Twisted and Accursed, Chapter 24

Taylor’s eyes narrowed as she stared back at her own twisted reflection. Her hands balled into fists, her fingers digging into her palms. Her body shook. And wave after wave of Cursed Energy radiated from her form, causing the very dust to swirl around her and the edges of the bathroom mirror to crack. With a sneer, she spoke, “And, I suppose, you’d want yet another Binding Vow, in exchange for your tutelage, right? Do you think I’m a fucking idiot? Why would I do that?”

Her reflection chuckled, crimson eyes glowing brightly. And then Sukuna grinned. Watching the twisted mockery of herself moving not in accordance to her will sent a chill up her spine. Even now, the very idea of Sukuna’s existence boggled her mind. “Now, why would you immediately assume that I want anything in exchange? Is it so impossible that I might be doing this out of the goodness of my heart?”

Sukuna’s smile widened, his fangs glinting in the dim light as he leaned forward in the mirror. “Oh, Taylor. You wound me. So quick to assume the worst. I’m offering you power, real power. The kind you crave. And you think I’m trying to trick you?”

His tone was mockingly soft, like he was talking to a child who didn’t understand the game being played.

Taylor’s fists clenched tighter, her knuckles white, but she didn’t respond immediately. She could feel the anger rising within her, the frustration boiling up. But beneath it all, she knew—Sukuna was dangerous. He was always dangerous, but not because of his ability to kill, no. Taylor was pretty sure that there were Capes who were deadlier. But Sukuna was dangerous because he was too damn smart, too damn intelligent, and wise. She underestimated him before, but not anymore. She could read him now... well enough.

“Look at where you are now,” Sukuna continued, his voice honeyed and coaxing. “Hiding in the shadows, running from people who don’t even know you, who are too afraid to see the truth. But they will never know the truth. No one’s going to believe you. You’re scared, powerless, and yet you pretend like you can handle it all alone.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing in amusement. “It’s cute. Really.”

Her jaw tightened. She hated how close to the truth he was. She was scared. The weight of everything—the city’s collapse, the gangs, the chaos, her father’s disappearance—it was all suffocating her. And Sukuna knew. He could see right through her, because the motherfucker could somehow read her memories – somehow. And she fucking hated him for it. Hated him for every tragedy he put her through, and hated him for knowing her more than her own dad did.

“You think I don’t see it?” Sukuna’s voice dipped, low and conspiratorial. “How helpless you feel? How every step you take is drenched in uncertainty? No matter what you do, you’re always a step behind, always struggling to catch up. Your mother… your father… they’re slipping away, aren’t they? Everything you once knew... everyone you once held dear is slipping away from your grasp.”

Taylor flinched, but quickly covered it up by turning her back to the mirror, pretending to busy herself with the cracked sink. “Shut up. You don’t know anything.”

But Sukuna’s grin only widened. “I know more than you think. You’ve already seen what I can do. You felt it, back then with Lung. You felt the power at my command... the destruction I could call on. And yet… you still refuse my help. You still refuse to make yourself stronger, the mindset of the weak and the feeble.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Taylor’s mind raced, flashes of that night with Lung burning in her thoughts. She had felt powerless. Without Sukuna’s intervention, she would’ve been dead. She’d broken most of her bones with that idiotic idea to jump down – and all because she trusted that doctor. And yet here she was again, listening to the same temptation. She had power. It was growing. But she had no idea what to do with it. She had no idea how to even use it.

Sure, she made some discoveries when she fought the Banshee but those were just experiments. And she could probably discover more if she tried, but the aid of someone who actually knew what they were doing would be far better.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Sukuna’s voice was cold now, his mocking grin slipping into something sharper, crueler. “You can’t do this alone. Not this time. You’re not strong enough. You never were. And deep down, you know that. You need my help. You might not be strong, but you’re smart. And you’re smart enough to know that you need me; you’d be dead without me.”

Taylor whirled back to face the mirror, her teeth gritted in defiance, but she faltered as she saw Sukuna’s expression—mocking, yes, but also confident. Certain. It made her chest tighten, made her question herself, just for a second.

He was right about one thing. She was afraid. She had felt powerless for so long, always trying to fight against forces bigger than her. The gangs, the heroes, the villains, the whole fucking mess of a city. She was always running, always reacting. Never in control.

Sukuna softened his tone, as if offering a lifeline. “You could be so much more. With my guidance, you’d never have to feel weak again. You’d never have to hide. No more running. No more fearing what others think. You could become someone they fear, Taylor. Like me... I’ll teach you to become a Curse.”

Taylor’s breath hitched. The words hit harder than she wanted to admit. She didn’t want to be afraid anymore. Didn’t want to feel like a scared little girl, constantly trying to catch up, constantly losing ground.

But she couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t. Not after everything he’d done – not after he used Lung to burn damn near half of Brockton Bay to ashes.

“I won’t be your puppet,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I’m not going to let you control me.”

Sukuna chuckled softly, leaning back as if to give her space, though his presence was still suffocating. “Who said anything about control? This isn’t about making you my puppet. It’s about giving you the tools you need to survive. To win. I’m not offering chains, Taylor. I’m offering freedom. I’m offering you the strength you’ve never dreamed of.”

She hesitated, her mind spinning, trying to find the trap, the hidden snare in his words. But everything he said made sense. Too much sense.

“Think about it,” he continued, his voice as smooth as silk. “You can stay like this, fighting for scraps of power, hoping you survive long enough to see your father again. Or… you can embrace what’s inside you. Unlock your true potential. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? To stop feeling so… powerless? To stop feeling so weak?”

The last word hit her like a punch to the gut. Powerless. It was everything she feared. Everything she hated about herself. Her hands trembled at her sides as the memory of Lung’s fire, of her former best friend, and of the locker replayed in her mind.

“Just say the word,” Sukuna whispered, his voice soothing now, almost tender. “You don’t have to make a deal. No vows, no conditions. Just… let me show you. Let me help you. You don’t even have to trust me. Just trust yourself, Taylor. You’re a smart girl; I’m sure you can tell if I’m being honest or not.”

Taylor swallowed hard. Her throat was tight, her heart pounding in her chest. Everything in her screamed to resist, to reject him. But… what if he was right? What if this was the only way?

“I’m… not weak,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

“Of course not,” Sukuna said, his voice almost a purr. “You’re strong. Stronger than anyone realizes. But you could be unstoppable. No more fear. No more doubt. Just power.”

She didn’t even realize she was nodding, just slightly, barely a motion. But it was enough.

Sukuna’s grin returned, slow and predatory. Taylor hated that fucking grin and she was pretty sure Sukuna knew that as well and did it just to spite her. “That’s it. Just let go. You don’t need to fight this anymore. You don’t have to be weak anymore.”

Taylor took a deep breath, her body trembling as she stared into the mirror, into his eyes. And then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the weight of her resistance slipped away. And every fiber of Taylor’s being screamed at her to walk away, to ignore Sukuna’s offer of guidance, to learn on her own and see where it leads her, to bury this demon and forget it ever existed. And yet... Sukuna was right. She never wanted to feel powerless ever again. “Fine... teach me everything. No tricks. No Binding Vows.”

Sukuna’s eyes locked onto hers. “Of course. No tricks. Can’t form a Binding Vow with you without your consent. That’s lesson one; Binding Vows between Sorcerers cannot be done through force or without consent. Binding Vows with the self are an entirely different matter.”

Taylor nodded. “When do we start?”

“We start now. Your first task is to go and find your old man,” Sukuna answered. Taylor raised a brow. Sukuna sent her a shrug, in turn. “I’ll give instructions when necessary or when applicable. This was how I learned, on the move, in the battlefield – not in a classroom, like the later Jujutsu Sorcerers. And, if everything proceeds as I predict it will, then this city... all of it, is about to become a battlefield. The Curses of this country are about to pay it a visit very soon.”

Taylor’s eyes widened at that. “What are you talking about?”

But then her twisted reflected began to fade, leaving only a sly grin that burned itself into her memory. Before he disappeared entirely, Sukuna spoke one last time. “Why spoil the surprise? Go and find your dad. It’ll be a while before they show up anyway. You’ll get plenty of practice with all the Cursed Spirits running around this city, courtesy of yours truly.”

Taylor resisted the urge to punch the mirror, her fists clenching so tightly her hands turned white. Still, she breathed in and then sighed. Punching the mirror would do her no good. And, at the very least, Sukuna was suddenly decent enough to blame himself. And then, not a moment later, the last vestiges of Sukuna’s reflected cackled with laughter. “Oh, come on; don’t sell yourself short. If you hadn’t jumped off that window and landed face-first on solid concrete, I never would’ve gotten out. Credit goes to you as well, Taylor, my dear pupil.”

After a moment, just as Sukuna disappeared, Taylor shook her head. “Fine....”

She already made her deal with the devil once; what did it matter if she made another? At least, this time, she had everything to gain and nothing to lose. After all, she wasn’t bound by a Binding Vow. Sukuna stood to gain nothing and that, above all else, frightened her. Because a being like Sukuna never had nothing to gain; there was always something. But now, she had no idea what he wanted out of this – what he was looking to get out of this. Taylor herself would grow stronger with his tutelage, which meant she’d be less reliant on Sukuna; how could that possibly aid him? What was his angle?

Taylor wanted to tear her hair from her head.

Sighing, she walked out of the abandoned building and made her way down the dark alley. Taylor reached the nearest refugee camp within a few minutes. She walked in as just another refugee – her hair hidden and her features obscured. No one knew her. No one cared about her. If her memory was right. This specific camp was under the protection of the Empire 88. She hoped she’d encounter no villain and find no trouble. The only thing Taylor hoped to find was her father or, at the very least, a clue as to his whereabouts.

Then again, trouble always had a way of finding her.