DISCLAIMER: I do not own Divergent, the book or characters, or Daughtery, the music and lyrics. Also the characters appearing in this story resemble the characters from the movie, because really, I need Jai Courtney to come and live with me :)

AFTERSHOCK: noun / the effect, result, or repercussion of an event; aftermath; consequence

"Just know that I am still alive. I'm still walking. I'm still breathing." Eric Coulter's cold voice hardened, harsh fury filtering through his tone. "As long as I'm doing that this isn't over."

DAUNTLESS COMPOUND
NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY- 11:45 P.M.

Silently she watched him from the shadows.

She heard him suck in his breath not in annoyance rather that of an animal snarling, bristling in rage as he stalked through the Dauntless compound training area. His body rippled with an involuntary motion of that like a predator poised, adrenaline pumping, his muscles tensed, seething as he pulled off his long-sleeved black thermal knit shirt, carelessly dropping it behind him.

She often wondered what it was that made him so cruelly clever. Whether it be his need for power, the pressure and prestige of the position he has been so meticulous groomed for or if he simply possessed that certain quality of ruthlessness that understand the truth of their dark age.

Either way she knew one fact for certain - Eric Coulter was the most dangerous man she had ever known.

The brooding, intense loner never did anything without a reason. Acting with little regard for what was proper, driven by anger with a quick wit that made him easily hated and despised.

Arrogant with a reckless charm obscured with a dark sensuality that was both intriguing and frightening, he was a man that women shuddered and yearned for.

And for a time, she had burned brightly in the unrelenting fire that was Eric Coulter, basking in the searing pleasure of his clever mouth, loving the very devil so intent on destroying her.

It was also that love that had finally broken her.

But this night, she almost envied his fury.

She was still in shocked, stunned by the unexpected loss of her brother to the complete control of Jeanine Matthews and the Erudite Faction. He had turned his back to her, to their family left in Abnegation to become the second hand to the woman intent on overrunning the government system despite her claims she was only doing what was best for the Faction system.

Faction before Blood had never rang truer than it did that evening.

How could she be so numb, but hurt so much at the same time.

She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and forget this day, forget this moment.

So yes, she envied his anger.

A satisfied smile curved her lips as Eric's fragile grasp on his barely-controlled temper exploded, unraveling into motion, destroying whatever was in his path. His fists collided repeatedly against the wall, his hands tearing and bleeding, cursing loudly as he took out his vicious frustration on himself.

He felt her touch on the base of his back, her fingers cool against his hot, sweaty skin that caused him to stiffen. He closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as her scent invaded his senses, his knuckles torn and bruised dangled uselessly at his sides. He bowed his head, staring at the floor as he attempted to contain the emotion that lapped at his will.

"Eric," Tris' voice was barely above a whisper as he turned, laughing harshly, his chest heaving, his gaze searing her.

She let out an unsteady breath as he stalked towards her, her gaze focusing on the pulse that throbbed visibly in the hollow of his throat, the bronze curve of his chiseled jaw.

As her back met the wall, his muscles coiled and slide beneath tanned skin when his palms flattened on the surface, imprisoning her between the cage of his arms and his body.

Eric watched as she bit her full lower lip, drawing it between her teeth. Her fingertips trailed across the curve of his ribcage before resting on his lower stomach, the solid muscle rippling at the contact.

She was the only one who dared to step close to him in his anger.

And she was the only one who he had ever allowed to touch him when he was coming apart at the seams.

She knew it was wrong as she smoothed her hands down his cheeks, loving the rasp of his stubble against her palms as she stared into his eyes, the blue swirling together with silver in an unusual mixture of lightened darkness.

Her seduction whispered around him, teasing his control. Eric knew he couldn't resist her. Her skin was already damp, hot, he could feel her tremble, breathless when she murmured his name, the sound shaky through the blood pounding in his temples.

She was silently daring him to move.

Her Divergence be damned.

He pushed one hand into her glossy hair, pulling her head towards his, allowing her softness to rest against his strength.

His mouth was hot and wild, hard and deep, their mingle of breath growing unsteady and shallow. She shuddered, meeting the intrusion of his tongue with her own fiercely, moaning in satisfaction at his taste. Her fingers curved around his neck, plunging into his hair, holding his head, twisting hers to the side, arousing her, satisfying her, consuming her.

His tongue damp, tracing hers in a wicked pattern she had long forgotten.

She could almost feel the fury and frustration, and something more, carefully buried needs in his taste as his head slanted over her and with an audible sound their lips parted.

In that moment, Eric knew exactly what he wanted. What he needed.

With feeling coursing through him, his breathing grew heavier and his grip on her waist became almost painful in his intensity. Eric did not move or speak, but simply stared into her eyes and masked nothing.

Tris' breath caught in her throat and she could not look away. There was something different in his eyes.

From a mixture of lust, passion, sorrow, betrayal, confusion, every emotion she could think that was ever hidden, tiny prisms of light seemed to catch, radiating a hungry blue, a darkened silver, exploding in its raw form.

She recognized the look she had seen long ago, this was the man she knew and it killed her.

This was the man that could be the best, be his own man and not need Jeanine Matthews and the endless power she promised.

This was the man she loved.

Eric pressed closer, wanting her to feel him, his body, hiding nothing of himself.

Slowly she slipped from his grasp, leaving coldness in the place of warm, Eric exhaled, the fury leaving his body as he searched her eyes, past the elusive, shadowed depths.

"It's about fucking time. Welcome back."

DAUNTLESS COMPOUND
NOVEMBER
THUESDAY - 1:30 P.M.

Peter Hayes stood near the entrance of the Pit, his chest over-inflated with self-importance, his arms spread out as he regaled his tale of how he believed he had finally bested the young Dauntless leader to his fellow initiates.

"He dared to threaten me. Me! Told me I would end up Factionless if I didn't learn my place. Dumb fucker, I could easily destroy him." Peter's voice rose, shrill with righteousness. "I will have job by the end of the Choosing Ceremony."

He paused dramatically, rubbing his hands together, his pale face shining with sweat, but before he could continue his rant a hum of "tik tok tik tok" echoed throughout the air, cutting through his words.

Confused Peter turned, stepped to the side of Drew and Molly, searching for the source until his gaze set on the one girl who had caused him nothing but grief since the start of Initiation.

She sat, perched on top of a large boulder, one leg clad in a black and grey skull designed legging, dangled downwards as her black combat swung aimlessly. Still humming, she flipped to the next page of the report she was reading.

The Abnegation princess.

Eric Coulter's very own Divergent.

Beatrice Prior.

"Something amuse you, Tris?" Peter snapped, his tone thick with distaste, his dark brows drawing down low over his eyes.

The first jumper initiate set aside her paper, sliding down the rock, a cynically amused smile curled the corner of her full lips, a predatory gleam to her darkly shadowed eyes as she sauntered towards Peter.

"Run run as fast as you can. When Eric catches you, you're a dead man." Her chant was soft with warning as she circled him, aimlessly twirling the end of a pigtail around her finger.

"Clever, very cute." Peter's beady green eyes narrowed. "Eric does not scare me. He can't touch me."

"Then you're foolish, stupidly foolish." Tris reasoned, shrugging her shoulders. "Because when Eric gets his hands on you, God himself will not be able to save you."

Peter swallowed harshly, barely resisting the urge to look over his shoulder at the truth of her words.

"Eric use to laugh about you, gloat about how he planned to tarnish and destroy the Abnegation princess." he said coldly as she paused unflinching at his statement. "You made him weak."

"You see that's where you're wrong. I made him the best." Tris stepped back, casting him a smirk over her shoulder as she walked towards training room. "Good luck to you, Peter."