Part 25 (1/2)

Laughing, Thane stared up at me. ”You're quick, I'll give you that.”

”Quit messing around,” snarled Devon, ”and kill her already.”

I looked over at her and saw she'd placed a booted foot on Trevor's chest to keep him from moving. Fury burned like acid in my chest. I twisted my hands into fists and sprang like a gra.s.shopper from the ceiling aiming not for Thane but for Devon. Hate fueled my aim and made it lethal.

I grabbed her around the neck and grappled her to the ground. She shrieked as I yanked on her hair and slapped at her face. I managed to get a boot to her gut before I was pulled off and tossed to the side like a bag of trash. I landed face first on the hardwood floor. My nose smooshed into the ground. I heard the snap of bone and felt the rush of blood.

”You can't win, sugar pop.”

I felt Thane's presence looming over me.

”You should just let it go while you're still breathing.”

Hot bitter tears filled my eyes blinding me. I couldn't stop them as they rushed out and dripped onto the floor beneath me, mingling with the blood drops. Thane was right. I couldn't win. They were much too strong. There was nothing I could do to hurt them.

They were going to get away with all the rotten murderous things they'd done-turning me into a monster, turning Trevor as well, and killing his sister. It was too much for me to bear.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I slapped the palms of my hands down on the floor in frustration. I was helpless, unable to defend myself, unable to save Trevor.

I opened my eyes again, staring down at the floor powerlessly. It was then that I noticed I was lying in a deep shadow in the corner. Squinting, I spied a glint of something beneath me. Something bright. Something s.h.i.+ny.

Merlin's sword.

”Get up, sugar pop, so I can kill you properly.”

Taking in a deep breath, I reached into the shadow, willing my arm to dissolve into the darkness. My skin tingled as I pushed through the shadows. My hand groped blindly, my leap of faith the only thing guiding it. Until finally, blessedly, my fingers wrapped around the leather hilt.

I drew the sword out of the shadow just as Thane reached for me. I pushed up with my other hand and twisted my body, swinging the weapon around with every ounce of strength I could muster.

Like in the movies, the next two minutes moved by in slow motion. Surprised, I watched as the blade sunk into Thane's body. He looked just as shocked when he noticed the steel protruding from his chest. His hands came up to the wound, caressing the sword in his palms. Blood quickly spilled through his clenched fingers.

Stunned silent, I watched as the blood ran in thin rivulets down his forearms to finally drip, like a leaky faucet, onto the floor.

His gaze flickered over me and I could see the shock in his eyes. Shock and something unexpected. Remorse. But remorse for whom? Me or himself. Thane opened his mouth to speak. I wasn't sure I would hear him anyway, but it was too late, because he fell over onto his side, slack-jawed and lifeless before he could utter one word.

Sinking back onto my rear-end, I turned to look at the others. Seth and Quinn stared wide-eyed, mouths gaping like fish out of water. Devon, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to rip out my throat, which I thought she was gearing up to do.

”I'm going to slaughter you, b.i.t.c.h!” she screeched.

I reached over and grabbed the hilt of the sword with both hands. I drew it out of Thane. The second it was removed, his body turned black like charcoal, and then it split and broke apart into pieces sinking into the floor, dissolving into the shadows until there wasn't anything left of him but a puff of fine soot-colored dust.

I pushed to my feet, hefting the sword in front of me. It was heavy and my arms shook with the strain but I refused to let them see how frightened to death I was. How mortified I felt for killing Thane, although he deserved it full heartedly.

Seth shook his head. ”I'm out of here. This isn't worth it.” He ran toward another of the big shadows on the floor and disappeared inside it. Quinn followed his lead.

That left me, Trevor and Devon. I knew she would never run away. She'd stay and fight to the end. I just feared it was going to be my end. With Thane I had the element of surprise; with Devon I had nothing by my false bravado.

”You won't get that thing up before I twist your head off.”

But before she could come at me, Trevor sprung up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, effectively pinning her arms to her sides. She struggled against him, but he held her firm.

”Get off me!”

I raised the sword in front of me and walked toward them. My arms hurt, my hands were sore. I could barely keep the tip of the blade from sc.r.a.ping on the floor. But I kept coming, determined to end this once and for all. For Trevor. For me. For all the people we were going to save.

I wanted to go home.

”This is for my sister,” Trevor grunted as he shoved Devon forward. Hard.

She came spiraling toward me, shrieking like a banshee. I hauled the sword up just in time. Her eyes bugged out as the blade impaled her.

Unlike Thane, she didn't die quietly.

With a scream that nearly burst my ear drums, Devon exploded into a thousand dark pieces. Ebony gla.s.s-like shards fell to the floor and shattered into dust. A breeze blew through the center, carrying her essence with it as it swept the building and out through the back door.

I dropped the sword and ran to Trevor just as his knees buckled and he collapsed onto the floor. I knelt next to him, cradling his head on my lap.

”We did it,” I murmured to him.

He smiled up at me and I knew it caused him a lot of pain to do so. ”You did it, Salem. I knew you would.” He coughed and blood bubbled between his lips.

I wiped it away with the sleeve of my hoodie. ”It's okay, baby.” He tried to speak again, but I put my finger on his lips. ”Don't. Save your strength.”

I checked the rest of him over. I didn't see any blood blossoms on his chest or legs. The red on his t-s.h.i.+rt I a.s.sumed came from his face. At least I hoped it did.

”Can you move? We need to get out of here.”

He shook his head. ”I'm broken.”

New tears rolled down my cheeks. ”I'm going to fix you, okay? Don't worry.”

He tried to protest but I stopped him by pressing my lips to his. He tried to pull away but I held him still by gripping his chin with my fingers. Closing my eyes, I thought about the energy inside my body, gathered it to me and breathed it into Trevor.

My essence left my body and went into his. It was a strange sensation, maybe how drowning would feel. Like losing oxygen. I poured it into Trevor until my lungs burned and my head swam.

I stopped only when he nudged me away, breaking the spell.

”Enough, Salem. It's enough.” His face wasn't as pale or sweaty. His eyes were clearer.