Chapter 85 - The Final Confrontation Pt. 1

*“If not me then who? Confront evil!” ― Ken Poirot*

***Kiya***

Hair straight.

Heels on.

Dress donned.

I hoped to Selene that this will be the last time I’d ever wear this garb, caked in the blood of my victims. The scent of death wrapped around my body like a weighted blanket, and it was nauseating. Today was the day I take Osiris down for good. The telltale throb from the crimson blotch on my neck foretold his readiness to find me; to take me back in his arms and complete *his* destiny. I expelled a hefty sigh as I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, eyes tracing every stress line and blackhead on my face.

Brown eyes stared back at me. *My* brown eyes.

“*Will this plan work, Artemis*? *Osiris isn’t an idiot*. *He’ll see right through me*.”

“**It’s the only plan we got, Kiki**.”

Infiltrate. Signal. War. The linear path for the plan to run without problems. But, knowing my fucking luck, shit might go sideways. The desperation for freedom settled in. Every passing minute I could feel the lingering sensations of Osiris’ fingers grazing my skin like a haunting spirit attached to my essence. Through this damn bond, I’m tied to him in ways I never expected—mind, body, and soul.

That shit ends today.

I walked out of my bedroom and met with my family and friends in the shrinking living room. Whatever conversation they had died as soon as I walked in, their expressions scrunching up into worry. I knew who was going to be the first to speak out against this plan.

“I still think you shouldn’t go.” Mom spoke, hiding her fingers under her thighs; a habit she developed whenever her anxiety manifested into tremors. “What if Osiris tries to pull you back to him? We just got you back!”

“I’m going, Mom.” I reaffirmed, steeling my resolve. “We don’t have much time left. Osiris could be prowling the streets right now. Who knows who he’ll hurt to find me?”

“Kiya, it is our job to worry about you, even more so now.” Dad mumbled, his hands cradling Mom’s, a thumb running over her knuckles. Anthony walked up behind him and rested his palms on his shoulders. “What will you do if Osiris tries to hurt you?”

“He already has, and he’ll continue to hurt me until I stop him.” With a man like that, he’ll do **anything** to stay in control, even if it meant turning into the monster he hated for decades. I seem to have the misfortune of encountering power-hungry men like that. “Let that moment come. Mom, Dad, I made my decision. I need to end this.”

Jackie walked up to me and brushed her hand through my straightened hair. She offered a sunny smile, which I returned. I could fear her rapid heartbeat through her fingertips. She’s scared. “You came up with a decent plan, but it won’t stop us from worrying about you, Little Bit. You went through a tough time.”

“Some of us more than others.”

“Yeah, but things are different this time. We don’t know what would happen once you walk out that door. Can you blame us?” Her voice cracked my heart. I’ve been going through the motions of madness—felt it, seen it, smelled it, tasted it. I didn’t think about the people *witnessing* those motions and the helplessness tied to it. None of them deserved to be tormented like that.

I grabbed Jackie’s hand and nuzzled it with my cheek, watching her face melt from the touch. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you all.”

I turned to walk to the door, ready to turn the handle to leave, when a large hand grasped my wrist. My head turned to be met with Neron’s eyes, pleading with me to reconsider my stance. His earthy scent still lingered in my nostrils from this morning when we woke up tangled into each other’s limbs, with Diana entangled in his hair. Heat rushed to my cheeks the more I thought about how incredibly close we were. “What is it, Neron?”

“I believe in you.” His straight-forward tone replied. “I hate to see you go back to…” He exhaled a sharp sigh, eyes fluttering close. “… to *him*, but you’re a brilliant woman. You’ll be okay.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks again. “I… appreciate that, Neron.”

“Just don’t diverge from the plan because Goddess knows you never follow rules.”

I laughed, rolling my eyes while patting his hand wrapped around my wrist. “Life is awfully short to follow rules.”

“Kiya.” Asim walked up to me from behind and handed me the dagger he used to injure Osiris. It slid into my thigh holster with ease. “Remember to stay in character as much as possible. He’s hurt, so he will be erratic. Once you’re safe or in danger, launch the signal. We’ll move in.”

“You’re going to do great.” Violetta side-hugged me, her fragrant perfume of sea water and lavender tickling my nose. I only wish Phoebe was here to help us. “Be careful, alright?”

“I will.”

This was it. Time to face Hell in mortal form.

I took one last look at my friends and family, breathing in the scents I love. No matter how much I wanted to run into my parents’ arms and burrow in their warmth for eternity, I spun on my heels and faced the door. A niggling feeling in the back of my mind told me something will happen in this fight, but I played it off as my anxiety.

Behind this white wooden door laid endless possibilities that my plan could go astray. Osiris might suck me back into that blackened fantasy, hurt me, or even kill me for running away from him. The chains of this abusive relationship were rusting, but they still held a rigid grip over me. Every tug hurt, but I couldn’t give up.

I wanted to be back with my family again.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I swung the door open and took the first steps out of the protective dome. An enveloping, invisible energy sizzled and popped once I penetrated the holy barrier that Almighty Ra cast, revoking the blessings hovering over my person. Exposed to the elements of the world. There was no one to protect me now.

Except me.

Lady Sanguine has been quiet. Her volcanic presence laid dormant in the depths of my soul; my anger nestled in its cocoon of security. Pretending to be her twisted my stomach because the thoughts running through my head were unpleasant, but how else am I going to pull this off? Letting Lady Sanguine take over means allowing my anger to win and based on experiences, I couldn’t stomach that happening again.

I need to be the best damn actor I can be. It’ll be like pretending that I’m straight!

And I’m walking straight into the snake’s den.

Oh Goddess, what did I get myself into?

----

The sun haloed the emerald leaves of the canopy, slits of gold dancing upon the fresh soil like sequins. My footsteps echoed in the hushed space, soaking in the absence of insect and animal alike as my nostrils flared to detect the rancid scents of Osiris’ subordinates. I looked left to right, up and down, for any signs of life, but found none. Were they still searching for me? Did they even start?

My questions were answered when the odors assaulted my nostrils and the members of Osiris’ pathetic army jumped from behind the trees, their eyes lighting up at my arrival. They wasted no time bringing me back to Lady Sanguine’s birthplace; the five-story stony prison. Movement zipped through one window on the top floor, the curtains fluttering from the person’s departure.

Osiris.

*Shit*.

I hope my friends and family are getting in formation close by. Damn that Anti-Spray for being so effective. A whiff of familiarity would do wonders for my drumming heart.

Once inside, the hybrid subordinates departed, and Osiris came flying toward me from the top of the staircase. Thick bandages peeked out from under his violet vest. The weight of the dagger on my thigh grew heavy, reminding me of its presence. *If I just plunge the blade into his neck, it’ll all be over…*

But I had to be crafty. There was a reason humans consider snakes to be cunning creatures.

“Little Moon.” Osiris grinned, taking his place in front of me. My left eye twitched, but I overall kept an apathetic, stony expression. “I knew you’d come back to me. It is in your nature to return to me.” A rich chuckle left his lips as his hand caressed my cheek. “There is no way you’d deny me.”

“**Punch him in the wound**!” Artemis shouted in my head. “**He won’t deny these hands**!”

Ignoring her, I noticed some differences from the Osiris I last saw to this one. His eyes are bloodshot, an insane allure settling over him like a dark cloud. His touch is also cooler than before, and the bottom of his fangs poked out from his bottom lip. He never shows them off unless he was about to feed…

Fucking hell.

“There was no reason for you to doubt me.” I reply, my voice dropping an octave. “Returning to you is an obligation, Osiris. There is nothing that can keep me from—*mmfh*?!”

Oh Goddess, I’m drinking mouthwash after this!

Osiris’ lips enclosed my own in a furious, needy kiss, with his unhesitant tongue wiggling into my mouth. The mark on my neck throbbed to the beat of excitement. It took everything in me to contain my nausea from spilling into his mouth. Artemis screamed in sheer disgust while I’m keeping the charade going by kissing him back.

The things I do for my fucking plans.

I deserve a fucking Oscar after this!

After an agonizing minute, Osiris pulled away and shined a shrewd smile at me. “There is much we have to do, darling.” Without a moment to waste, he hauled me up the staircase into what was my bedroom. Locking the door behind him, he paced circles near the window, hands digging into his pallid tresses.

“Asim is alive! The bastard forced me to change my plans.” He brought his shaking hands down from his head and sped up his pacing. “The fucker left me to suffer! He’ll pay for abandoning me! His head would look great next to the Alpha’s…” His sinister grin met his eyes when he turned to me, chilling my spine. “Wouldn’t it, dearest?”

“It’ll make a find trophy on your wall, Osiris.” I answered as coolly as I could, reaching my arm out to grasp his hand. *Keep the facade going, Kiya*. “He left you alone, just as everyone else did. Had you known he was alive, what would’ve you done?"

“If he hadn’t pulled out that infernal dagger, I would’ve killed him. Forgiveness is a human construct that doesn’t apply to individuals like us. To make the world a better place, mercy must die.” His grin never left his face as his thumb caressed the back of my hand. “Sadly, I must apply that rule with you, Little Moon.”

In a matter of seconds, everything spun out of my control into his. Osiris’ large hand snatched my throat and squeezed, cutting off my oxygen. Choked noises escaped my mouth as he lifted me up from the ground, using his great height to his advantage. That crazed look in his eyes got madder, the red shimmering with hatred, and his lips curling into a snarl.

“You betrayed me.” My nails raked at his hands, skin curling under my fingernails as blood dripped to his wrist. Black began dotting the corners of my vision. “And I don’t tolerate being made fun of, Kiya. From the moment I could smell you, I sensed the darkness dulling in you. By that pretty mark I left on your neck, I know when you have or haven’t changed. I lost you to the light and yet, you come here to make a fool out of me. Or did you come here to kill me with the dagger on your thigh?”

“It was fun while it lasted.” A low laugh left my lips. He didn’t seem to like that, so he squeezed, rendering my speech silent.

“I’m glad you had your little fun, darling. There is one way you can survive. If you don’t do what I say as my good girl, then I’ll make you watch as I gut your family alive. Who do you think I should kill first, hmm? Your friends? Or maybe your mother?”

“I had no problem killing Odessa and carving Jonathan like a Thanksgiving turkey.” I launched a wad of spit at his face, swinging up my leg to kick him in the chest, only to have him stop it with his other hand. “I’ll do the same to you!”

“If I can’t have a family or love, then no one will. And that includes you!”

I’ve upgraded from werewolf to a human-sized baseball.

With a mighty roar, Osiris flung me toward the window. His nails scraped against the delicate flesh on my neck, no doubt leaving red lines to match the color of his rage. The window groaned and sang with shatters and clinking while gravity pulled my body toward the ground without care. Glass rained all over me, like how Neron shielded me from the same glass recently, nicking my flesh. I landed on the unforgiving ground, back first, with pain exploding from my rear to my shoulder blades.

“Your place is under me, bound in chains!” Osiris declared, landing on his feet in front of me like a cat. “You forced my hand, Kiya. You did this to yourself.”

It looks like the fight was going to happen sooner than I thought. Quickly, I willed the birthed blessing of Selene from my soul to my veins, white tendrils delineated in cerulean, coiling around my fingers before pooling into a shimmering ball in my palms. Growing to the size of a dodgeball, I turned on my side and hurdled it into the air. It cut through the atmosphere above the trees and exploded into imitation fireworks, separating and sparkling. Despite the daylight, the silver glowed brightly underneath the clouds.

Osiris noticed and glared back at me with daggers in his eyes. I shot him a smirk, dusting glass off my arms.

“Did you really think I’d come alone? You are the one who will learn not to fuck with me.”

Osiris charged toward me, and I landed a solid kick into his chest.

Soon, our bodies collided in combat under the heat of rage and hatred.