see the light again.

But as I drew closer, a glow reached me. It was warm, melting away the cold but also my life.

The instant I saw it, I went wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

“No…”

Even my sob was burnt by the flames crawling on the walls of my house.

My home.

No! Immediately, I ran closer until the heat seared my skin. My soul too.

My strength followed, and I landed weakly on my knees. I watched memories I fought so hard to build burn away. 

When I get my babies back, how would I explain this. How would Liora take the news of her burnt dollies?

Or Lucien with his action figures dying? Or Lilou with his pastries melting?

“H-how…”

My eyes were dry, unable to produce tears, and the fire crackled as the only answer.

Then the sound of an engine joined.

Sharply, I whipped my head around and beheld the devil.

A real one.

Only a devil would enjoy the bath of flames.

Hell, he leaned against his car with a cigarette stuck between his lips.

Only a devil would smile while watching me without pity. But with awe.

I found myself leaving the ground. Regardless of my fraile bones, I remained on my feet.

“Tell me, Angelique.”

The name rolled off his tongue like a death sentence.

He straightened up, a hand nestled in his pocket and he came closer. His scent now mixed with the cigarette and smoke was more toxic.

I couldn't breathe around

this man. I just couldn't!

Malakai loomed over me like a devil, grinning like one, until a fang peeked out.

“Wouldn’t a rain be amazing right now?”