The Dark Prince (The Dark Light Series)(4)
Without flinching or batting one of long lashes, Dorian’s eyes flicker up to its approach, halting the glass in mid-air just as it is centimeters from his face. He holds out a palm and it easily falls into his grasp.
“Don’t do that again. I am a patient and understanding man, Gabriella, but I won’t tolerate your tantrums,” he says with an amused smirk, abandoning his darkness. And just like that, the Dark monster trying to crawl its way to the surface is caged. He is back to being my Dorian.
“Or what?” I scoff, stupidly trying to provoke him. “You already want to kill me. What else could you possibly do?”
Dorian shakes his head. “I don’t want to kill you. At least the rational part of me doesn’t.”
“And the irrational part?” I hold my breath awaiting his answer.
Dorian’s eyes find mine, flashing white hot before settling into crystal blue. They are full of confusion and loathing. Reluctantly, he nods. “That part of me- the pure, incomprehensible evil- wants to slaughter you right here and now and be done with it. I want to drain every ounce of life from your body, strip you bare of the essence deep inside you. Then discard your pitiful carcass like garbage.”
He swallows then cringes, as if his mouth tastes of bile. “I’m Dark, Gabriella. It’s my nature to feel those things, to want you dead. I can never change that. The very thing that draws me to you is the very thing I hate.”
“You don’t mean that,” I find myself whispering.
“Yes, I do. And you have to accept that. I’ll never be anything other than Dark. No matter how much I wish I could be.”
“So what, then? What does this mean?” His indecisiveness is maddening. And here I thought I wore that crown.
“It means that you have a choice. Align with us; ascend into the Dark. Or I will kill you. And I’ll like it.”
Of all uncontrollable reactions to have at his ominous confession, I laugh. A crazed, delusional laughter that bends me over at my waist, howling as tears stream down my face. I can’t explain it; I can’t even stop it. And judging from the scowl that creeps onto Dorian’s face, he is not pleased with my outburst.
“That’s insane, Dorian!” I breathe between guffaws. “All of this is insane! Shit, maybe even I am insane. Because here I am, in your hotel room listening to you describe killing me like it’s a fucking sport, and I am seriously trying to make sense of it. Like I can’t even accept that you really are a heartless, disgusting animal. Unbelievable!” I howl.
“Calm down, Gabriella,” he warns.
“Why? Why calm down? I’m dead anyway. Hell, why not make it even easier for you?” I screech, throwing up my hands. My laughter begins to shift into rage. “Do it, Dorian. Get this shit over with. All those times you had me sprawled out, naked, while you played with my mind- my heart, for Christ’s sake- you could have just done it. Why wait? Why continue the charade?”
Dorian sets down the glass in his hand and takes a small step toward me, his expression tortured. “That’s not what it was.”
“No? Well, what the hell was it?!” I scream. “You know what, never mind. Just do it, Dorian. I’ll never side with you Dark fuckers. Ever. So don’t waste your time. Besides, you have already killed me a thousand times over with your lies so let’s just get this shit over with. Unless you can’t; unless you are too pathetic to actually do what you came here for.”
“Watch it, Gabriella,” he seethes between gritted teeth.
I am taunting the beast inside him, but my slain pride has taken the reins. He has hurt me, and in turn, I want to hurt him. It’s the only way I know how to deal with this pain. It’s what I’ve always done when my heart has gone into defense mode.
“You are a coward. My father trusted you. He thought of you as a brother. And this is how you repay him? By fucking his daughter, you sicko?” I stare him down, disgust etched in my face. “I pity you, Dorian. You are a pathetic waste of power. All you had to do was kill a defenseless girl, and you can’t even get that right!”
As if I have flipped some imaginary switch, all humanity drains from Dorian’s frame, his body transforming into something dreadfully wraithlike. The bones in his body crack and contortion, wisps of grey vapors writhing around him. His face, pale and ashen, resembles something out of a horror movie- deep set, icy eyes, menacing snarl, razor sharp teeth. Even the air around him trembles in response. His skeletal form lurches towards me, stopping inches from my terrified face. I’m too petrified to even fix my lips to scream.