The Sifting (9 page)

BOOK: The Sifting

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The door opened and they all entered with Sarah in the middle of them, a look of horror on her face. One that said
not that, anything but that.

Revin finally spoke. “We have had to make some very difficult decisions during this Sifting. And this final decision was indeed the weight
iest of all. Our beloved brother, Seven, has cleaved to this woman, Sarah, in such a way that no power in Heaven and Earth can undo it. They are indeed one. And if she does not renounce, then they will die as one.”

Micah’s eyes slowly closed and his head fell forward
as all hope slipped away.

Zane lit the flame torch
and Sarah whimpered. Micah roared as the fire hit his skin, but the screams of Sarah hurt more than anything.

Scythe laughed cruelly.
“I hope you live so that you have to wear that filthy word on your skin.
Christian,”
he giggled, wickedly.

Micah fought to not give them the pleasure of his agony. Fought not
to give them what they wanted. They wanted his fury. His pain. He focused his eyes on Sarah. On those wide, terrified blue eyes, so tormented. He fought to show her what he needed. He needed her strength. God, he needed her strength.

She
finally saw his silent plea.
Help me
.

She stared at him and held her hand out toward him. He watched her lips move
, trembling with silent prayer. Her eyes closed and tears rolled down her cheeks as her brows pinched in concentration.

The power hit
Micah like a blast of wind through him. He gasped on the sensation as warm fire coated his insides. He smelled his burning flesh, even felt the pain, but somehow, it didn’t relay the message of agony to his mind, like his brain was cut off from that part of his senses.

Just
what Sarah described.

She finally opened her eyes,
panic shadowing them. He didn’t know how to tell her what was happening, that her God was helping him. Just the idea, the impossibility, overwhelmed Micah more than any torture had. Why? Why would her God help him?

Hope surged through him like a wild fire and he roared with all his might
in the face of his new enemy.

“I
renounce!”
Sarah screamed. “I renounce! I renounce, please stop! Stop hurting him!”

Micah’s eyes widened. No. “No, no no!” he roared.

Darkness fell on them. The overhead light, the Sifter’s torch flame, the ceremony candles—all went out.

Fear unlike any
Micah had ever known fell on his soul.
Oh God, no. Please don’t. Don’t forsake us.

“Raxxon is angry,” Agony gasped,
dread evident in her voice. “He wanted her blood.”

The orange glow of a
match illuminated the wicked gaze of Scythe. “Then let’s not disappoint him.” He looked at Revin. “She’s renounced her god and our brother has renounced us. The sacrifice is still powerful.”

“
Yes,” Revin’s sinister shadow whispered. “To renounce ones god for the sake of a lover is indeed powerful.” Scythe lit a candle and Revin floated forward and began unstrapping Micah. “Her blasphemy will open the portal of power. And you, dear brother,” he kissed Micah’s cheek, “will prepare her alter with your suffering.” He turned his head and stared at Sarah’s horrified gaze. “And your beautiful fallen angel will watch.”

Thank you for reading, I
know you hate me for stopping there! The third and final installment is called The Sacrifice.

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Like broken heroes? Try other great books by Azure Boone:

Broken Series: Broken Desires, Broken Lies, and Broken Souls (set)

Prefer to read one at a time:

Broken Desires (book 1)

Broken Lies (book 2)

Broken Souls (book 3)