Page 26 of Cryptic Dreams

Quiet sniffles and near silent sobs have me teetering on the edge of the roof, leaning dangerously toward the shack before I give in and allow myself to actually hear what’s happening.

“It’s useless.”

I frown as I move into the shadows, still watching her window intently.

“There’s no point in trying to pretend, and there’s no one to hide it from anyway.”

Hide?

Hide what from?

What is she talking about?

Zephyr tosses her pallet and brush on the floor with a stuttering sigh seconds before she buries her face in her hands. “It was hard enough before, but now… now I have no hope. None.”

What in the bloody hell is she talking about?

The painting is rather good, very realistic and a beautiful depiction of the scenery here in New Orleans.

If she’s questioning her talent, she shouldn’t, but even I know that can’t be why Zephyr is crying.

“Stupid girl.”

My words slam into me like a train careening off the tracks, hitting me in the chest so hard I lose my footing and land on my ass before sliding down a few loose tiles.

“I’m so stupid. Thinking someone like him would want me, that a Descendant could actually love me.”Zephyr’s shoulders shake as she cries, as her thoughts echo inside my head at full, unmerciful volume.“No one wants me, not even my own cousin. I’m a burden to everyone, a chain weighing them down and dragging behind them. My own mate doesn’t want me, so why should anyone else?”

My heart freezes mid-beat, taking a few moments to start back up again and nearly pounding out of my chest. She… my gentle breeze, Zephyr, she feels… she truly feels this way?

“I can’t… I can’t do this anymore. I can’t.” She aggressively wipes her eyes, trying to compose herself, or simply stop crying, but it doesn’t work and this beautiful creature before me completely breaks down, falling apart at the seams as she wraps her arms around her waist and weeps endless tears.“I’m exactly what he said I am; I’m nothing. Nothing to no one, and so stupid for thinking I could ever be anything more than that.”

Growing lightheaded, I shove my booted foot against the crumbling chimney, never taking my eyes off that bloody room, and I tune in at full power, hearingeverythingflying through Zephyr’s brilliant mind.

He hates me.

Everyone hates me.

I’m scum, lower than that probably.

My cousin tolerates me because he has to but I’m sure he’d be rid of me as soon as he can.

I miss my parents. If they were here then I’d have a reason to keep going.

Worthless, spineless, weak, and stupid.

My own mate, my fated one, doesn’t want me because even my love, my entire heart, wasn’t good enough for him and it never will be.

He should have killed me when he had the chance.

I can’t do this anymore.

My head spins as her thoughts beat me down one after another, as Zephyr berates herself, saying absolutely horrific and untrue things, things that she normally wouldn’t think if I… if I hadn’t been so cruel to her in the alley.

I watch as her mind goes quiet, as my gentle breeze just cries until the tears are all that’s left.

This is my fault. All of it. Her thoughts and feelings, these untrue and absurd things she’s thinking. I am solely to blame for what she is going through, and while I stare through the dirty window at the female who was created to be my perfect match in all ways as she hugs herself tightly, something inside of me cracks.

I lift my hand to my chest and roughly rub over my heart, that pain and melancholy throbbing behind my ribs more intensely than it has yet to.