Whisper to a Scream (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6.5)

Pressure slammed into my chest, like a hand punching inside to crush what was left of my heart. I went down hard on the floor. The weight of Shya’s power was too heavy. My anguished cry could barely escape between my clenched teeth.

The demon stood over me, a ghost of a smile causing his lips to twitch. “Wrong answer. That’s alright. You’ll know better next time.”

He was gone. I had no time to decide where to go. It was my duty to go to Alexa. If she wasn’t safe, if Shya hurt her, then it would be my fault. She would not pay for my sins; I couldn’t allow it.

As she was no longer officially my charge, I couldn’t instantly be at her side as I once had. I had to visit a few different places before I found her, safe and alive in the nightclub near her house.

There was no sign of Shya. The taint of evil did not linger in the noisy establishment. He had never come here, though he had known I would.

I prayed hard. The precious moments it took me to make the jump to Christina’s were the longest of my existence. I didn’t waste time, appearing in the middle of her apartment instead of at her door.

Shya stood there grinning. In his arms, Christina trembled as the demon held a dagger to her throat.

“Willow?” Her voice cracked, and she dissolved into sobs.

“I’m impressed,” Shya said, tightening his hold on Christina so that she yelped in pain. “You chose the wolf. Smart choice. She certainly is one to watch, isn’t she? And, I will kill her. Just not today. Today, I show you why it’s dangerous to refuse me.”

I surged forward, but it was already too late. Shya flicked the dagger, and blood flowed from the mortal wound. It spilled down her nightgown, staining the white fabric a bright, startling red.

Shya disappeared, leaving her to fall forward into my arms. She sagged against me, choking on blood, unable to get a proper breath. I sank to the floor, hugging her close.

“No, dear God, please no.” I prayed like I’d never prayed before. Staring down into Christina’s wide, frightened eyes, I knew this was my fault. I’d done this to her.

I smoothed the hair back from her face. “I’m sorry, Christina. I’m so sorry.”

There was no time to call for help. She would never last. A sob stuck painfully in my throat as tears blurred my vision.

Christina’s lips moved, but no sound came out. She struggled to breathe, trying again to communicate. I leaned in close, needing to hear her final words.

“You did save me, Willow.” Each word was a great exertion, sapping the last of her strength. “You showed me love. It’s ok. I’m free now.”

Her hand was shaky and covered in blood as she reached to touch my face. I caught it in my own, pressing it tightly to my lips. Tears fell from my eyes to stain her face. I kissed her, feeling her warmth seep away.

“Don’t take her,” I whispered. “Please, take me instead.”

It was not to be. Christina’s strangled breaths ceased. Her nightgown muffled my shouts. I hugged her close, unwilling to let go. Blood and tears stained my hands and garments. Her warm body cooled in my arms.

Evil had done this. It had taken her too soon from a damaged life. It was not fair that Christina had been robbed of the chance to go on to better things.

Human death had never touched me this way. I understood, though it was hard for the humans to accept, that death was a doorway from this world to the next. It was freedom from pain and tears, a new beginning in a place without the selfishness of demons.

Yet, stripped of my status and cast out from the light, I forgot that as I gazed at her lifeless form. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly cause any further destruction, I’d killed her.

Shya had made his demands, but this act of terror would not win me over to the dark. Though I no longer belonged to the light, I would never join him. Something changed inside me there in Christina’s apartment that night. Vengeance was born. The demon failed to realize that I now had nothing left to lose.

Chapter Eight

No amount of tequila could numb the ache, but I was damn determined to try anyway. I encouraged the bartender to keep the poison flowing with a stack of bills set atop the bar.

Time had never held much meaning. As one unaffected by it, I only gave it thought so far as my charges were concerned. Now, every agonizing second seemed to crawl by, announcing its presence everywhere I looked. I couldn’t escape it.

Weeks had passed since Christina’s death, but it felt like it had happened today. My days had become one long, endless day of hell.

“Are you calling me a fucking cheater?” The loud voice of a drunken man rose above the din. The noise grew as a scuffle broke out.