Page 115 of Shifting Hearts
EIGHT
JASON
M organ had found out I was still alive because of Steven, confessing through the very walls that were supposed to keep sound out.
She hadn’t been afraid to confront Cass; that much became obvious the moment she strode into the room.
“Tell me the truth,” she demanded, and I loved the sound of her anger, aimed at the right target for once.
She slammed Steven against the wall when Cassandra lied to her again, and the air around her flared.
Flame licked up the plaster like a living thing.
I watched cowardice and memory war in his eyes: fear for what stood before him, and something older, guilt for the life he used to know and the warnings he’d once offered me, whispering that rumors said she’d found me.
Morgan seemed to exist in two places at once, part furious hunter, part frightened girl. Steven swallowed and finally spoke, his voice thin. He told the truth and begged her to lower the fire.
“Where is he?” she snarled.
“Steven, don’t,” Cass shouted, but Morgan ignored her.
“Where is he, Steven?”
“I’m not telling you,” he snapped back, voice cracking. “You can kill me for all I care. Just remember Natasha. It was me who gave you immortality.”
“Steven—” Cass roared, but the flames stuttered and then drew in as if someone had exhaled. Natasha’s fire dimmed; for a long second Morgan looked like a different person—eyes clearing, the blaze in her dwindling. She glared at Cass and, without rancor now, said only, “Steven changed me?”
He murmured an apology that sounded more like a prayer.
I was surprised Cass had finally told the truth about one small thing. She looked at Morgan and her voice softened. “I was afraid I wouldn’t stop. You’re so powerful, my bird. Please forgive me. Steven made me what I am too. We are equals, just as it should be.”
“Then tell me where he is, Cass,” Morgan snapped. “He needs to pay for what he did to you.”
“I don’t know where he is,” Cass said honestly, and for once I believed her. “That’s the truth. Steven knows more.”
She sounded implausible, and Morgan’s patience thinned. “Tell me, please.” Hatred dripped from her words and I could see the panic cross Cass’s face when Morgan wasn’t looking, she was afraid of that fire, too.
“I told you before,” Steven said, voice hardening. “Kill me if you must. I’m not telling you.”
Morgan grunted. “Fine. I’ll find him myself.”
Steven chuckled, deliberately provoking her. “You don’t even know who he is, Natasha. You have no idea what he looks like.”
“Then I’ll kill every Supernatural I find,” she hissed.
She stormed out, and I had to follow.
Dread hollowing my chest.
In her room she threw a tantrum, ripping and smashing anything within reach. Cass’s warning followed her like a shadow, sharp and cold.
“Good. You want to kill me, fine. Come find me then,” I spat the words at her. “Because I’m telling you now; if you start killing innocents, Morgan, you’re right, this will never work.”
She kept smashing everything in sight until there was nothing left to break. When she finally ran away for a few days, it was the same old game, skulking off, trying to punish Cassandra for not giving her what she wanted.
She was a complete mess, and I had no idea how anyone could have controlled her.
She wouldn’t have been like this if she remembered who she truly was.
It wasn’t her fault. I remembered the beatings, the pain she endured, and every time I thought of it, my chest ached.
Anger flared whenever I heard that witch lying to her.
I had to make sure my rage was aimed at the right person, not at Morgan.
Eventually, she came back. Cassandra was there, spinning her latest “brilliant” plan; wolves for her coven, as if Morgan would be impressed.
Steven was gone again, likely to disappear for another decade or two.
I never thought I could hate him like this, but the depth of my loathing surprised me. And I knew, with a cold certainty, that it wasn’t going to fade this time.
Over the next few years, I came to truly despise her.
The way she slaughtered the wolves, toyed with them, kidnapped their pups, and laughed as she burned them alive sent chills down my spine.
She was pure evil. Yet, none of the pups survived, and every time, a part of me felt a grim relief.
Still, I knew four of them might have made it.
Her sadism multiplied by twenty, and it became nearly impossible to hold onto the memory of who she once was. Cass was the one pulling the strings, yes, but the horrors—the terror she inflicted—were all hers. Cass hadn’t ordered her to terrify them. Every act, every scream, was her own doing.
I knew I would never look at her the same way again. And now I understood why she had kept this life from me. Witnessing it would change everything I thought I knew about her.
For now, I had no choice but to endure it. Sonia had tried to reach her, over and over, but even she eventually gave up.
Rumors said Darius wanted to leave, that he had hoped Sonia would go with him, but she stayed. There was still hope for my love, someone willing to fight for her. Heaven knew I was done. I didn’t want to fight for her anymore. I didn’t know how I could look at her and not see all of this.
Two more pups had refused the change. They had bitten Cassandra, their tiny tendrils trembling in terror. She stepped back.
“Morgan, no,” I begged, tears pooling in my eyes. But a smile formed on hers, cruel and unshakable. I fell to my knees, screaming, but she didn’t even flinch. She didn’t stop.
I heard the wails of the pups as they burned.
She just stared, enthralled by the fire she wielded.
Cassandra had left, but Morgan lingered, as if she couldn’t tear herself away from her own masterpiece.
She crouched on her haunches, a predator surveying her work, while I tried in vain to block out the sounds. My whole body shook.
“How much more am I going to be forced to witness?” I cried. “I can’t handle this, Morgan. You’ll break me. Just stop… please. Just stop.”
“You should’ve just accepted this, you stupid wolves,” she sneered, rising to her feet. “Such fragile creatures.”
She left, and I was left with the smell of burnt flesh, the charred remains of the pups overwhelming the room. Numb, I followed her.
She was right. I should have listened. Truly listened. I didn’t know how I would ever be the same after this.