146. Obey me

146. Obey me
ALLISON.
My stomach twisted. My mother had fought just like this, with everything she had, and still… still, Celestine had won. No. Not this time.
Sullivan’s grip tightened. His expression twisted into one of strain as he fought against me, but I could see it, the war waging inside him. His arms shook, his jaw clenched. He looked utterly conflicted, pained. But I didn’t stop. I need him to snap out of it. I need him to cut the invisible strings that controlled him and be the master of his body once again.
"Fight it, Sullivan!" I pleaded, struggling beneath him. "You are stronger than her control! You are my brother. You are not her puppet!"
His face contorted, as if my words physically hurt him. His breathing turned ragged, his arm hesitated, but then Celestine’s voice sliced through the air.
"Finish her, Sullivan," she commanded.
He gasped sharply, his body locking up. His movements became rigid as the dagger edged closer to my chest once more.
"Do it," Celestine snapped. "Obey me!"
Sullivan's body trembled violently. His teeth clenched as if he was fighting an invisible force, but I could see the veins bulging in his temples, the torment in his gaze.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my own arms burning as I struggled against his grip.
"You do not belong to her," I urged desperately. "You are Sullivan Young. You are my big brother! I know you are still in there!"
A growl tore from his throat. For a second, his grip loosened, but then Celestine hissed, flicking her wrist. Something unseen struck him like a whip, and he cried out in pain, body arching.
"Enough of this nonsense," she snapped. "Kill her, now!"
With a guttural roar, Sullivan shoved all his weight down, forcing the dagger toward my chest. My heart pounded as I used every ounce of strength I had to resist.
Then, the pain.
A burning sting seared into my skin as the dagger’s tip pierced the first layer of flesh. A strangled scream tore from my throat.
No.
A surge of heat rushed through my body. The strange symbols on my skin flared to life, glowing like raging fire, pulsing with untamed energy. My veins burned, my heart thundered in my chest, and in one desperate, explosive movement, I shoved Sullivan off me.
He staggered back, panting, blinking as if waking from a nightmare. His hands trembled. He clutched the dagger but hesitated, his body shaking violently.
I didn’t wait. I launched myself forward, tackling him. We crashed onto the floor, wrestling for control of the blade. His grip was strong, but my desperation was stronger.
We rolled across the chamber, locked in a battle of sheer will. He managed to pin me, his weight crushing me against the cold stone floor, but I used the momentum to twist my body and knock him off balance.
The dagger slipped from his fingers.
I grabbed it.
Before I could strike, masked guards swarmed in, forcing me to leap backward. My heart pounded as I sprinted across the chamber, dodging their grasping hands.
They chased me, but they weren’t fast enough.
I ducked low, swept the legs out from under one of them, and he crashed onto the floor. Another lunged at me. I pivoted, driving my elbow into his ribs. He gasped and stumbled. The third came at me with a silver blade. I twisted, grabbed his wrist, and yanked the dagger from his grip before slamming my foot into his gut.
He crumpled.
The stolen blade felt cool in my palm. My breath came in heavy pants as I spotted Celestine across the room.
I didn’t hesitate. I threw the dagger straight at her. But she saw it coming.
With quick reflexes, she flicked the dagger midair and veered off course, clattering to the ground harmlessly. Celestine’s eyes flashed with fury. Now, she looked damn pissed.
"You insolent brat. I’m done playing games. Sullivan! Kill her now!" she seethed.
Sullivan's body jerked violently. His flames ignited at his fingertips. His hands shook, fire swirling between them.
But then, her expression twisted as soon as she saw the flames.
"No! Do not use your flames on her! I need her body intact after this!" she shrieked.
Sullivan gritted his teeth, trying to hold back. His flames flickered dangerously.
Then he launched at me again.
We clashed once more, our bodies colliding, fists flying. Every punch he threw, I dodged. Every attempt to pin me, I countered. But he was fast. And stronger.
I barely had time to react before he swept my legs out from under me.
I hit the ground hard.
Sullivan loomed over me, his hands pressing me down, his flames inches from my face. His breath was ragged, his eyes wild.
"I... can't..." he rasped.
I sucked in a breath, trying to twist free, but his grip was too strong.
Then—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion shook the entire chamber. The doors blasted open in a violent eruption, showering the room in debris and smoke. Celestine snapped her head toward the entrance. Her lips parted in shock.
"What was that?!" she demanded.
Smoke poured in, curling through the air like a living force. Shadows emerged, several figures stepping into the ruined chamber.
Thick smoke billowed from the doorway, curling into the air like living tendrils. It swallowed the entrance in a dense fog, obscuring the figures that stood beyond it. But I could see them—dark silhouettes cutting through the haze, their presence undeniable.
A shiver ran down my spine. Someone had come.