Chapter 31

• Fiona’s POV
• The inside of my mouth was swollen from the brutality of Helena’s slap—a testament of how vile a person she truly was. The sickening sounds of flesh slapping against flesh rented the night’s air as more vicious slaps exploded across my face. I caught through the hazy fog clouding my brain and my vision several discreet, uncomfortable looks some of the people in her group shared but none dare say a word, not willing to risk their necks for me and face Helena’s wrath. Cowards, that’s what they were. A bunch of cowards who would scurry away at the slightest sight of danger. Even Garrett seemed uncertain about his sister’s ire but he remained silent. I felt it.
• Helena backhanded me heavily for the last time with such force, that I was knocked off my feet, crashing face flat against the cold asphalt, her heavy pants of exhaustion feathered my already ringing ears. I coughed out blood before rolling on my back to stare at the obsidian night sky dotted with a handful of dim stars that seemed to mourn on my behalf. My swollen tongue sluggishly moved, counting my teeth in slow, prodding motions to see if anyone had been knocked loose in the process and was greatly relieved to see that there was none.