18. Eighteen

Eighteen

Willow

Ugh, I could throw up.

When I first felt Corentin's anger, I thought maybe Lucas rejected the job, but that didn't make sense. He would've been more disappointed than angry, so I knew something else had set him off. I wasn't expecting it to be Franklin's ass basically summoning me.

Now I'm a ball of emotions that are more unfavorable than not. Firstly, I'm incredibly annoyed that he's resorted to acting like a maniac to get me here for whatever reason. I know it's not a good one. Why else would he pitch a fit until I came? Secondly, that's what has my stomach in knots. He's about to drop more unnerving news on me, and my little peaceful, no drama bubble is about to pop.

Another part of me feels like we're walking into a trap. Codi says he's been at this for three days now, and they've been ignoring him. The only reason he called Corentin and Tillman today was his slurs and threats against me were getting more enraged, viler, and he felt like it was time to inform us.

Codi and a few other E.F. members who are here are going to get him and move him into the interrogation room now. Honestly, I hope he trips walking up the stairs and knocks himself out so I can put this off. I know I made the decision to come here right away. I'd fixate on it if I didn't, and I'd get no mental peace whatsoever just sitting around thinking about what it is he wants to see me for, but still. I hate being in the same room as that monster.

"Does he know you're here?" I ask Trex.

"I'm not sure. I've made it a point not to go anywhere near his cell. My brothers are still alive, so the Summum-Master knows I am as well, but I don't know if he's put it together Franklin and I are at the same place," he says.

I have a million other things I'd like to ask him, but I'm not sure if the nose bleeds and the war between Aria's rune and the Summum-Master's is going to cause him any lasting damage, so I force myself to bite my tongue. He and Layton are two perfect examples of why we need to get Keeper out of the forest safely. They deserve to be free of these unwanted ties, and they both have a plethora of information locked away that will help us.

"He's much more composed now that he knows you're here. He didn't fight us one bit when we told him to come on," Codi announces when he walks back in.

Lovely. That definitely means bad news.

"Great," I say, standing from the kitchen table, returning Trex's small smile.

With a firm nod from Oakly and Aria, both lending me their silent support, my guys, Ry, and Lyker surround me as we walk down the hall.

Their emotions are palpable in my chest. Thudding along intensely right beside my own. My guys, as always, are unforgiving in their anger. They're just as mad, if not madder, than I am at everything about this situation.

Franklin's loathing paired with eagerness hits me square in the heart as soon as we approach the interrogation room door. That combo to me smells of something horrid. He has no reason to be eager.

"Took you long enough," he grumbles disapprovingly as soon as I walk in nestled between the six massive men accompanying me.

"Took me long enough," I mimic, taking my seat across from him. Trying to put on a bored, carefree persona that belies my beating heart and racing thoughts. "You're in no position to summon me or demand my company, Franklin. You should be happy I even bothered wasting my time coming to see why you're acting like a rabid animal."

I won't lie and say I don't get satisfaction from the enraged look on his face. He may be one of my biggest nightmares, but I know what makes him tick too. Undermining him and his behaviors is right at the top of the list.

"These fools for men have allowed you far too much power. It's obvious you're better at something than your worthless mother was."

My arm shoots out and my hand splays across Lyker's chest, asking him not to attack. If he wanted to move me out of his way, he could, but he looks over at me and nods as he rights himself in his seat.

Draken, Tillman, and Ry are standing right behind me, while Caspian is in the corner with his shadows swirling around him. Corentin and Lyker took the seats around me, and I assume this was some sort of strategic arrangement they made, or maybe the guys needed some distance between them and Franklin so they wouldn't attack like Lyker just tried to.

"The insults against her are getting old. You're like an old, broken record that plays the same thing repeatedly in an attempt to hurt me, but really, it's becoming pathetic at this point. We both know she wasn't worthless. She was worth more than thousands and thousands of you. Skip to the part of why you wanted to see me," I command, already ready to walk out of this room.

"This power trip you're on will be coming to an end soon, daughter," He says with an unhinged laugh falling from his lips before he tilts his head back and begins convulsing.

None of us move.

I sit here and stare in horrified fascination. Part of me hopes this is the end, the part where he just dies in front of me, and I can wash my hands clean of him forever. The other part is pissy at how anticlimactic it is. I've been dreaming of his death for so long, I wanted it to be with a bang.

Suddenly, the convulsing stops, and with unnatural, uncoordinated movements, he rolls his neck around as if he's getting a feel for how to make it function. When his eyes pierce me in my place, I hold in a gasp.

Those aren't his eyes.

What the fuck is happening right now?

"My, my. His description of you was spot-on, Miss Willow. Even the photographs I've received over the years do not show your true features. I do not believe you inherited a single trait from your father. It is so nice to finally meet you."

Saliva collects in my mouth, and I can't swallow it down past the lump that's formed in my throat. It may be Franklin's voice coming out, but I've grown familiar now with that form of speech.

"We're leaving," Corentin orders, but I lay my hand on his thigh.

"Hold on, please. He's no threat to us right now. He's just somehow using his body."

"Pleased to finally meet you as well. I'd address you by your name, but that seems to be a well-kept secret," I say calmly.

"Ah yes, yes, it is, but have no fear, you will know it in due time when you are returned to us. For now, you may call me by my title."

"I assume you mean Summum-Master?"

Franklin's mouth awkwardly opens on a strangled laugh that's horrifying to hear. It's a mixture of his own vocal cords making gurgling noises and his rare, unhinged laughter. I swear if the word evil could produce sound, that laugh is it.

"That is my formal title, but you, of course, do not have to address me as such. Grandfather will surely do."

There's no doubt my eardrums just ruptured from the high-pitched whistle ringing around in my brain. The room around me disappears as my vision becomes tunneled and I'm suddenly trapped in his gaze, unable to pull away. I swear I'm drowning. My lungs are filling to the brim with water and my blood is about to boil through my skin.

This isn't possible.

This can't be happening.

An ambush of emotions rushes through my chest, and the feeling of my Nexus laying their hands on me snatches me out of the dark void I was drifting into. Their calmness, certainty, devotion for me force the demons away. It must be taking them considerable strength to hold back any negative feelings right now because I feel none of it.

All I feel is their protection and unyielding love for me.

"You're lying," I breathe, unwilling to accept this.

"I'd never lie about such important family matters."

"You are not my family." I growl.

"Like it or not, that is my blood running through your veins, and this is my son's body I'm currently borrowing so I could finally meet you," he says as a matter of fact.

"That doesn't qualify you as my family, nor will I ever acknowledge or claim you as such."

"Nonsense. You have no say so in such things. Now, I've allowed you to frolic around the realm long enough. It's time you and Franklin return," he commands exasperatedly as if he believes that's exactly what I've been doing since arriving in Elementra and my eyes widen in shock.

"Excuse me?"

"I did not misspeak. You've been making a mockery of our name, running around whoring yourself out to the enemy. Allowing them to split apart the Nexus I carefully constructed for you. It must be the other half of your blood that craves the attention and the need to defy those superior to you because your father never attempted such foolery. It's time you put a stop to this and fill the role you were born to fill," he says, nodding, or at least trying to make Franklin's head nod like that's that, no more discussion.

I'm confident this speech and plan of his was carefully structured, and he never would've considered the possibility of me uttering the word no.

"You're truly delusional," I mutter, stunned.

"Mind your words when speaking to me, Willow. I have been more than gracious and patient with you. For twenty-six years, I've afforded you a life of luxury with very minimal punishment for the nonsense you put your father through."

I rear back at his words as if he slapped me across the face. Life of luxury. Minimal punishment. Are you serious right now?

Yes, I grew up in a mansion large enough to be considered an estate, but it was nothing more than a polished dungeon, decorated with torture tables, bruises for breakfast, graves for games, and more trauma than imaginable. I'd have picked living in the woods underneath my tree, scavenging for my own food for the remainder of my life than being trapped inside that house.

"I see the denial already forming on your lips, so do not waste your breath. How about this? You return your father and yourself to me, and you may bring along with you two of the obviously many men you've been spending your time with. My only requirement is the dragon be one of them. You may pick the other. I vow to you now no harm will come to them. They will join Donald and Bryce as your Nexus."

My jaw nearly hits the table, and my men move in closer, seconds away from snapping. I don't believe my mind is even comprehending what the fuck is coming out of his mouth right now. For an individual who is remarkably smart—and he is, despite hating him, I can't deny that fact—he's also mental. Completely insane.

I look at Corentin, dumbfounded, because I don't know what to say.

"He'll do, although admittedly, I was hoping you choose the one with mind transference. Shadow boy is spoken for already."

His insanity must be contagious because before I can stop myself, I burst out laughing hysterically. By the time I catch my breath, there're tears streaming from my eyes, and my stomach muscles are sore.

This just can't be real. I'm stuck in some weird-ass dream. The Summum-Master is not my grandfather. He's not ordering me to return to him, nor is he telling me to pick two men to bring with me to complete a fake Nexus he's assembled. Not fucking possible.

Clearing my throat and composing myself again, I say, "You almost had me there. Whew. This conversation is pointless. You're not my grandfather. I'm not leaving my Nexus. Not now, not ever. And Franklin isn't going anywhere."

His face, well, Franklin's, grows deadly serious. It's full of scrutiny and promise of punishment if I do not fall in line. The condescending smirk I had on my lips fades into a mask of fury that matches his. If he thinks for a second that he'll intimidate me into submission or obedience, he's got another think coming.

"Franklin was right about your stubbornness. I obviously made a grave error telling him not to go too hard on you because you surely needed a heavier hand. So this, Willow, is your final warning.

"Do not continue to push me. I'm trying to be amicable with you and compromise as much as possible, but you are testing my hand. If you do not oblige, when the time comes for this realm to bow to me as it rightfully should, I will not show you or these sorry excuses of heirs any form of mercy."

"Your threats don't scare me. I know as well as you do, you need me alive."

"Alive being the operative word. The condition in which you're brought to me doesn't much matter. Breathing and in one piece will suffice. Take this as my farewell for now. My son and you, granddaughter, are to be left at the same compound you were stolen from just recently by three mornings from now," he commands darkly.

"And if we're not?" I ask.

"I'll be coming to collect you myself. It has been some time since I've visited the school."

With those parting words, Franklin's head slings back once again and a harrowing sound leaves his throat while his head shakes from side to side. I know he's not going to die from this now and it also tells us what the biggest difference between his rune and everyone else's is.

Fucking possession. How is this possible?

A long, deep breath slowly exhales from Franklin's chest as he rights himself and at first, I figured he was just shaking his head back, getting his feeling of control in place, but no, he's shaking his head at me disappointedly.

"Why can't you just follow instructions, Willow? Life now and then would've been so much easier for you."

"Easier? Do you not recall all the years I stayed mute in front of you, not uttering a word, just doing as I was told? It didn't matter if I listened or not, you were still going to torture me. We've already established why that is, so don't sit here and pretend like I deserved anything you did to me," I say, choking down the hurt and anger quickly boiling to the surface.

"You did deserve it. Even when you were silent, you didn't follow instructions. You eavesdropped, you missed dinner calls, you came home daily dirty from head to toes while you played like an animal in the woods," he scoffs.

"I was a child."

"An insolent child. You deserved far more than what I did to you, but I listened to my father's advice and raised you the way he instructed. We both can see the error of those ways now."

The burning trail the single tear I let fall feels like it's scarring the skin on my cheek. The way he can sit here, so emotionless, so heartless, and speak of the abuse he inflicted on me as if it wasn't enough is gut-wrenching. How can anyone do this to an innocent child?

I was just a child.

I didn't deserve any of it.

"I swore to my father countless times that your mother put a curse on you before she took her last breath. Maybe, just maybe, if you hadn't killed her, she could've stayed around to raise you. She could've taught you the importance of obeying."

Something inside of me cracks at his comment. He's no longer allowed to speak of her. He's no longer allowed to even think of her.

My gaze snaps up to his and I let him see the tear that's traveled down to my chin. As I stare into those lifeless shit-brown eyes, I swear it'll be the last tear he ever causes to fall. That decision sends a serene feeling through me that I've never experienced in my life. My anger-ridden face smooths out to a delicate calm and I take a breath so deep, I'm sure I just sucked all the air out of the room.

Slowly, I stand, keeping my eyes locked on his. He's pitifully convinced himself, my tear, my one single tear, is my show of weakness. But he's so wrong. So very, very wrong.

"Do you believe in the beyond?" I ask softly.

"What?" he asks confusedly, staring at me as if I've lost my mind.

"Do you believe in the beyond?"

"I do. It's said to be a paradise waiting for those worthy enough to enter," he says smugly as though he believes he's one of those chosen.

"Who deems people worthy?"

"The rulers of the beyond. Those who've come before us and passed before their time. Our family lives amongst those sitting on thrones as they so deserve," he says confidently.

"Is that what your father taught you? He told you there were rulers in the beyond and they were your family?"

"Of course. It's known and believed widely throughout the realm. Surely, you've bothered to learn this since being here." He rolls his eyes like he's always done when I say something he finds to be stupid or useless.

"I've bothered to learn a lot. Recently, actually minutes ago, I learned you were right. Well, right from your own perspective. See, the comment you just made about my mother cursing me. You're right to believe that. Because that's exactly what I am for you. A curse. But what she gave me is a blessing. She blessed me to be your downfall, your destruction. And I have every intention of seeing that through.

"One thing I will teach you, though, is you're completely and utterly wrong about the beyond. There's but only one ruler and she deems who's worthy of entry."

"You have no clue what you're talking about. This realm and everyone who believes Elementra is more than a glorified goddess with a few powers to manipulate people's souls is ignorant and na?ve. My father is far more powerful than her and he walks amongst us rather than hiding away from his people," he yells.

His face grows an angry shade of red and all I can do is shake my head at him. He'll die on this hill and with his beliefs. There's no other option than to just prove him wrong.

"Elementra."

The atmosphere in the room intensifies the second her name is out of my mouth. She was with me the moment my body became blanketed in her power and calm. Now she's making herself known to everyone in here.

"You are unworthy of a spot in the beyond, Franklin. You do not deserve to be in the same realm as my mother, our mother," I say, laying my hand on Lyker's shoulder. "You will die, and your soul will become nothing more than ash on the wind."

"Willow, what do you think you're doing?" he sneers.

"Showing you just how useless I am, Father."

I admit, I'm happy to finally see a shred of fear fracture across his face. He deserves a minute of fear. He deserves more than a minute.

"By the Elementra-blessed responsibility placed upon me, I sentence you, Franklin Abott, to death. For the rape of my mother, for the murder of her Nexus, my brother's fathers, for the treason committed against this realm, the nonmagical realm, innocent people, the royal family, for the threats and slurs you've uttered toward my true Nexus, and for every fucking time you tortured me, beat me, threw me in a grave, spat on me, slapped me, withheld food from me, sold me, drained my blood, and lastly, stood by while sixteen men prepared to rape me. Your sentence will be carried out now."

Clapping my hands together just as Caspian told me his mom did, I didn't expect it to go off like a bomb. The walls, the table, the entire foundation of the Castle shudders and a surge of Elementra's power locks the room in a stasis as magic interweaves around me and Franklin. I know without a shadow of doubt, I didn't just speak some words or a meager threat. I just made a binding sentence. One that's woven together by fabrics of pure power and Elementra's blessing.

One that has no choice but to be carried out.

As the power dissipates, Franklin stares up at me. Face white as a sheet, mouth gaping open like he can't believe what I did. It's like he's seeing me for the first time. Not only does he hate what he sees, he fears it.

As he should.

"Willow, please don't. Don't do—"

"Begging is for weak women, isn't that right? Isn't that what you said?"

"I…Willow, you can't. I'm your father."

"You're not. You're a pathetic, useless man who raped and forced my mother against her will to produce me. You are absolutely nothing. Your existence means nothing. And I will make sure that is your legacy. I'm going to tear down the entire empire you and your father have spent centuries building. And you know who will be sitting on the throne one day? Me. A woman you've called useless and worthless more times than I can count. You know who will be treated fairly, equally, and like the fucking goddesses they are? All women. There will be no room for men like you and the Mastery in this realm. Every belief you've held so dear to your heart, I will crumble, decimate. While you, you worthless fucking excuse of a man, will die and that will be the end. Goodbye, Franklin."

His face crumbles with the realization that I mean every word. I wholeheartedly believe every word. And that hits him exactly where I intended it to. Square in his fragile ego that's only as large as it is because he's always been able to bring people to their knees with pain. The only thing he's ever cared about is the power and position he holds. He's worked for hundreds and hundreds of years to build up this empire of his and now, I'm going to ruin it.

Facing my palm out, I call forth my flame and my dragon stands in my chest with her head tilted upward. She spreads her wings like a general giving her warriors their cue to charge and she sends me a burst of pride.

Before I can release my power, shadows shoot out in front of me, blocking Franklin off from me. I whip my head over to Caspian in shock because out of everyone, I figured he'd be the one completely on board.

"This is too easy of a death, Primary," he says coldly.

That explains his interference.

Shaking my head, I let a small smile cross my lips. "The damage is done, Cas. He doesn't feel pain the way we do. Yes, we could torture him for hours on end, and it would mangle his body, but he'd never feel it. His gift would absorb it and replenish his strength just as fast. What he cares about has already been taken from him. He will have no throne, no legacy, no name to strike fear into anyone. He's nothing. That has done more damage than anything else ever will. He'll die a nobody and he knows that."

He stares at me for a tense moment, and I can tell he still wants to cut a few pounds of flesh out of him for what he's done, but he knows I'm right. Torturing him would only be a waste of time, and maybe he and Draken would still get some satisfaction out of it, but I wouldn't. He always hit me where it hurt, both mentally and physically because he could. I can't hurt him physically, not truly anyway, but mentally? Yeah, I just ripped away every one of his hopes and dreams.

With a small nod, Caspian pulls his shadows back some and gives me a shrug when I side-eye him because Franklin's currently stripped of his shirt and bleeding from multiple lacerations on his chest. But like I just said, there's no screaming, no pleading for mercy. He doesn't even feel it.

His shadows continue to surround Franklin in fierce spirals and soon, they're joined by Tillman's, Ry's, and Lyker's earth elements. Then Corentin's air has the table and chairs separating us slung out of the way as he brings Franklin down to his knees in front of us. When Draken's fingers interlace with mine, I take a deep breath.

"I'll follow you anywhere, little wanderer."

Raising my hand once again, this time, I'm not doing it alone. I have the strength of my Nexus and family at my side. My shoulder brushes across Lyker's arm and I know, this isn't just for me. This is for him too. My brother who lost his whole family because of this man. Ry, my bonus brother who comes from a bond rather than blood, isn't hesitant at all to show his love and support for not only me, but my men in this moment. The rest of my family…they're right outside the door. They have no clue what's going on in here yet, but nonetheless, I feel their unwavering love for me through the stone wall separating us.

I don't close my eyes or cower away from the look in Franklin's.

I don't flinch or hesitate.

I just exhale.

Purple and blue flames ignite together and combine with the shadowy earth, creating a vortex of cosmic-colored lava that grows from the ground to the ceiling. There's no part of Franklin left to see and it squeezes tighter and tighter until it implodes.

There's no sound. No screaming. No threats.

Nothing but silence as our elements and gifts return to us.

Leaving just a pile of ash in his place.

Five…four…three…two…

My countdown doesn't make it to one as I hit my knees and sob, clutching my heart as it physically feels like it's doubled in size. The shackle that for so long seemed permanent around my ankle disintegrates into nothing right along with Franklin.

My body shakes and tears flow from my eyes in floods as my relief is overwhelming. I knew I'd feel something with his death, but I never would've expected to feel so light, so peaceful, so free.

The horrible effects he's had on me my entire life seemed so small because as the years went on, I had to grow used to it. I had to compartmentalize all my trauma and shove it to the back of my mind so I could carry on. Now it feels like it's been wiped from my soul where it was starting to rot.

My Nexus surrounds me on the floor and holds me while I continue to pour out years and years of pent-up trauma. I let it flow freely. Never blocking the tap or trying to compose myself so we can leave.

No, I let it all fall out because this room is where it will die.

Right here with him.