53. Pandora

53

PANDORA

T he dreamscape shattered as I was pulled from Reed. My breaths came in ragged gasps as my eyes fluttered open to darkness. The cold, damp air washed over my skin, and the scent of mildew and old stone filled my nostrils.

My heart slammed against my chest cavity, and it echoed the terror coursing through my veins. I knew this place—the smell was just like the cellar where Mother had tortured me, the place where I’d been chained and abused my entire life.

I tried to sit up, but the clinking of chains stopped me short. Panic surged through me as I looked down to see I was shackled once again. A chain wrapped around my ankle, connecting me to…the cage I was in.

My throat spasmed as I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled against the chain, pulling my leg from it until my ankle started to bleed. My magic healed it, but I couldn’t stop trembling.

Where was Bram? He’d had his arms around me when they attacked…but then… Dex. Dex shielded me, covering me with his body before everything went dark.

Where was he?

I wrapped my arms around myself, finding nothing but skin. I was naked, and I used my long hair to hide myself. My mind raced as I tried to piece together where I was.

This…wasn’t the cellar.

“ Pandora !” a familiar voice choked out, cutting through my panic like a knife.

My head snapped toward the sound, and I blinked until I could make out Dex in the cage next to mine. His hand reached out through the bars, and I wrapped mine around the cold bars so he could cover my hand with his.

My soul lurched toward his, begging me to bond with him. “Dex…” I rasped.

I could see the fury in his gray eyes as he took in the sight of my scars, the marks left by Mother’s shadow magic. They marred my stomach and back far worse than my thigh.

“I’m going to get you out of here,” he promised. “I fucking swear it.”

There was blood all over him, but there were no open wounds.

What the Fates happened?

My tears poured from my eyes, and my body shook with each raw sob.

Dex had seen my naked body without either of our permission, and whoever stripped us and threw us in here was evil for taking this moment away from us. I wasn’t ready for him to see my scars—I had barely been ready for Hunter and Reed to.

“My mother loathed me, Dex.” My voice cracked. “I know I told you the summarized version up on that cliff, but there’s more. She tortured me because I couldn’t manipulate shadows like she could, and I couldn’t feed off pain or negative energy. She thought I was defective, a disappointment .”

“Fuck—” He sucked in a ragged breath. “Trouble…”

“She used her shadow magic to hurt me, to try and make me stronger. But it only broke me. Over and over again. I was only one when she locked me in that cellar.” I sobbed. “I can’t change the scars she left behind, but I can explain them. I know I didn’t deserve them, but I hate them all the same.”

Dex’s hands on mine tightened as he listened. “I wish I could kill her for you,” he growled. “She deserves to suffer after what she did to you.”

It was like the floodgates opened. I couldn’t stop spilling my trauma to my mate. He needed to know. I needed him to know.

“Do you know why my voice is like this? It’s because I screamed too loud as a kid when she was hurting me. I annoyed her, and she cut my vocal cords, damaging my larynx as she did. It took a while, but it healed enough for me to talk. I can’t scream. It’s more of a whisper than anything.” My tears mingled with the dirt on my cheeks. “When she decided she was done with me, she slit my throat open. If my magic hadn’t awakened, I would’ve died, but I fought back and ate her soul. I didn’t even know I could do that. She said I was like him, like my dad. I would take being like Daryl over her any day.”

Dex’s gaze softened just a fraction, but as my soul opened to his, I felt his pain and anger. “You’re not defective, Pandora. You’re strong, and you’re the kindest demon I’ve ever fucking met. You’ve survived so much, and you’ll survive this. Do you understand me, trouble?”

I nodded, trying to breathe in and out to stop myself from crying.

“I never should’ve hurt you, Pandora. I haven’t told anyone all of this, but…” He sucked in a shaky breath and let go of my hand to turn around.

My breath caught.

Three large, lengthy scars ran diagonally down his back. The three of them were different textures. One was pink and raised. One was white like the one around his neck. The last was dipped inward and dark. All three of them must’ve been excruciating. “I have more scars than the one on my neck.”

He stayed there for a few more moments, and my gaze traced each scar carved into his back. Two were definitely made by shadow magic, but the concave one looked to be made by a blade. It wasn’t as smooth or consistent, and it was as if they used a different pressure.

“Fates, Dex,” I breathed out.

“I have scars, too,” he murmured softly, turning back around and placing his hands back around mine on the bars. “They were used to… motivate my sister, Selene, to work with them when I was a baby. I was the reason that she cooperated with them. My scars aren’t just physical, Pandora. I’m fucked up. Mentally, physically, and I’m sure my soul is cracked to pieces. I have nothing but broken shards of myself to offer you.”

“You’re not broken,” I said with conviction. “Regardless of your trauma, you are worthy.”

He let out a humorless chuckle. “Did you know that the Shadowheart family was nobility until Kalista’s Second War? They were entangled with dark magic, and nobility ostracized them until they were booted out. My parents are high up in Dark Veil. I’m not sure how high, but they believe they can bring out a new era of demon—a dark magic demon. Their belief is that demons can house dark magic, and I’ve been their lab rat.” Tears flooded down his cheeks as he tightened his hold on me. It broke my heart to see him crying and be unable to at least hold him. “My parents killed Selene by infecting her with dark magic when she was ten. She was six years older than me, and I had to watch her die,” he choked out the confession.

“You never should’ve been through that.” I cried for him, tears pouring down my cheeks.

“When her head wouldn’t reattach, they decapitated me for the first time. I was only four. Selene was my sole caretaker, and when she died, I was alone from then on. They infected me with dark magic more times than I can count, but the dark magic never sticks around for more than a day…and it only stays when they put it into my neck when I’m decapitated.”

“Dex—” Horror slammed into me.

“It’s fine . I find a way to absorb it every time. I’ve been decapitated four times so far,” he continued, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs. “My shadows had traces of dark magic, and it drove me insane until you ate all of it up. Having my head cut off four times has made me slightly insane. Not to mention the constant exposure to the dark magic, but I didn’t know I could care for anyone until you. You need to know that when I look at your scars, I see a fucking survivor—like me. We’ve survived, trouble. You got me?”

Hot tears fell to the ground as I sobbed and nodded. I understood what he was saying and what point he was making. But it hurt. It destroyed me to know that he’d been through even worse than I had.

“At first, I thought I just liked messing with you. I loved the taste of your pain…but after you took the dark magic from my soul, I could see clearly—I could see you . It wasn’t that I liked messing with you or the taste of your pain. It was simply that my soul was drawn to yours, and I didn’t know what it meant. I’m so fucking sorry, Pandora. You didn’t deserve any of what I did to you.”

“It’s okay.” I pressed my cheek against the bar, wishing I could wrap my arms around him. “It’s okay, Dex. I forgive you. Okay? I forgive you.”

He sobbed with me, harder, and for a few moments, we just cried, holding onto each other.

A man’s cough and groan from the cage next to Dex’s jolted us.

We looked over to see a demon with blond hair and blue eyes, his hair matted with blood. His skin was sickly gray and webbed with dark veins.

He was in bad shape, and then recognition dawned on me. I realized that the man was…Joel Craven, the incubus representative of the council and Hunter’s best friend.

Shock skittered down my spine at my realization. He was clearly infected with dark magic, his body wracked with pain as he struggled to fight it off.

“Help me,” he snarled, flinching into himself.

“Craven…” My heart raced as I focused on him, my hands trembling, but Dex didn’t let them go.

I could feel the dark magic pulsing within Craven, and it was consuming him. Drawing on my magic, I summoned the smoke, letting it seep from my mouth. The dark tendrils of energy snaked toward Joel, slipping through the bars and wrapping around him as I began to draw the dark magic out of his body.

But it was wrapped into his soul already.

Joel screamed in agony as the dark magic was ripped from his body, his eyes wide. “Please,” he begged. “Just kill me, Gravesend. It’s okay. Make it stop. Tell Hunter…tell him I love him. He’s been the best friend.”

My heart broke at his words, but I continued, letting my magic swallow all of the dark magic I could. I was determined to save him. I didn’t want Hunter to lose his best friend.

The process was excruciating, both for me and for Craven. Carving the dark magic from his very soul made sweat drip down my spine, but finally, the last of the dark magic was consumed. It bottomed out in my gut, and I forced myself not to puke.

Craven collapsed in his cage, his body and soul weak. His demonic magic wasn’t thrumming through his soul. It flickered, but it was almost human .

But he was alive.

Before I could catch my breath, a woman that looked a lot like Dex stepped into view. She had white blonde hair tucked up in a sleek bun, and she wore a pencil skirt and blouse. She would’ve been out of place if she hadn’t been a vision of dark elegance. A cruel glint twinkled in her fog gray eyes as she looked at Dex and me.

“Look at our little soul eater at work,” she purred, a hint of boredom in her voice. “You’ve done quite well, Bones. Your mother, Penny, would be proud. Her rejection drove her crazy enough to become my friend, you know.”

My heart sank at the mention of Mother. The memories of her torment came rushing back. “Who are you?”

“I’m Poppy Shadowheart. You can call me Poppy. You’re going to do great things, Bones.” She tilted her head, and a very unnatural smile spread over her lips.

“Where’s Rod?” Dex’s grip on my hand tightened again.

“Your father is gone on business.” His mother’s gaze shifted to Craven, who lay crumpled in his cage, barely conscious. “And you, Joel Craven, always so resilient. But look at you now, reduced to this pitiful state.” She turned her attention back to me. “I’m impressed, Pandora. You’ve harnessed your power well. You should’ve eaten his soul. Not just absorbed the dark magic. But now, I want to see you wield it to its fullest potential.”

With a wave of her hand, Poppy summoned a woman from the shadows. She dropped next to her, coughing up blood. The woman was naked—covered in marks and bleeding, her body limp and weak.

“Consider this a gift from me to you.” She smiled wider. “A chance to exact your revenge. We’ve been watching you. We know that she’s caused you all sorts of problems. Kill her and consume her soul.”

My heart froze as I recognized her: Dreadful.

Her blonde hair was wet with blood, and her blue eyes lifted to meet mine with pure hate. “What the fuck did you get me caught up in, Gravesend?”

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t just…kill someone, even if it was Dreadful. The thought made my stomach churn.

“I…I can’t,” I rasped.

Poppy’s eyes narrowed, her expression turning icy. “Can’t? Or won’t?”

I didn’t answer.

She snapped her fingers, and another figure was dragged into the light.

Jenni was thrown to the ground in front of my cage. She was battered and bruised, and her blue-green eyes filled with fear. “Pandora, don’t worry. I haven’t told them anything, but they—this cult—murdered my dad.”

“We had him serve the greater purpose.” Poppy rolled her eyes before smirking at me. “This is your friend, right? Choose, Pandora. Kill Dreadful or I’ll kill both of them.”

My heart shattered as I looked at Jenni.

I wouldn’t let her die. She was my best friend. The thought of taking a life, of consuming a soul, filled me with dread, but…Dreadful’s soul wasn’t good. She was rotten to the core.

“I’ll understand whatever you decide.” Jenni’s entire body shook with terror, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

“Fuck you,” Dreadful spat at Poppy.

“This is fucked up, Poppy!” Dex shouted, defending me.

Poppy pulled two swords that reeked of dark magic from the shadows. She walked over and pointed both at Jenni’s and Dreadful’s hearts. “Choose now!”

Jenni’s gaze widened as tears spilled down her face. She choked on her sobs, and I knew she was crying for her dad.

“Okay!” I rasped, my voice breaking. I turned my gaze to Dreadful, who stared back at me with hate. “Why couldn’t you have just left me alone?”

“Fuck you, Gravesend. I hope you die!” Dreadful screeched, horror filling her gaze.

Summoning my power, I let the death smoke free. The dark tendrils of energy flowed from my mouth and entered Dreadful.

She screamed, cursing me with her last breath as her soul was consumed.

The taste of Dreadful’s soul was bitter and vile, leaving a foul taste in my mouth. I could feel the darkness within me, a lingering stain of Dreadful’s soul. It wasn’t tainted with dark magic, but it was rotten.

Poppy’s laughter echoed through the cellar. “Well done, Pandora. You’ve proven yourself. Now, let’s see how far you can go.”

Jenni sobbed in relief as Poppy lowered the swords and tossed them back into the shadows. Then, a shadow tendril wrapped around her and tossed her into the cage with Joel, who was barely conscious.

Her shadows enshrouded Dreadful’s body, but I didn’t want to know where she took it.

My heart ached as I saw the state they were in, but I knew I had to stay strong. I had to find a way out of this—somehow.

Dex’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Pandora, look at me.”

I turned to him, and my heart ached.

“We’re going to get out of here. Together . You’re stronger than you think.”

“Not strong enough.” Poppy yawned. “Now, what about you, Dexter? Will you join me in embracing dark magic? Or will you continue to defy me?”

“I’ll never join you, Mother. I hate everything you and Dark Veil stand for. You’ve caused nothing but pain and suffering. I’d rip out your bones from your flesh if I could,” he snarled.

Poppy’s bored expression grew. “Very well. I’ll have to convince you, then.”

Before I could react, Poppy snapped her fingers, and dark shadows began to swirl around Dex's cage.

The air grew hot, so hot I started to sweat, and her shadows writhed toward him.

“Don’t look, trouble. Close your eyes.” Dex gritted his teeth, trying to summon his own shadows, but hers were overpowering his.

My heart raced as I watched her shadows split open my mate’s flesh.

“Stop!” Drawing on every ounce of power I had, I summoned my death smoke once more. The dark clouds of energy surged for Poppy’s shadows that dripped the same way Mother’s had.

Poppy had to be infected, too.

My magic clashed with hers, and the air was filled with a shrouding darkness. My eyes burned as I tried to see, but I didn’t stop.

I pushed harder, feeling darkness surge through her veins.

The shadows began to dissipate, retreating from Dex as she pulled them back.

Suddenly, she stepped back into her shadows.

“Where is she?” I growled.

“Fuck!” Dex crashed adjacent his cage. His shadows kept hitting the bars, but he was unable to get to me. “Behind you!”

A smooth, cold crystal slipped around my neck before it clicked in place.

“There,” she whispered, her breath hitting my ear. “Now, your magic won’t work. It’s made of the same tourmalyke crystals that your cages are made of. Can’t have you interfering.”

She melted into the shadows, and panic gripped me.

“How did she get tourmalyke?” Dex muttered, dropping to his hands and knees.

“Tourmalyke…” Jenni murmured, and my heart thumped painfully as I remembered she’d been brought here because of me. “It’s an energy sucking crystal. It’s infused by intent. Whatever demon pushed their magical essence into it put their intent in, too.”

“It’s only found in a volcano in Cursina, and it’s protected by a coven of witches,” I added what I remembered from the books I’d read about it, but as I tried to pull the collar off, it wouldn’t budge. “Dex…”

“It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. Breathe. She left,” he promised. “You’re okay.”

“My magic won’t work.” My lip wobbled. I felt helpless—again. “Dex, I’m so sorry.”

“No, baby, I’m sorry,” he soothed. “It’s my fault. You used your magic against hers to protect me.”

“We’re more alike than I ever realized.” I blinked at him through the tears. Both our mother’s were monsters.

“When I realized that, after you fell from the cliff and after I saw your scars, my soul shattered further,” he muttered, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry for everything, Pandora. So fucking sorry.”

“It’s okay, Dex. I’ve already forgiven you.” A sob broke through me. “I’m sorry you’ve been through so much.”

“We both have been.” He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “I’m so sorry, trouble.”

What were we supposed to do now?