Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

wasn’t sure why he was speaking to me like that, but he seemed to find some kind of strength from it and as a result the other children did too. I smiled as he watched me. I was glad he had faith. I didn’t know how I felt about it, but then I knew a lot more things about the world of God and angels than these kids and I wasn’t about to strip away their beliefs when they had so little else to comfort them.
    I shuffledcloser to Simon and took his hand. ‘I can pray with you.’
    All around me, children dropped to their knees and bowed their heads, a few turning away. I waited for Simon to start a prayer, to beg for their survival, for their families to be in Heaven. I braced myself. But nothing, nothing , could’ve prepared me for what happened next.
    A lone voice – small, innocent, beautifully composed – rang out, bouncing off the concrete walls to haunting effect.
    Tom sang.
    The words sounded like Latin. Tears pricked my eyes instantly, his voice cutting right to my heart. I had never heard anything more heavenly.
    I looked at Simon who seemed to watch me with awe.
    ‘It’s called “Pie Jesu”,’ he said as Tom sang. ‘It’s for our parents. It means: Merciful Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them everlasting peace.’
    I nodded, tears slipping down my cheeks. ‘It’s beautiful.’



CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
    ‘Thou hast, with deadly magic,
    Poured poison into me.’
    Heinrich Heine
    P oundingsounds filtered down from above. The children huddled together. The drums seemed to perfectly echo a heartbeat of encroaching evil.
    Lilith was making quite the event of my torture.
    Probably sold tickets.
    I consoled the children as best as I could and explained that the guards would be coming for me and not to be frightened. I promised them someone would be back for them.
    For some reason they trusted me, as if the kindling to all of their fears had been stamped out by my presence.
    It made me feel sick. And guilt-ridden.
    I knew there was no way I would be able to save them all, but I had to try. Beyond that, I had to believe that Phoenix, Griffin and Evelyn would find a way.
    I heard footsteps and stood, refusing to look weak or afraid.
    It was Olivier who came to collect me. Phoenix must have decided it was too risky. A current of fear ran through me that Lilith had already discovered his betrayal. My hand went to my stomach to reassure myself. If Lilith knew, she would have killed him instantly and my wounds would’ve reappeared the second he died. As long as I was okay, I knew he was alive.
    Olivierlooked delighted to be the one who got to deliver me to the festivities.
    ‘No one told me it was fancy dress,’ I said with a mocking grin. He looked like he had on some kind of Dracula outfit – long black cape and all. It was even more ridiculous than Nox’s leathers. And Olivier on the whole frightened me a whole lot less than Nox.
    Olivier unlocked my cage and dragged me out by the arm.
    ‘That’s okay,’ he replied, his own cruel smile growing. ‘We’re about to paint you in red.’
    The children cried out as he violently shoved me towards the stairs. The sight of their trembling made me so angry. I couldn’t let the kids think we were helpless. Without thinking about what I was about to expose them to, I released my power over Olivier. It moved eagerly from me to him, my amethyst mist coating the immediate area. Most of the kids couldn’t see the glittering purple but I noticed a few put their hands out with expressions of wonder.
    Huh. Some can already see.
    Olivier’s body stilled and I held him prisoner.
    He watched me as he struggled to try and regain control of his body. But I was stronger than him. I leaned close to his ear.
    ‘I could end you right now, or worse, make you only human.’
    His pupils dilated with fear. I looked at the children and began to walk slowly around Olivier.
    ‘Allis not lost.’ I prodded my captive, making a show that I could. ‘They’re scary, yes.’ I gave Katie a reassuring smile. ‘But so am I.’ I caught Simon’s wide eyes just before I let my power drop and released my hold over Olivier. ‘Be strong,’ I urged him.
    Olivier almost leaped into the air. His fist went back, his arm shaking with the desire to strike me. I clicked my tongue at him, almost daring him, but his hand dropped – too afraid of Lilith’s wrath. He settled for pushing me once again towards the stairs.
    I glanced back at Simon. He nodded bravely.
    That