Chapter 6 6

Chapter 6

"We can celebrate too!" Chloe shouted excitedly, running straight for the table.

"Wow! This cake is so pretty!" She danced around it. "Daddy, did you make this? Is it for me?"

"No..." Damien looked troubled. "This is Rori's birthday cake..."

"I don't care!" A vicious glint appeared in Chloe's eyes. "I want this cake!"

She grabbed the edges of the cake with both hands and lifted it with all her strength.

"Chloe, don't!" I lunged forward to stop her.

But it was too late.

With a crazed smile, she raised the cake high and then slammed it onto the floor.

SPLAT!

Pink frosting splattered everywhere. Strawberries scattered across the ground like a bloody sacrifice.

"See? It's much prettier this way!" Chloe clapped, laughing.

The room fell into a dead silence.

Rori looked up from my arms, staring at the mess on the floor.

Her voice was as light as a feather, but as sharp as a blade.

"Look, Mommy," she whispered. "The broken cake... it's pretty."

She paused, her eyes holding a pain no child should ever know.

"Just like Noah. When he was all broken on the ground."

Her words struck the room like lightning.

Damien's face twisted in fury, the mention of his shame making him lose control. "What did you say?"

Rori looked her father straight in the eye. "When Noah fell from the top floor, he was broken just like that. Red and scattered. So pretty."

Clara seized her chance, her eyes filling with tears. "Damien, is she... is she cursing Chloe?"

"Vicious little thing!" Damien's rage consumed him.

He raised his foot and kicked his own daughter. Hard. She flew across the room, slamming into the wall.

THUD!

Rori's tiny body hit the corner. Her arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

But she didn't cry.

The world stopped.

The last thread of my sanity snapped.

My vision went red. I grabbed a fruit knife. "I'll kill you!"

"Seraphina!" Damien easily overpowered me, snatching the knife away. "Are you insane? She's an Alpha. She can take it."

You're the insane one! I shrieked, clawing at him.

While we fought, neither of us noticed Chloe quietly pick up the fallen knife.

"You're trying to steal my daddy, you bitch!" she shrieked, lunging at me. "Die!"

The blade plunged into my stomach. Once. Twice. A third time.

White-hot pain flooded my body.

I looked down at the bleeding holes in my torso, feeling my life drain away.

Damien let go of me, staring in horror at Chloe, who was still holding the knife.

I staggered and fell, my vision blurring.

The last thing I saw was Rori. Crawling toward me. Her small hand reached for the bloody knife Chloe had dropped.

And her eyes... they were terrifyingly calm.

"Tonight," she whispered, her voice a venomous promise, "I'm going to kill him. For you."

I wanted to stop her, but I couldn't make a sound.

My consciousness began to fade.

But I still heard her final words.

"And her. And her daughter."

Her eyes burned with cold fire, her small hand tightening on the blade.

"They all have to die."