Page 86 of The Karma Project
I can’t decide if my father would be elated or disappointed in me. Would he love to see me show my one and only weakness so easily? What would he think of me if he knew that I, his homemade weapon, folded so easily for his star pupils? His heirs?
I was right all along. About being the victim of my father's own karma. After I killed him, I took on his karmic retaliation. It should have been expected really.
Love.
I know I love them. I love every single one of them with my every being. My heart has been pulled into four different parts and handed out equally amongst them. They have completely devoured me, and I can’t say I regret any of it.
They are infuriating, annoying, arrogant, and conceited… But wholly mine.
A knock on my door makes me turn the opposite way so I can stare out my window instead of meeting eyes with whoever just entered my room.
“Zoe.” Dean sighs. “I’m sorry we didn’t change his mind. I know you heard the edge to his tone. There was no convincing.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I don’t mean for it to sound cold, but I don’t try to correct it.
“We are heading out. Jessica and Drake are both here. And there are fourteen other guards on the grounds to keep watch while we are out.” Dean explains. “But Zoe?” He adds.
“Yes?”
“Don’t do anything impulsive. Stay put, and we will keep you as posted as possible.” He almost sounds timid, and it’s strange to hear this side of him.
“Fine. Just go, Dean.” It’s barely a grunt.
I can feel his looming presence hovering in the doorway like a holy force, a malignant shadow.
He finally lets out a defeated sigh and leaves without another word.
I try not to hate him for leaving, especially after I literally demanded he do so. Logically, I understand they have to do what must be done. They need to take down the Cambions, with or without me. Well, justwithoutme, I suppose.
I stand still, and stare blankly at my translucent reflection in the window.
Something about this feels incredibly wrong. It’s all wrong. I know they will need me. And appearing early may be smart, but the Cambions have always seemed to be a step ahead. They always knew when and where to be before we did. It’s a game of chess and for some reason it feels like they have already won.
It feels like they have already stolen the queen.
I have been staring out this window for longer than I realized. I have watched the sun set, and the moon is now high in the sky, casting a haunting glow on the forest behind the manor.
I finally decide to check my phone, and when I only see one text from thirty minutes ago sitting unread, my stomach drops, and my mouth goes dry.
BRANDON: WE NEED YOU. *CURRENT LOCATION SHARED*
I text them all one by one, and even in the group but when they don’t respond I try calling. My mind gives me flashes of images showing the worst possible scenario each time I get a voicemail box.
I rush to my closet to change, dart to the armory down stairs and load up my body quickly.
“Woah, boss?” Jessica stops in the doorway of the armory with concern in her eyes. “You shouldn’t be leaving. Where are you going?”
I grab a pistol and cock back the hammer, “I’m going to save my men.”
44
Maximum Entropy
Zoe
“What are you talking about?” Jessica asks, stepping closer into the armory to box me in. “The team hasn’t sent any sort of SOS; the guys are fine.”
I roll my eyes and prepare my stance, getting ready to fight her on this if I have to. “Because you don’t think it’s possible the Cambions have taken down all of the men? Be realistic, Jessica. We have no clue how big their organization truly goes. The Karma’s could have easily been taken over.”
