The 13th Prophecy (27 page)

I had no doubt Eric was devising a way to torment me with the hideous birds, using them to rip my flesh open as he kissed me or some other deranged fantasy. I searched for the numb place within me. Locoicia taught me to be numb, to allow it to flood me so I could pay the pain price associated with my spells. Over time, the bloodlust weakened and no longer interfered. It dulled like it was supposed to. This time, I was able to pull up the apathy to spare Eric and to think more clearly. I knew I detested the birds, but I didn’t realize how much they terrified me until Eric said something. When I finished, I looked up and saw an odd expression on Eric’s face.

He grinned, and said, “You’re far more twisted than I am.” I blushed. It was as if he heard my thoughts—my fears. I wondered if he could. I didn’t think that was possible, and yet—the expression on his face said he saw something within me. I pushed the thought away. Eric glanced up at the birds and then back at Collin and said, “Good luck with her.”

I wanted to take the bait and fight with him, but I didn’t. The birds were too close, swooping lower and lower. Their beady black and gold eyes were crazed, and they shot like arrows toward us. Eric and Collin flanked me. I held up my hands and moved my lips, saying a simple spell. My power flowed through me and formed a wall around us. The barrier wasn’t visible. It didn’t stop the wind, but it would prevent anything living from crossing its boundaries. It was perfect.

The first few birds, the strongest that flew ahead of the flock—smashed into the invisible barrier, cracking their necks and falling to the snow at our feet. Closing my eyes, I chose the spell. The spell that would decimate the entire
flock
of evil, flesh-loving creatures—and catch Kreturus’ attention. The word rolled in my mouth and off my tongue in a whisper. Energy coursed through me, stronger than before. Starting with the grackle closest to us, the black glossy feathers slowly glowed red like embers, before they combusted into bright red flames. The bird’s shrill screeches intensified, as one by one, the entire flock of birds fell from the heavens in a ball of flames. The black wave that covered the sky, burned brightly for several moments, screeching the loudest wail that I’d ever heard, before the last grackle fell dead in the snow. The charred bodies turned to ash, melting into the frozen ice at our feet.

Collin slid his hand around my waist, staring at the empty sky, “He definitely saw that.”

“Or heard it,” Eric added, staring at the horizon. “Get ready...”

As if I could be ready. As if there was a way to mentally prepare myself for what would happen. Instead of saying those things, I nodded and threaded my fingers through Collin’s, squeezing tightly. The ring he gave me for my birthday bit into my skin as I squeezed.

Our plan was simple, but it hinged on Kreturus acting as he had every other time we met. He was insistent on gaining my allegiance. This time I would draw it out. Things would go differently this time. As soon as he was close enough, I would use the stone. Proximity mattered. It was everything. If
Kreterus
didn’t come close enough, I knew I had to lure him closer. Collin and Eric would help me draw him closer if the old demon didn’t comply. It was simple. It should have worked. All I had to do was surrender and say yes. One single word would change everything. This would end.

I smiled at Collin before returning my gaze to the horizon. That’s when I saw him. The boy dressed in black was illuminated by crimson light from the moon.
Kreturus.
His dark hair whipped around with the wind. There was no coat on his body to seal out the frigid air. He stood there, still wearing his tattered tux as if he’d been waiting. He was too far away. He stopped out of reach. I had to draw him closer.

Without a word the ancient demon threw a spell at us. I increased the power on my shield to repel his incantation. The pain price hit me hard. I gritted my teeth and felt it roll off my back, feeling like it took my skin with the power it took from me.
 

My fingers twitched, wanting to use the stone, but Eric shook his head, “Not yet.”

They’d explained that using dark magic was kind of like making a deal with a demon. It would twist things to suit its needs. My wish had to be concise, and those it affected needed to be present. I seriously doubted there was another innocuous Kreturus somewhere the Stone could kill, and say
tah
-dah, I did it,
but I wasn’t going to chance that.

Kreturus’ shoulders were tense as he moved closer, blue eyes piercing me from a distance. He scowled at me from below his brow, “You are too weak to defeat me. I sense it. I know...” His fists balled at his sides as he stopped less than twenty paces from me. Hatred flared in his eyes.

I didn’t respond with words. Instead I threw a spell at him. It plucked him from the place he stood and dragged him forward.
Closer.
He had to be closer. Kreturus laughed like a madman, as he lurched toward us and stopped a few paces away.

Before he stopped, his gaze darted between Collin and Eric. “No more time for delicacy.” His hand flew forward as I drew my dagger, untwisting the stone from its hidden place. My fingers moved quickly. In a matter of seconds I’d snap the stone together and make my wish. In a matter of seconds the vilest being I’d ever encountered would be dead. Kreturus’ spell hurled at us, but I wasn’t worried. I assumed my shield was strong enough. Nothing should have been able to penetrate it, but that wasn’t what he did.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Kreturus used a spell that seeped through the protective barrier.

Before I knew what happened, Collin gasped and fell to his knees with his hands at his throat. Every muscle in his body tensed. There were invisible hands putting pressure on Collin’s throat, choking him to death. It all happened so fast. I would play this moment over and over again in my mind, wondering if I hesitated—or what I did wrong. But time and time again, I would realize there was no time. There was nothing I could do.

The spell crushing Collin’s throat tightened suddenly. The motion went beyond strangulation. Before I could blink, a sickening crack shattered the silence. Collin’s hands fell away from his throat. He seemed suspended in air for a moment, like something was holding his lifeless body upright. When Collin’s eyes rolled back in his head, I felt my dagger ripped out of my grip. Within a breath, the Celestial Silver lodged deeply in Collin’s chest. My weapon was moved by an unseen hand. Blood bubbled from the wound, turning to black tar as Collin’s body was released from the spell. He fell softly onto the white snow.

Horror stole my voice as Collin died in front of me.
 
His wounds bled black before he was reclaimed by the earth. It was as if the ground opened, swallowing him whole below the layers of snow and ice.

Eric’s eyes were wide, as the ground opened. Thinking fast, he grabbed onto the dagger and tugged it out of Collin’s chest before he disappeared. Eric stepped swiftly away from Collin’s decaying body. He placed the dagger in my hands. Its cold metal felt surreal in my grip. I twisted it, not thinking. Shock washed over me, crippling me.
Making it impossible to think.
Impossible to respond.
After all this time, after everything we’d been through, I lost him. Collin died standing right next to me and I was powerless to save him. My throat tightened. Breathing seemed unimportant. Raising my gaze, I looked at the demon.

A wicked smile spread across his lips. His dark clothing hugged his form. Kreturus’ voice boomed, “Previous bargain still stands. Your false sense of security is enchanting, but I’m done playing nice, Ivy. Come with me now, or I’ll kill your other friend, and anything that resides in this fucking place that isn’t demonic.” He wanted me. He still wanted me. I could surrender. A shiver raked my spine as I stood there, abashed and defeated.

Eric spoke wildly in my ear, “Ivy, don’t. Don’t listen to him!” But I pulled away, dropping my shield—the shield that did nothing.
The shield that failed to protect.
Numbness flooded me, as I stepped toward him. Eric swore at my back, unable to stop me.

The wind ripped through my hair, throwing it wildly around my face. The ends of my curly hair weren’t violet. I was utterly calm. I hated Kreturus, but I couldn’t feel it. In that second, I was everything
Locoiea
taught me to be. I knew Collin was gone, but I couldn’t feel the pain from his loss. There was nothing I could do to bring him back.

And the plan - it was shot to hell. I didn’t even have the stone. The dagger was in Eric’s hand, and the other half of the stone was …
  
I didn’t even know. Kreturus was correct. His powers were stronger than mine.

Sliding my hand into my pocket, I stopped in front of the demon. Clarity filled my mind, making it easy to see a path. And I chose it. Nothing was by chance. Not ever again. This was my fate. It was time to accept it. I knew what to do.

My eyes were dry, and narrowed into slits. I asked, “Our previous bargain still stands?
In its entirety?”
Kreturus looked over my shoulder at Eric and nodded. I stared blankly ahead, and locked my jaw. The muscles in my arms were corded tightly, ready to burst. But I didn’t wring my hands nervously. I glared at the demon, and nodded once. “Then I submit. I surrender.”

Kreturus stepped forward, clutching my chin in his smooth hand. I didn’t jerk out of his grip. He gazed into my docile face, taking in the vacant expression and asked, “I assume this is your exemption?” he asked, gesturing to Eric. Swallowing hard, I nodded. A new plan was forming, and twisting in my mind. There was no going backwards. Nothing would change what’d just happened.
Nothing.

The demon reached into his pocket and withdrew a knife. Its blackened blade was made of brimstone. Smiling he said, “A good faith payment, then. Something to prove you won’t break your promise this time.” He drew the blade across his palm, tearing open the skin as it passed. A trail of bright red blood filled his palm. He held it out to me. Cupped within his palm was more demon blood than I’d ever seen. It slowly dripped between his fingers forming scarlet drops on the snow.

This was it. This was the moment that I’d fought so hard to prevent. This was the moment when I lost and became the ruthless girl in the prophecy. It was his blood that would hold me. Blood is power. And I could no longer refuse. There was no stone in my hand, no magic within my reach. The best I could do was save Eric.

Taking his hand, I raised it to my lips, ready to drink the blood that was seeping between Kreturus’ fingers. Before opening my mouth, I stared at the bright red blood. Blood is power. As I went to part my lips, Eric’s scream shattered my thoughts.

“NO!” Before I drank, he lunged for me. Eric grabbed onto my arm and jerked me away from Kreturus. The blood in the demon’s palm splattered on the snow, melting it as it sank. Eric’s hand slapped my face, stinging the skin. “Wake the fuck up! Collin died for you! You can’t let things end this way. You can’t! Finish this! Finish this now!”

Wake up? Was I asleep? Is that what he thought? I remained docile as Eric shook me, not blinking, and not meeting his gaze. With a flick of my wrist, I used a spell that threw him back into the snow, surprised that Kreturus didn’t quench my powers. I glanced at the demon. He gave me a cursory nod, as if to say that more power was mine—if I drank. If I did the thing that Eric was begging me to not do.

Turning back to Eric I laughed hollowly. I was speaking truths, and twisting them into lies. It was necessary. “What will it take for you to see what I truly am, Eric? Will you not see it until it is so blatantly obvious, until there is no shadow of a doubt that I am beyond redemption?” Turning to Kreturus, I asked, “Do you have the cup?
The Prophecy?”
He knew what I meant. I didn’t have to explain. The cup by itself had no power. It was a memento—proof that he won. Kreturus handed it to me with a sick smile on his face. As I spoke, he moved closer to me, claiming me. Thrusting the cup at Eric, I shoved it into his hands, screaming,
“
Look! See? That woman is me! What she did—it’s what I am!” My jaw locked tight as he looked at it, turning it over on his fingers.

His voice was deep, as if he were desperately trying to control himself, “No,” he said hurling the cup to the ground. “That is not you. It will never be you.” He growled.