T. A. Chase

Angel’s Seduction-Part Nine

Angel’s Seduction (c) 2006 T.A. Chase

Part Nine:

Exhaustion sets in. Shutting my eyes, I try to ignore my uncle sitting across from me in the carriage.

“I won’t bother you tonight, son, but we must talk. Greyson seems to have staked a claim and you need to make a decision.”

A decision? There’s nothing to decide really. I’ve burned bridges with my father. He’d disown me for sure now that Uncle has come to my aid. Besides even if fear holds me back from ever confessing my love to the Duke, I have made my decision not to hide the truth, at least not from myself.

“No choice. I’ll go to debtor’s prison before I set another foot in that house.” For the first time, courage has taken hold and forces me to cut the chains holding me down.

“Brave words. You’ve never lived without money or a roof over your head. Do you have the strength to reach out for what you want the most? Or has my brother beaten the heart out of you?”

I shrug and turn to look out the carriage window. I’m aware of the other vehicle traveling behind. Another carriage carrying my salvation or my doom. There’s no way of knowing which one he’ll be.

“Why?” The question explodes from my mouth. “Why are you helping me? I’m nothing.”

A sigh escapes my uncle’s lips. The faint light from the lantern on the outside of the carriage shows a suspicious shine in his eyes.

“History shouldn’t be allowed to repeat itself. Helping you might erase some black marks against me.”

A memory glimmers in my mind, but I can’t grasp it. I don’t understand and my head aches too much for me to pursue his words. My heart aches as well. I feel as if I’m wallowing in the ocean with no anchor. The darkness swirls and ebbs around me. Strange sounds fill my mind. The need to run rises in me. The voices mock me. They swear and abuse me. Mixed in with their insults are the burn of the lash and the cut of the knife. My back burns. No thought in my mind except to escape them.

The carriage stops. Without thinking, I throw open the door and jump. I run past Greyson’s carriage, ignoring the shouts of my uncle.

The sounds resolve themselves into words said in my father’s voice. Names he has called me since I was ten.

“Pervert.”

“Freak.”

“Monster.”

Each word cracks against my back. It flays my mind and all I can do is run. Running from pain. Fleeing from hate. There is no way anyone could care for me.

Demons nip at my heels, driving me farther from the light, deeper into the darkness. I glance over my shoulder to see who is chasing me.

Under the moonlight, Greyson stands watching me run away. He holds out a hand. Even though I’m too far away, I swear I hear him call out to me.

“Angel.”

I slip into an alleyway and it’s too late. I’m lost amongst the hopeless. Running from my terror, but also fleeing from his love.

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