I looked down—a dagger was buried in my side, blood flowing freely.
For a split second, a cold, ruthless light flashed in Cassidy's eyes before she quickly replaced it with a look of terrified innocence. Her hands trembled as she backed away.
"It wasn't me! I didn't stab you—you ran into it yourself!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Please, don't hurt me!"
My face hardened into ice. "You're begging for death."
I yanked the dagger out and drove it straight into her abdomen.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
The sound of steel against flesh echoed in the air. Her body went limp, sliding to the floor as blood seeped through her dress.
By the time Hendrix realized what had happened, Cassidy had already collapsed, unconscious.
He seized my throat, eyes burning red with rage.
"She's innocent!" he roared.
"Vienna, how did you become this kind of monster? This—this is why I despised you back then! I only ever loved Leila because she wasn't like you. Five years later, you're even worse! I should've killed you when I had the chance! I should never have helped you avenge your parents!"
His furious expression overlapped with the memory of that night five years ago.