Free Desire: #4 Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle Page B

entails would’ve been intuitive. I told you that you didn’t want to know me. But now that you know, stop fighting my existence and let me take over completely.
    Screw that, Corvus. This is my body. My mind. My life you’re fucking with.
    An arrogant grunt rushes through my mind. Not any more it’s not. Only one other was this resistant . Though his mind wasn’t quite as layered as yours.
    I can’t tell if that’s respect in his tone or annoyance. Let me guess . Adder?
    Silence.
    I clench my jaw and command, Tell me about him. When the spirit stays quiet, I fist my hand in my lap. Had he screwed with Adder’s head like he did with mine? You tried to make me kill myself, you twisted bastard.
    You were mixing your dreams and reality. You’d already crossed paths with several demons and with so much dark energy swirling in you, all that converged and your mind started to splinter. Thought I’d see if I could help you break it, but somehow you managed not to go insane.
    His blasé, condescending attitude makes me seethe. I lock my jaw and try to keep my thoughts focused, when all I want to do is curse him for everything he’d put me through. I want you gone !
    Too bad. You’re the perfect vessel. I will always be here.
    My fist flexes on the steering wheel. I pin my focus on the road. Tell me what I need to know about demons. All of it.
    When the spirit doesn’t reply, renewed anger whips through me, quickly followed by dogged determination . Maybe going on the offensive might get the arrogant prick to talk. Why don’t you know more about being a Corvus? Are you a reject, the runt of your Papa Corvus’ litter? I add another jab just to piss him off. Am I infested with damaged goods?
    Watch your mouth, you worthless bit of insignificant flesh , the Corvus snarls, his voice sounding more old-world and bolder, building in bullish fury. My head suddenly throbs and my chest actually expands, my ribs creaking and my lungs burning like they’re going to burst any moment.
    I take shallow breaths to try to calm the storm swirling inside me, but then my foot slams down on the pedal. Just like it did this morning. I try to pull my toe up, but I can’t. As I watch the speedometer vault upward, a rush of adrenaline spikes within, and I find that place in my head I’ve gone many times before.
    I jerk my head up and a cold, confident smile tilts my lips . You need this worthless bit of flesh, asshole. With my car moving at racecar speed, I’m glad I’m on the open highway and Nara’s not here to freak out. This battle is between me and this self-important prick. He’s not making me back down.
    I am Corvus . His voice grates in a superior boom.
    The car shudders. Wind buffets the doors and hood under the climbing speed. I grip the wheel and focus on keeping the car on the road. You haven’t shared any Corvus stuff with me. Why is Adder’s talent the only one I seem to know like it’s my own?
    Just as the speedometer hits one-fifteen, the pressure on my foot loosens and he answers, Stop being stubborn and refusing to accept me. You’ll soon learn I’m equally obstinate.
    I bark out a harsh laugh. Then find someone with less of a backbone . A few minutes later, I slow down to turn into the hardware store’s parking lot. Parking, I shut the engine off. I’ll be happy to see you gone.
    No one else comes with Nara.
    I freeze in the process of opening my car door. My fingers dig into the handle, the hard piece creaking under my hold as a cold chill slides down my back. What the hell does that mean?
    Silence.
    She is mine, you egotistical, oversized bird. I don’t like that he’s not answering. Stay the hell away from her.
    His throaty, assured laugh floats through my head. Can you?
    A territorial growl erupts from my lips. She is not, nor will she ever be yours .
    You are unworthy, he says .
    Rage builds inside me. I’m about to let loose all the obscenities I’ve been holding back, when he says, We both are.
    He