Blood Ties [Excerpt]

"You get that 'lost in deep space' look about you sometimes. Whatcha thinking about, Pidge?"

Alaska barely heard him. Her fingers placed with the two wedding bands around her neck, and a slow sigh escaped her lips. Nox watched her for a moment longer before understanding, then wrapped his arm around her and hugged Alaska close. He pressed a light kiss against her temple, then left the room to allow Alaska to reminisce. She missed them, that was obvious.

Every time she got that far off look, though, Nox swore he lost her a little more.

Too many people gone. Too many chips in the porcelain.

© 2014 | Jazelle Handoush

The Monster In Me [Prose Excerpt]

[Excerpt from Blood Ties]

“You don’t see it love, do you? The way this whole hunts made you inta a, a…”

“Say it!”

Nox looked her straight in the eye. The spark he had once seen was entirely gone, the bird who had once teased him long faded. Now there was just this shell of a human. It was like her soul had been stripped. “Inta a monster,” he said, running his fingers through his brown hair. “I don’ know you anymore, pet. An’ I’m tired of watching you self destruct.”

Alaska’s hands curling into fists; it was always her first instinct to punch Nox, but now the rage was different. It was fueled, the fire in her rising towards something uncontrollable. Her hunger for revenge was a dangerous obsession. One she wasn’t ready to let go of yet.

“You never fucking knew me!” she screamed, pushing Nox back. “I’ve always been a damn game to you. That’s all this is, right? A fucking mystery you want to solve? ‘Oye, who butchered the pets parents. Let’s fin’ out!” She mimicked his accent, but it came out messy in her anger. Alaska shoved him back again, this time into the cafe wall. A few chairs fell down around them.

The only light was the streetlamp that pooled in through the windows. Nox had called her over after closing, but she hadn’t expected this. An intervention.

Nox grabbed her wrists and held them up for her to see. “Look,” he said, shaking them. “Look!” Alaska glared at him, refusing to glance down at her palms. “Do you want blood on your hands?” he asked, grasping her tighter. “Because that’s where this is gonna go if you continue at this rate, love. I’ve seen you fight. I’ve been on the end of your blows.” Alaska pulled her hands away and shoved Nox back again. This time he stayed.

“You can’t stop anymore, can you?” he asked. “The rage takes over, and you have no control over it. I’ve seen the look in your eyes. I’ve seen the monster in you.” Nox sighed and stepped forward, his voice dropping. “You need to let go,” he practically whispered.

It was the change in his tone, that pity she heard, that made Alaska turn on her heel and kick him back. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do, Nox,” she said, staring down at him as he slouched to the floor. His hand covered his side, but his eyes remained fixed on hers.

“Maybe there is a monster in me,” she said, her hands pulled into fists once again. “Maybe that’s what I need. I’m going up against a monster, maybe I need to become one to fight him.” Alaska scowled. Of all people, Nox should understand. His parents died the exact same way, by the same hands. All she was doing was trying to hunt the monster who killed them.

“I’d rather be a monster than the weak little girl he took advantage of,” she said, turning her back to Nox. Alaska crossed the room and reached for the door. “If you stop me,” she started, not looking back. “I’ll stop you first.”

Her shadow walked in front of her, and Nox could have sworn its footsteps were separate from Alaska’s.

The bell chimed through the room, and then there was nothing but darkness.

© 2014 | Jazelle Handoush