A Deep and Dark December(83)

Turning away from the vast darkness below, she saw him brace against his cane, attempting to right himself. She waited, trying to mentally push back on the strange hold he had on her. She’d been so shocked to see him that her mind had opened all its doors to him. He’d slipped right in. And now that he was there, she was having a hard time driving him out.

“You’re sick,” she tried. “You need a doctor.”

He managed to correct himself, listing a little to the left. “Nothing a doctor can do.”

“Your ability—”

“Power.”

“Power.” She hated that word. She hated him. “How does it work?” Maybe if she distracted him with flattery, she’d find a way to gain back some control.

“I’m an Influencer…from a long line of Influencers.”

“You influence what? People’s thoughts? Their actions?”

“Both. We were crowd control. Mostly. Only…I found a way to enhance my God given power. Amplify it. Narrow it. Like a laser. All at will.”

What he did was anything but godly. He enjoyed his power, actually liked hurting people. She could feel the sick glee radiating off him. Her stomach churned with the thought of all he’d done. But that pleasure came with a price.

“It costs you to use it.”

“Side effect of the medication,” he huffed. “It passes.”

She thought of what Graham had told her about his father getting worse and worse. And how sick he’d become over the last few weeks. “Does it? Seems to me you’re getting worse.”

He scowled at her. “You question me?”

She felt her foot slide a little further over the edge. Half an inch, but enough that she couldn’t balance on both feet anymore. Pushing back at the searing panic, she swallowed hard and scrambled to get her emotions in check. She needed all of her mental strength to fight him off, to regain control of her own body from him.

“No,” she answered an octave too high. “I’m just concerned for you. Graham’s been so worried.”

“I warned him to stay away from you.” His chest heaved with each breath. “He wouldn’t listen. Whores. All of you. Tempting men…into evil.”

He’d put her into the same category he’d put Deidre. When she’d flashed back to Deidre’s murder, he’d blamed Deidre for his fall from grace, for making him break his marriage vows with her. And he saw Erin as the whore who’d bring Graham down. She knew then he was going to kill her. Get rid of her as he’d gotten rid of Deidre. Redoubling her efforts to get free, she closed her eyes and pushed back against him. If…she…could…just…break…his…control…

“I can feel you. You think you can resist me?” His laugh chopped at her, cutting into her concentration. “I’m too powerful now.”

Everywhere she turned were invisible walls, trapping her in. She couldn’t find a weakness. All her efforts only seemed to strengthen his hold on her. The harder she fought back, the closer the walls moved in on her until she couldn’t even raise her arms. She was suffocating, her chest heaving as she fought for each breath. He struggled just as hard, his efforts to entrap her having the same effect on him.

“You’re a coward,” she spat out. “You disgust me.”

“My son will think…you killed yourself…couldn’t handle the whole town…hating you.”

He smiled a sickly smile and she knew he’d done that too, turned the whole town against her. She never knew anyone could be so evil, so disgustingly power hungry.

“He’ll know I didn’t.”

“Won’t matter.”

“He loves me.” It was the only weapon she had against him. “And I love him.”

“Love.” He said the word as though it was excrement he’d scraped off his shoe. “You’re nothing…but a good time. He’ll come to see that.”

“He’ll never forgive you.”

“He’ll never know. But…if he should…he’ll one day thank me.”

His words didn’t match his tone. She studied him. His face was paler now and he shook like an addict denied his fix. And then it hit her.

“You’re afraid of me.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t be stupid.”

“Oh, my god. You are. You’re afraid of me. That’s why you want to get rid of me. I saw you. I saw what you are.”

“Do not use the Lord’s name in vain!”

He pitched forward, clutching at his chest. At the same time she felt her foot slide out from under her and go over the edge. Her balance knocked off, she hit the ground hard. He wheezed and coughed, both hands gripping his chest.

“I’m sorry!” She dug her fingers into the rocky soil, clawing for purchase. Her leg was a dead weight, pulling her down. “I won’t do it ever again. I promise. Please!”

He rolled his head back and grinned at her, a sick twisted smile that made her weak with panic. He wouldn’t make it fast. He’d draw it out, make her beg and cry. She was already crying, already begging, hot tears dripping into the dark earth. She bowed her head and thought of Graham. He’d find her broken body on the jagged rocks below. He’d blame himself. She couldn’t do that to him, couldn’t let him carry around more guilt.