The Darkness Within by Charisma Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

unleashed on the world. Her ancestors’ work as Guardians would unravel if Aehtla and Viktor were unleashed on an unsuspecting world.
    “Can’t allow you to do that.” She knew it had to end with Viktor, Aehtla’s connection to her world. Emotionless, she raised her hand before ensnaring the incubus in an energy trap. “I reject you, Viktor. You have no power over me. Evil demon, you repulse me.” Shame of once being attracted to this being tried to rear its ugly head, but she held it at bay.
    “Nooo!” Viktor bellowed with rage as his form shifted and changed into a sight that made her skin crawl. “You cannot do this to me! You desire me. You need the sexual gratification!”
    Aehtla growled her anger and tried gliding toward her twin, but quickly realized she was rooted to the ground. “I’ll skin you alive! Traitorous bitch! If it weren’t for me, you would still be married to that inconsiderate oath of a human!”
    Emotionless, Althea stared the demon in the eyes. “I’ll finish you off once I’ve destroyed your precious incubus!” Satisfaction coursed through her veins as she realized she was on the right path. “Viktor, this realm is not meant for you. There is nothing here for you anymore. You can’t corrupt me with your promises of sexual gratification.”
    The demon roared as his form immediately disintegrated.
      She then turned to her mirror image. “Aehtla, I bind you forever, through time and space. You are forever lost to this place. The power that was mine, I bury in the sands of time, encased within this ring, send it away, I no longer need it!”
    “Nooo!” Aehtla screeched as her true form showed through. “You can’t do this to me! You need me! Without me, you’ll cease to exist!”
    “Not falling for your lies.” Sucking in a breath, Althea repeated her chant one last time. “I bind you forever, through time and space you are forever lost to this place. The power that was mine, I bury in the sands of time, encased within this ring, send it away I no longer need it.”
    “Fool! What are you doing?” Aehtla screamed. “You’ve destroyed my beloved, Viktor, now you try and kill me too! How dare you! I’ve made you what you are today!”
    “No, what I was someone who lost their way. You took advantage of me at my most weakened state. Now, I will make amends to those who deserve it, including Rufus. He was an ass, but he didn’t deserve those things you made me do to him!”
    Althea watched as the spiraling black cloud was pulled into her into the gold ring. The sparkling emerald flipped back, latching into place. She squinted, swearing she could see her mirror image tapping against the jewel that held her firm in place.
    She smiled solemnly. Feeling like her old self, her thoughts centered on the wolf and the vampire and how they’d given their lives over to save her. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she sank to her knees. “Were they real?” She asked herself. “Vukasin and Quinton gave up their existence to preserve mine.” She thought as she returned home.
    Althea stared into her mirror for what seemed like hours. Angrily she swiped at her tears, showered, and prepared herself for work. She had amends she needed to make. She promised the men. She wouldn’t be at peace if she didn’t live up to that promise.
     
    * * * *
     
    Once at work, Althea called an emergency staff meeting. Before that, she’d written out bonus checks for everyone.
    “I don’t mean any harm, but I think she’s possessed or something,” she heard one of her employees, Mimi, say.
    Althea looked up and smiled. “Or something.” She rose and handed everyone a check. “Look, I know I haven’t been the nicest person on the planet.” She paced back and forth as shamed washed over her. “I’ve been going through some—shall we say, personal problems?” She glanced up at the women who still said nothing. “It isn’t easy to explain. I just lost myself along the way, that’s