I was a ghost within my own body. Unable to speak, unable to scream, unable to stop as I drove the knife home.
Straight into Vian's heart.
He looked form me to the knife and back, his mouth parting in surprise, but it was his goddamn eyes that rooted even my stolen body to the ground, unable to move away.
Betrayal.
He gasped, blood coughing up from his chest, a hand coming up to grip my hand against the handle of the blade, the other dragging a wicked sharp claw against my jaw as he collapsed to his knees. Blood dripped from the fresh wound on my face, but my body stayed perfectly still, despite my consciousness–my soul– whatever I was in this moment–thrashing about in despair.
"Cleo."
His final word, my name, spoken so softly it could have been a prayer.
My body stepped over him, leaving him there in the dirt.
I was a prisoner.
I was murderer.
I am a ghost.