The Darkness in Me Page 7

  I check the dresses size, and bonus, it’s in my size. I walk over to where Faith is still chatting nonsense to the lady. For once I can cut this shopping experience short with Faith, and yes, it is an experience, one I don’t like to have too often, mainly for my mental health, which is borderline at the moment.

  “I’ll take this please.” I say to the lady behind the counter.

  “Is it in your size, we do alterations if needed.” She says back to me in a pleasant voice.

  “It’s good, nothing needs to be changed.” I say back to her while handing my card.

  “Wow, that was fast.” Faith says to me while looking at the dress I’ve selected. I’m pretty sure she thought this was going to take all afternoon. No. A quick in and out is how I like to shop.

  “I know, so let’s get your dress and get out of here.”

  “You are such a party pooper.” Faith whines back to me

  “I know.” And smile back to her. Shopping trip cut short. Yay me!

  Chapter Six

  “Her darkness is such a fatal beauty.” - Jacin

  ~Natalie~

  I wake the next morning to the smell of my father’s cooking and my mother’s laughter. I haven’t heard that in years. I lay in bed for a little while longer, not wanting to disturb them. Even though they think I’ve been living here, I haven’t, not in years.

  I hear my mother’s footsteps come up the stairs, I can almost see how happy she is by the sound of her bouncing up the stairs. What now. I hope this isn’t about this stupid ball. Maybe I should be happy about the idea of sleeping with random men to strengthen my powers, our coven, I’m not. I don’t need to strengthen anything, I hide my powers, I have for a long time, even from Faith.

  When we were younger, I saw my powers were more developed than my friends, I held back, I never let my power flow out of me, and if some did get out, I made sure to pull it back and hoped no one noticed. Even though I should have been proud of my strength, this coven would have been afraid, they are afraid of what is not normal, and my power is not normal. Where simple spells or tasks were difficult for them, they were easy for me. I became a good actress by the time I hit high school.

  “Wakey, wakey sleepy head. It’s a big day today, we better get a move on!” My mother says crashing into my room.

  My reply was muffled because I had thrown my pillow over my face. I left this coven years ago, I don’t know why I’m still going. But then I realize, have I left? In my old life, I had left, but have I left this one? I’m so confused! The only reason I’m guessing I got an invite to the dam ball is because of my parents, other than that, I don’t think I would have been invited, even though outsiders have been invited to attend. This is a nightmare!

  “Mom really, I don’t need to go. I’m happy with my powers, there is no darkness coming!” I say to her while pulling the pillow away. After I said it, I maybe should have rethought what I said. There is no darkness coming, no, only for me it’s coming, so don’t worry.

  “Darkness or not, you are going, and hopefully you will find a nice man, just give it a chance please.” My mother begs. And when your mother begs, its clearly important. But this time, it’s just important to her.

  “Fine, I will go, just don’t expect me to be pleasant.” I grumble out to her. It’s too early in the morning for this nonsense.

  “Pleasant or not, they are going to love you, you are just too beautiful to resist.” My mother beams out at me. Always happy. Complete opposite to me.

  “You are my mother, you are supposed to say things like that, that doesn’t mean they are true.”

  “Of course it is, now get out of bed and come down for breakfast. Faith is going to be by soon, and you will need to start getting ready.”

  With that, she turns to leave. I look over to my clock on my bedside table. Its only ten in the morning, and I’m supposed to be getting ready soon. How much work could possibly be needed to get ready for this silly thing. I was just going to put on my dress, slap on some make up and throw my hair up. Simple. Like ten minutes tops.

  Then again, my mother did say that Faith was coming over, and that means there is going to be a lot more work done than needed. I’m going to need a drink to get through today and tonight, I just know it.

  ~ Jacin~

  “You think this is a good idea?” Weyland asks me. He knows better than to question my orders. But this time, I get it. I don’t even know what I’m doing. I should have just ended this little game the other night. Yet here I am, in this fucking small town, playing nice. I just don’t know how long I can actually play nice for though.

  But she clung to me, like I was her savior. I have never been someone’s savior, I’ve been their ruin, their destruction, their end. I barely felt her nails digging their way into my wrist, I was way to consumed by what was happening around me. I should have just snapped her pretty little neck right then, but I didn’t. Instead I became the best option in the room, if she only knew who she was holding onto, who had her life in their hands, she would have gladly gone and taken her chances with the other men.

  “Have you got a better idea you would like to share, Weyland?” I bark out to him. I’m on edge, he is on edge. Not a good combination.

  “Yes, kill the bitch and be done with it. We got bigger problems than this one woman.” Weyland says to me dismissively.

  My skin starts to crawl, the beast doesn’t like her being called that. What the fuck is going on with him. I sense Weyland smirk. Fucker. Nothing gets past him, not in the centuries he has been at my side.

  “If that is all it took to get a reaction out of you, the others are going to have a field day. Rein that shit in man.” Weyland says back to me. The surfacing of the beast just showed him how much she has affected me, and she doesn’t even know it.

  “This is bullshit, no woman has had this effect on me. I fucking intended to end it, I fucking had her, she didn’t even know it. I had my hand around her throat, the darkness wanted her, just not to fucking end her, it ended up fucking saving her. Then in the pit! Fuck.” I scream out, kicking the chair that was too close to me, watching it smash against the far wall.

  “You just need some pussy, what’s your flavor today?” Weyland asks me while looking at his phone. Completely unaffected by the chair that almost took his head off his shoulders. He fucking doesn’t get it. I wish I didn’t fucking get it.

  He looks up from his phone waiting for my reply, waiting to phone one of the many women he has on hold. They would fall on any man’s dick if they had half the chance. Normally that would entice the beast, use and leave, get rid of frustration on a willing body. That’s all they are. A willing body.

  The look of surprise crosses his face. “That bad huh?” He asks me.

  “Fuck off! Where is Daxtin? He should have been here already.” I ask. I need a change of conversation that doesn’t involve her.

  “He got held up, some bullshit from above I guess.”

  “Will he be here in time?” I ask Weyland. He needs to be here for this bullshit ball to happen.

  I have Margret wrapped around my finger, and all for a promise of more power. I’m not here for them, I needed an in, so my presence would not be questioned. The fog did its job, they never thought I left.

  If this prophecy is true, then Natalie is the answer. I just need to find out who is all behind this. This little coven wouldn’t know a thing about darkness, it’s not one of them. It’s an outsider, that’s why I suggested this ball, too see what outsider comes, Margret doesn’t know who belongs to my coven, who doesn’t. Whoever turns up is what I want to see. They are all my targets, and I will pick them off one by one if I must, to get my answers. And I will get an answer. They want to overthrow me, they don’t like the way things are done. Things are done for a fucking reason, to keep control. And control I will not lose.

  “He said he would be.” Weyland says to me, dragging me from my thoughts.

  “Let me know when Dax arrives, I have to go over
the plan with him. And make sure the men know what to look for, no fucking about with the women either.” I say to Weyland and then dismiss him. The men need to know to behave, and not fuck shit up. I need answers, and this is the one way I intend to get them.

  ~Natalie~

  It was worse than I expected. A lot worse. I was pulled, primped, pulled again, painted and then thrown into my dress with heels I actually might kill myself in. I stagger to stand up properly and take a look in the mirror. I’m an expert in walking in heels, with my short height I literally live in them all day, but these are just ridiculous. I can tell by the excited look in Faiths eyes that I must look good, but I look for myself anyways.

  What I see, actually leaves me speechless. Faith did an amazing job. My pale skin looks flawless, with minimal make up, which she somehow made my pale grey eyes pop, she did my makeup just how I like to do my makeup, only hundred times better than I do it. My dark hair has been pulled back and curls down my back. It’s simple, it’s me.

  “Wow.” Is all I can say to her. I’m left speechless. Faith always looks beautiful. Her long dark hair is swept up into a messy kind of bun, her makeup is obviously flawless, and makes her even more beautiful than her natural beauty, which I didn’t know was possible.

  Her dress on the other hand is completely opposite to mine, where mine is simple with its embroidery, hers is loud, with colorful detailing against her royal blue mermaid tail dress. She is stunning.

  I know I don’t have to tell her she looks beautiful, she knows she does, she has that undeniable self confidence in her. But I tell her anyway, “You look beautiful, Faith. That colour is definitely wow!”

  “You know I like to stand out. But thank you, you look beautiful too.”

  “Just like how I like to blend in.” I say to her jokingly. “Where’s Beth by the way, I meant to ask earlier, but with all that was happening, I just didn’t get the chance too.”

  “She decided to get ready by Georges’. She said she will meet up with us later, but I don’t know so much as she is not going to be really mingling with us during the night.”

  “Why not?” I ask before I could stop myself, if I wasn’t too busy admiring my jewelry I was wearing, I would have caught on to what she had said.

  “Well I don’t think George would really take a liking to that.” Faiths says too me. A ha! I must remember they are clearly together. I try hide my shock as best as I can. I just hope my acting skills haven’t weakened over the years.

  Thankfully Faith doesn’t notice so I try change the subject to something I know about. At least then I can’t get caught out so easily again.

  “What time are we supposed to be leaving? The time it starts has slipped my mind.” I ask Faith while walking over to the table with the drinks on them.

  “We should leave soon, I don’t want to miss out on good parking and have to walk all the way to the front door.”

  “Where is it again?” I ask before taking a sip of my drink. I have tried to behave today this being my first drink.

  “The Manor House.”

  That was the last thing I expected to hear and before I could stop myself, I was choking on my own drink, coughing and gagging trying to get a breath of air. That fucking house. I will burn it to the ground before I’m done here. It has been a part of my nightmares for so long and now it haunts me in my waking hours.

  “Are you alright?” Faith says while running over to me, trying to help me get some air in my lungs.

  It takes a minute or so before I can get my breath back. Maybe I should have just held on, and let this nightmare be over, and choke to death on my drink. My reflexes on the other hand have another idea.

  “Just dandy, thanks.” I barely get out to Faith.

  She clearly didn’t catch on that the house bothers me, or that I want to burn it to the ground.

  “Come on then, let’s go, before you fall and break your ankle or something.” Faith says to me jokingly.

  This is going to be a long night, I wish it was over with already, maybe I can drink my way through it, it’s not like I’m there to charm anyone, even though that’s what my mother really wants. I’m there to show face and then disappear.

  ~ ~ ~

  By the time we arrive at the house, the entire coven is here, and then some. It looked as if the entire town had been invited to this party. I parked my car in the first available parking I could see, my parents were behind in their car, who also parked next to us. I wasn’t about to go drive around looking for one closer, when I could see how busy it was already.

  I looked up towards the house, it was the same as I remembered it all those years ago, and from the other night when I came out of the house. Tonight, the trees that surround the drive way are decorated with little fairy lights, lighting up the drive way. It looks beautiful. It looks tempting, it looks like I was walking to my fucking death.

  I looked over to Faith who was getting out of the car. The excitement on her face was unmissable. I wish I could feel the excitement like she does about these things. But I know better. Or do I, or do I just over think things. Maybe the witch was wrong, I came back, and no link was formed and the man haunting my dreams, was just that. Haunting my dreams and nothing else.

  I put on a fake smile for Faiths sake, and I really try feel better about the night. Maybe I will meet a nice guy in this new reality, settle down, have kids and have a normal life. And just be normal. Maybe I’m lucky, maybe I’m not haunted.

  I walk over to Faith, grip her hand, and with the most convincing smile on my face, I say to her, “Let’s do this!”

  “That’s the spirit I wanted to see.” Faith says back to me with enthusiasm.

  We walk the drive way hand in hand. Looking at the dresses the women were wearing and potential men that have joined the party. I wonder if all of them know what they are here for. In this new reality, maybe the coven isn’t in hiding anymore and I just assumed it was.

  We make it to the front door, where there is a queue to go inside. I will my feet to keep moving, I was here the other night, nothing bad is going to happen in front of all these people. The line moves slowly, and it looks as if there is someone greeting everyone by the front door. How formal.

  When we make it to the front of the line, I feel like my breathe has been taken away from me, as we step inside to be greeted by the most perfect specimen of a man. He is downright gorgeous. I can’t help but give him a once over. His tall muscular frame almost blocks most of the pathway we are standing in, he occupies most of the space, but not mostly from his build but from his presence alone. He doesn’t just occupy the space he is in, he owns it. I make my way up his body, but I take a sudden step back when I reach his face to study it.

  His dark hair is cut short on the sides, with it being longer on top, which is gelled back neatly. It’s not his strong jaw line, or his beautiful full lips that have me taking a step back. It’s his beautiful green eyes that don’t belong to that face. I don’t know why I know they don’t belong on that face, but they don’t.

  I watch as his eyes travel down my body, assessing me. Taking me in. This isn’t right. I watch as his eyes travel back up my body, with a small smile growing on his face. I can’t put my finger on it, but something isn’t right, I know it. I feel the need to flee, to get away, but I stand my ground. The Witch warned me not to let him win. But I have the feeling this isn’t the him I should be worried about.

  I watch as he extends his hand towards me in greeting, “Jacin Lawson.” He says to me. His voice is smooth. With a slight accent I can’t seem to place. It’s wrong, it doesn’t belong.

  I look at his hand that he has outstretched, when I hear the shadows whisper to me, they are faint and coming from behind me, there must be a spot they can hide in.

  “He is not our master.”

  “He is of darkness yesss, but not our master.”

  I don’t know why they are so worried about telling me this. They keep whispering over and over again. I watch as Ja
cin tilts his head at me all while holding his hand out to me. I just smile and take hold of his hand.

  “Natalie Benson, it’s nice to meet you Jacin. Do you own this house?” I ask him sweetly, trying to fish out who I must be on the lookout for.

  “Something like that Miss Benson.” He says back to me, with a sly looking smile growing over his beautiful face.

  “Our Master watches, he is waiting.”

  I hear the shadows whispering again, this time a chill runs up my body. The Master they never speak of, is now watching. I look over my shoulder to where they whisper from, and don’t see anyone watching me, I look over Jacin’s shoulder where I can see the rest of the town talking amongst each other. I look to the staircase, and the second floor is in complete darkness. Not even the light from downstairs penetrates the darkness.

  I go to take a step closer to the darkness before I can help myself, my body is swaying like its drawn to the darkness upstairs, but I’m torn from my thoughts when I hear Jacin’s voice.

  “Anything you are looking for in particular, Miss Benson?” Jacin asks me cautiously.

  “Oh, um, sorry I don’t know what came over me.” I stutter out. Because no, I don’t know what has just come over me. I put my hand to my chest, my heartbeat going erratic. The beats seem to be in rhythm with one another. They are beating so fast, continuously as if they will break through their cage and live a life of their own.

  ~Jacin~

  I’m watching from the view on the second floor. I’m surrounded in complete darkness, so no over eager nosy guest will see me. My plan is to just watch. I want to see how they interact, who says what to whom, who they gravitate too. That’s how I will find this fucker. I will watch, and he will slip up and I’ll rip his fucking head from his shoulders, but not before I get some answers from him.