Chapter 7 - Flynn
1218 Words
The silence was deafening, my footsteps on the stone stairs the only noise. I was tired of the isolation, the exclusion from everything. The curse had to end. Centuries of seclusion in this castle was more than any soul should have to endure. It was bad enough that I had been cursed to look like one of the fallen, the evil demonic parasites who roamed the earth, but I also had to endure being separated from everyone else, as well. It was fine for Jonathan. He could mix with the light, blend right in. He enjoyed doing it, too. Playing the good guy, luring the pure of heart away and slowly torturing them. I knew what he did. The bond between us allowed me to witness the torture, the blissful pleasure it brought him as he ripped out feather after feather, laughing as blood spilled onto the floor and his victims screamed in pain. They promised him anything to get him to stop, but it didn’t happen. Their torment was exactly what he wanted.
He was furious that I’d allowed my memories to be erased. The gaping hole in the north tower library was my constant reminder. I didn’t care, though. If I’d allowed my memories to be removed, I obviously had a good reason. I’d saved another innocent from his cruelty. He’d shown me the elderly lady, Esme, through his memories. She wasn’t the one to break the curse, though. She’d seen me as evil. I couldn’t figure out why. If I’d let her remove vital information, she must have been important.
I pushed open the door to the living room. The fire sparked to life, greeting me with its warmth. The plush cushions on the armchair offered little comfort as I sat down. For the first time in centuries, I was at a loss of what to do. Jonathan had stormed out almost a week ago. I hated him for what he was, but after centuries of being tied to him, I was actually starting to miss his sarcastic tone, the constant battle of words we flung at each other.
I sighed and stood, walking to the fireplace to poke the fire. I’ve done this for a reason. I only wish I knew what that was.
The flutter of wings broke the silence and I lifted my head. “Come to tell me how I’ve destroyed everything for you again?”
Jonathan landed gracefully, his white-feathered wings folding back into place on his back. “I grow tired of this nonsense, Flynn. What you did…” He shook his head. “Don’t get me started on how foolish you were, but that’s not why I’ve come back.”
“Why then?” I stood, ready for an attack.
“Relax, brother.” He held up his hands. “I haven’t come to fight or put you out of your misery once and for all.”
“Right. You only ever come here to fight or gloat about the latest atrocity you’ve carried out.”
“That’s not true.” He paused, as if thinking. “Okay, it is, but not this time. I want a truce.”
“You what?” I took a step back, my foot hitting the edge of the hearth. “How stupid do you think I am, Jonathan? You hate me, and vice versa. We tolerate each other only because of the curse, and being cursed doesn’t even bother you. You get the best of both worlds while I’m stuck here.”
“You can do as I do.” He grinned.
Nausea rolled in my stomach. He was goading me. He knew I couldn’t mix with the others. My own kind saw me as evil, and the one time I dared mingle with the fallen, the ones who believed I was one of them, I swore never again. I shuddered at the mere thought of it.
“Okay. Maybe not.” Jonathan laughed, sitting in the chair opposite the one I’d vacated. “Sit, brother. I have an idea I’d like to propose.”
I obliged him, but only because I craved conversation. At this stage, I didn’t even care who it was with. “Go on. I’m listening.”
“The way I see it, we have two choices. We can continue as we have been and get nowhere, or…”
“Or what?” I snapped.
“We can work together, find a way to break the curse once and for all. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re lying,” I shouted, jumping out of the chair again. “You’ve never wanted to break the curse. You’ve killed them all, Jonathan.”
“Yes, I have. I admit, I’ve never wanted to end the curse. I’ve had too much fun, but just like you, brother, I grow tired. I want to go home.”
It was the first time I’d ever heard Jonathan say that word. It surprised me. I wanted to believe him, but I shook my head. “No.” I turned to look at the fire.
“I’m telling the truth, Flynn. I want to end this, but I need your help to do it.”
I spun toward him, my hand around his throat before he had the chance to react. “I’m not helping you,” I said through gritted teeth.
He shoved me back, making me stumble. “Fine. Be like that. See if you don’t change your mind in a month or two when you slowly start going insane in this stone prison of yours.”
With that, he left.
I paced the floor, hands clenched at my sides. He’s lying. He’ll kill her if he ever finds her. It’s what he does.
I tried listening to the rational voice in my head, but something in Jonathan’s eyes when he spoke didn’t add up. I felt his sincerity deep inside. Maybe he did want to go home.
My hand raked through the thick, dark hair covering my head. I hated it and wanted nothing more than to rip every last strand out. I had once tried it, but it reappeared as soon as I’d finished. Whether I liked it or not, I was stuck with this form. The hair color I could deal with. The permanent scowl on my face and deep, growling voice was something else entirely. I looked like one of the fallen, the ones who desired nothing more than to rid the world of humans and turn them against each other. I wasn’t one of them, though, and never would be.
I stomped across the room and sat beside the fire. Jonathan was right. I’d go insane being stuck here for who knows how long. I couldn’t sense the old lady, and without a sense to go on, there was nothing to do. Maybe I’d been wrong in letting her erase my memories.
No. You’d never do anything so severe without good reason.
The flames from the fire dwindled as I sank back into the chair. There was a choice to be made, and I wasn’t sure I liked the way my decision leaned. If Jonathan were serious, working with him might be the only way to end this.
- Writer
