Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

it, so that’s gotta be all kinds of complicated. And Nina! I mean, fuck! I asked for a bite of her sandwich the other day and genuinely thought she was going to kill me!

The Gigas interrupted her at that point with a nonchalant shrug.

I would only have hurt you a little bit, and that was if you’d taken the bite. But you are viewing it the wrong way: it’s not like I’m sharing my weakling, because all of you belong to ME.

At first they all shared some humour at her words, but she was deadly serious.

The tiny red girl looked to Nameless, sending a wordless invitation to him and with a thought he brought them all into her mind.

It was the opposite of cozy.

They beheld an immeasurably vast mountain, a formidable and imposing peak that took their breaths away and made them feel tiny. The impression they got from Nina was that of a fortress of strength, both prepared to be sieged and to lay siege.

But at the same time as they beheld it, they were all somehow inside the fortress, and once again their little cottage was visible inside of a massive echoing cavern.

It lacked the comfortable hay from Milly’s mind and was a far cry from the cluttered arousal of Erica’s.

The giant’s forge was much larger on the side of the little building, with the clanging of metal resounding from everywhere as she worked her trade and practiced with her hammer.

As they looked around their home, they realized something else that was rather critical.

There were no exits from the cavern.

Nina’s possessiveness, unlike Milly’s, extended to all of them, and it made the Minotaur’s seem almost inconsequential.

Her tiny form approached the cow, her expression not unlike the one she wore when they trained together.

You get it now babe? You. Are. MINE. The mountain has claimed you and there is no escaping it.

In that moment, Milly saw their training through the giant’s eyes, felt her pride at how far she had come under the Amazons’ tutelage, and her hope for how much further she could go under Nina’s.

But then she also experienced the memory of seeing herself slumped against the side of the ruined Hornet hive, bruised and beaten by Evadne.

Then she saw Ophelia, on her knees before the scumbag in the wilderness.

Finally there was Nameless, broken and bleeding from the Chimera’s attempt on his life in Divinity Square.

The cottage constricted around them, the fortress bringing its defenses to bear as her anger rose from the unpleasant emotions the memories conjured.

They weren’t inside a mountain anymore, instead they found themselves in the caldera of an active volcano.

The giant’s rage took the form of red hot magma, bleeding from the walls and rapidly forming a broad moat around the cottage, and even though they knew it was there to keep them safe, they still felt its heat.

The message was clear: never again.

While Milly struggled to recover from the heavy thoughts, they all felt the giant express another possessive claim, nearly as overpowering as the one she felt for them.

Just like the men who had assaulted Ophelia, Evadne the Chimera was hers to kill.

Enough, mountain-daughter. Your point is well made.

Volka stood, unafraid of the Gigas and her rage, or of the dark monster that inspired it.

The giant looked ready to argue the point, but opted not to.

Fine. I’m bored in here anyways. Let’s go back into Erica’s head and fuck or something, I liked it in there.

The ease with which they shifted from one mind to the next was almost unsettling.

Now they were in Nameless’s mind, though he felt no need to reveal anything, as he had always been completely open to his bond-mates.

Milly seemed so much better, he could feel it inside of her: her shame was gone, though now she felt a little silly.

But as Nameless was about to pull them all out, Ophelia shook her head.

A moment please, dearheart.

She drifted over and embraced Milly, holding her tight for several seconds.

Once they broke apart Ophelia looked deep into the Minotaur’s eyes with her warmest smile across her face.

I don’t think we need to get into all of my baggage, I believe our point has been made. Despite what Erica might think, my feelings are... not as complicated as they once were. Suffice to say, I was once the second loneliest Flutterby in the world, and now I am not. I love you Milly, and you love me too.

After they were all back inside their own heads, there were a great many hugs and kisses shared between them.

It was a few minutes before Nameless looked to Volka.

“Wait, how come you didn’t show us what was in your mind?”

She smiled and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, then closed her eyes and shared with him exactly why she hadn’t needed to.

A wave of utter selflessness flooded into him, making him somewhat dizzy for several moments before she stopped.

It took him a second to figure it out, but when he did he felt supremely stupid for having to ask.

“Because you don’t feel the way the others do, it would completely go against your nature.”

She raised her eyebrow at him, as if prompting him to continue.

“Which means... that, while you have the same desires as any other monster girl, you would cast them aside without ever complaining if you thought it was needed to help someone else.”

Her expression remained unchanged: her delicate eyebrow stayed where it was, as did her smile.

There was more.

Her feather in his hair tickled the back of his hand as he scratched at his chin for a moment.

Finally it clicked.

“It also means, of every monster girl breed in existence, only the Valkyrie are immune to becoming Tenebrae!”

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