Free Blood of the Pure (Gaea) by Sophia CarPerSanti Page B

everything all that easier. Too easy, even.”
    I lowered my gaze, truthfully depressed, the memory of what had happened the day before still very much alive in my head, and sighed. “What’s the use? No one can do anything about it.”
    “If it’s him that you want, it’s him you shall have,” he asserted with that sarcastic smile.
    “And what can something like you do? Will you make him see things that aren’t really there every time he looks at me? Or will you make him think that he wants me, even when he doesn’t? In the end, he will never love me. It’ll all be a big illusion,” I contested, speaking from the pain that still lived in my heart and heard him take a deep breath.
    “It is true that any of those options would be faster and much more effective in solving your little problem,” he agreed in an almost condescending voice. “But, unfortunately, at the time, I don’t have what is needed to make any of those things possible.” I raised my head to look at him, trying to understand what he meant, and was inevitably caught in his violet gaze.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Both options you’ve mentioned imply the manipulation of one’s being. Be it your being or his being. And it’s not that I’m not able to do it,” he noted with a certain pride.
    “Then?”
    He smiled, balancing his body forward and pulled away from the tree. My whole body shook uncontrollably and I gave three steps back, even though he hadn’t taken a single one towards me.
    “Something like that won’t even be necessary. All that is needed are a few pushes.”
    “Why? You can claim my Soul if, like you said, I belong to you. Why?”
    “That’s none of your concern,” he replied coldly. “Worry only about deciding.” His cruel tone of voice made an invisible knot squeeze my throat.
    “Deciding? What’s there to decide?” I asked. He smiled cynically and I frowned calling upon the small remains of courage I still had. “If that’s how it’s going to be, then there are some terms I want to add!” I stated and he tilted his head, his dark hair sliding over his white shoulders like liquid. I was sure he was going to refuse, or that he’d get angry with my audacity, but a slight expression of curiosity took over his face. “And these are non-negotiable!” I added, my heart beating like crazy.
    “I’m listening.”
    I swallowed hard, fearing I was interpreting his disposition wrongly, but either way it was already too late.
    “I want you to guarantee me that you won’t harm any of the people around me!” I demanded and waited fearfully for his reaction.
    He stood silent, for a moment, his expression undisturbed, looking like a statue once again until he finally stood straight.
    “Is that it?” he asked, as if he’d been expecting more, and I felt lost. Was that it? His question made me desperately look for more conditions I might add, but I couldn’t remember anything else, although I knew there was bound to be other ways to help me control that creature. “If that’s all, I’m fine with it,” he added with a sigh, looking completely indifferent, and his soft voice broke my thoughts, robbing me of any possible argument.
    “That’s it ... then,” I whispered with the feeling I’d just condemned myself to hell, too tired to even be afraid any longer, and he smiled.
    “Not yet,” he retorted and I watched terrified as he lifted an arm, his index finger pointing towards me. For a moment I thought he was going to shoot some kind of magic lightning to strike me down and reduce me to ashes. “That mark on your wrist is proof that I’m obliged to fulfill this Contract.” He informed me calmly and the burn on my wrist stung as if the simple mention of its existence was enough to make it hurt, and he looked amused. “Come here,” he commanded, beckoning me with his long and white finger. Still I found myself unable to obey.
    I thought now that I’d made a decision, there was nothing to be done about