Gifted to Darkness, Kaia Le'Sorra [epub e ink reader TXT] 📗

Pounding. A constant pounding. Even as the shadows slithered down the walls, creeping slowly to lap at her feet, there was still that pounding. Every breath brought and icy sting to her lungs. She shivered violently, her body trembling with exhaustion. Cold sweat poured from her body, the thick darkness was almost upon her, she made to push herself back but her body seemed to be frozen in place. Panic made her breaths faster, the stinging air made her lungs ragged as it shredded them to ribbons. Sweat dripped off the tip of her nose, she steeled herself for what she knew was coming. Closing her eyes she sought escape, the darkness was unyielding. But at least there was that pounding.

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Lizibel was fuming. She had spent the whole night tossing and turning, catching minutes of sleep in exchange for hours of wakefulness. She could hardly keep her eyes open anymore, but every time her eyes shut, a strange darkness flitted beneath her eyelids. She couldn’t lay down without having a strange uneasiness seep through her body causing every nerve to stand on high alert. She sighed heavily, “What are you doing to yourself?” Her voice was a whisper in her room, overshadowed by the noise from the outside world. Lizibel pushed the covers away gingerly; even so a sharp pang struck her ribs as she moved. No matter how careful she was they always hurt nowadays. Clenching her teeth she sat up quickly, the pain tore at her bringing tears to her eyes. Exhaling sharply she turned, setting her feet on the lush blue carpet. Sunlight streamed through the windows, past the curtains casting a soft glow on the room. Lizibel stretched carefully as she slowly made her way across the room to her closet. The heavy wood rattled as she slid the doors open, mindlessly she grabbed some jeans and a worn shirt. Returning she set her clothes down on the bed. Sighing she sat at the edge of the bed, reaching over she scanned her cluttered bedside table for the bottle of painkillers that had become a permanent fixture on the table. Finally spotting it; she snatched it up quickly, her hands shaking slightly as she twisted the lid open. Lizibel placed two small pills and swallowed them dry, tossing the bottle back on the table. From somewhere on her bed her phone buzzed catching her attention.

Standing she patted the bed and lifted the covers finally finding it at the end of the bed. 6 missed calls, 17 text messages. The phone buzzed again, 18 text messages. Lizibel frowned, “5 calls from Kate, 2 from Todd. 12 messages from Kate, 3 from Sarah, and 2 from Kim.” Lizibel chuckled slightly as a small smile stretched across her lips, “I bet Kate got dumped again.”

Leaving the phone on the bed she left the room and went to the bathroom, she brushed her teeth quickly then picked up a brush and began to run it through her tangled hair. Her eyes flicked up to look at herself in the mirror, pitch black hair framed an elegant face, it contrasted nicely with her pale white skin. Her eyes were a deep midnight blue, over a small pointed nose, high cheekbones, and shapely lips. Her hair hung to her waist sweeping over her delicate frame. She continued examining herself, noting the bags under her eyes and hollowed cheeks. Suddenly her eyes froze in their examination. She pulled the neck of her shirt off her left shoulder. There where her collarbone and shoulder met, a dark purple bruise stained her skin. She rose her right hand touching it gently, as soon as her hand made contact she pulled it back repulsed. Breathing deeply she released her shirt, pulling it back into place. The bruise had been about the size of her fist, it wasn’t in the least bit painful but Lizibel’s breathing became harsh. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried to recall when she might have bruised herself, her head shook gently not finding an answer. She walked quickly out of the bathroom as her hands trembled.

Going into her room she picked up her phone and checked the time. 8:23 am. “Shit I’m late”, she slipped on her shoes and grabbed her bag. “Mom?” no answer came. “Must have already left for work.” Lizibel’s hand rose to touch her bruise again. “Later”, she said exhaling through her nose, “Just get to school.” She grabbed the keys off the kitchen table and ran out the door shutting the door tightly behind her. Her spine tingled as she walked away. Turning she looked back at her house, she shivered feeling that uneasiness reach her again. Turning she grudgingly began to run towards school, bruise momentarily forgotten.

“Well?” her voice rung through the chamber echoing softly against the marble walls. Those echoes traveled through his body leaving him chilled. Even so he raised his head to meet her dark, empty eyes. “Yes my lady, it is almost done.” She rose then, towering over him as she stood on her shadowy pedestal. “Don’t try my patience darling.” Her steps were long, and languid as she slowly came to stand in front of him. She stroked his cheek gently, his flesh burned beneath her touch. His breaths were ragged, he bit his tongue to keep from screaming out. Slowly her lips brushed against his temple, leaving and imprint in burnt flesh. “Hurry my child”, she whispered as she brought her mouth to his ear, “this must soon be finished.”

Lizibel flung the door open, just as she heard the late bell ring. “Dammit!” The halls had been cleared of students, and she burst into another sprint. Every step was a loud thump in the silent halls. She reached her homeroom quickly, stopping right outside of the closed door to catch her breath. Nodding her head she cracked the door open trying to slip in quietly, a wasted effort as the whole class turned to her. “You’re late Lizibel”, she cursed mentally as she turned to the stocky teacher.
He looked to be in his late forties, thinning hair, and yellowing teeth on a round face. He walked to her stopping only a foot away. “I hope this will be the last time, otherwise I will be forced to take disciplinary measures”, his rancid breath brushed against her face. She gulped, nodding as turned to walk away. There were rumors about Mr. Lyle. Many girls had supposedly admitted to “pleasuring” him in order to receive a better grade. Others confessed he had grabbed them on more than one occasion. These were things that were quietly murmured and whispered about between classes, but no one ever spoke about it to any other teachers or parents. Rumors or not, the man was as creepy as they came.
Lizibel’s eyes roamed around the classroom, Kate was waving at her maniacally from her seat in the back. Mumbling a couple of “Excuse Me’s” she made her way to the empty seat to the left of Kate.
“Where the HEELL were you?” Kate screeched. A few other students turned back, but Kate gave them a menacing glare.
“What do you mean?” Lizibel stared dumbly at Kate, uncomprehendingly. “Oh mah God Lib are you stupid?! I mean the party last night, where the hell did you go?” Kate was giving her a wild stare.
“Kate what’s wrong with you? I went home”, Lizibel stared worriedly at Kate, the girl was either going insane or she’d had one drink too many before leaving home.
“Oh Thank God!” Kate reached over the desk to wrap an arm around her. “Lib you scared the shit out of us!” she continued, “What were you thinking!? Especially after that disappearance last week!” Now it was Lizibel’s turn to stare wildly at Kate.
“Kate what are you talking about?” Kate sighed exasperatedly, “Oh you know, that girl that disappeared by the park last week”
Lizibel rolled her eyes, “I meant the stuff about the party Kate.”
“Oh that!” Kate giggled, “Well Kim was pretty wasted so I was sitting with her, you weren’t much better though but you really wanted to dance and you know Kim is one of those pass out drunks so I was watching her and I accidentally lost you.” Lizibel was frozen as she listened to her friend, “I told Sarah to look for you and she said she saw you walk out with a couple of guys, I called and called Lib we got so worried! Todd was really mad too by the way so good luck fixing that, but you’re here now so yay!” Kate grinned happily at Lizibel, even as she gave her a blank stare.
“Lib?” Still Lizibel stared, not looking at her but through her. “Are you okay?” Kate sounded worried now, Lizibel’s gaze was dead of emotions. Suddenly Lizibel threw her arms out at Kate, grabbing the slight, blond girls shoulders she shook her roughly. “Kate what is wrong with you, I didn’t go with you guys to the party last night”, Lizibel’s voice was a hushed growl in the classroom. Kate squeaked as Lizibel continued shaking her. “Yes you did, Todd picked you up at your house, we danced together!”
Lizibel released Kate as she shook her head slowly. Kate glared at her as she slowly rubbed her shoulders. “Lib, we started drinking at like 10 you cant have forgotten everything before that!” Kate had gone back to giving her friend a worried look, at the same time Lizibel had begun to chew on her lip. “Lib are you okay, oh god did they put something in your drink!?” Kate was screeching in panic now, she tugged at Lizibel’s hand trying to get her attention. “Lib! Are you okay, what do you remember!? Did they touch you?” The students closest to them turned but they both ignored them. Lizibel shook her head slowly, she could taste blood where her lip had been cut open by her teeth. She raised her hand unconsciously to where her bruise was. She rubbed it gently over her shirt as she met Kate’s eyes. Closing her eyes she shook her head again. “No Kate, I’m fine. I guess I just had too many drinks, don’t worry about it.” Kate gave her a horrified look, “Are you crazy!? What if they did something to you?” Lizibel smiled at her, as she took her hand patting it gently. “No don’t worry about it, Im kind of starting to remember.” Kate didn’t look at all convinced but she nodded gently, if the girl didn’t want to talk about it then they wouldn’t. “Okay well, if you think you’re alri-“ the bell cut off Kate’s words. “I’ll see you at lunch okay”, Lizibel left the classroom with those parting words as she stalked off to her next class.

The rest of the day was uneventful. At lunch she had received a description of the guys she had left with from Sarah. Both tall, one had shoulder length blond hair, the