Rhiannon Frater - Pretty When She Destroys

“And what are you going to do with me?” Dread filled her.

The Summoner’s long fingers stroked her cheek and played along her full lips. “Keep you at my side. You are my most wondrous of all my creations. I want you with me.”

“Enough to let my family and friends live. Which I know is tough for you because you really like to get your killing on.” Amaliya wished she could read him, but it was difficult.

“Yes. Though my hope is that once you feel the death of millions imbuing you with power you will finally realize the folly of keeping them alive. They’re your weakness. Eventually, you will have to eliminate those weaknesses.”

Laughing, Amaliya shook her head. “God, you’re such a fuckin’ asshole in every single damn way.”

The Summoner moved over her before slipping between her thighs. Bianca didn’t stir, which made Amaliya suspicious of what he was doing to her. As his weight settled on her, Amaliya stared into the eyes of the man who had been her ruin and salvation.

She really, really wanted another cigarette.

“I may be an asshole, but you’re drawn to me, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to kill you,” Amaliya said, smiling.

“I know you’ll try. I also know you’ll fail.” His kiss was searing, demanding, and full of need.

Amaliya bit his lip hard, and he jerked his head back. He felt pain in his new form. That was interesting. “So, since I’m going to make you kill me later, why don’t you kill me instead of Bianca?”

“Self-sacrifice really doesn’t suit you,” The Summoner chided her. “Besides, I have no intention of killing you. You are mine. My dark bride.” As if to prove a point, he shoved Bianca’s prone, unconscious form away. “Our time has come. You must accept it.”

With a grin, Amaliya shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“But you will.” The hunger in his kiss was intoxicating.

Even as she succumbed to his seduction and the dark, twisted power of the sword flowed through the room, Amaliya knew she would never allow him to rule the world. Somehow, she would stop him.

Aimee set stones and crystals in a distinct pattern over the large map she had spread out on the dining room table. Candles burned in a circle on the floor and the scent of Cassandra’s blood wafted with the fragrance of magic. Cian and Jeff stood just inside the doorway observing the preparations. Cassandra sat at the table within the circle, her eyes red and swollen.

“This will work,” Jeff muttered, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.

Deeper in the house the cabal was preparing to leave. They hoped to intercept Galina before she reached San Antonio. If they were lucky, she was driving to meet The Summoner. Her route would take her through the Austin area.

The longing for Amaliya filling Cian mingled with his fears of losing her. She was strong and he knew she’d find a way to manipulate, then kill The Summoner. The necromancer’s obsession with Amaliya was something Cian knew she could use to good effect if she was clever. It wasn’t difficult for Cian to understand why The Summoner desired her at his side. Amaliya was powerful, beautiful, and possessed a wild energy that was very seductive. Cian loved Amaliya for many reasons, but she was the catalyst that made him feel alive. He could easily see her doing the same for The Summoner, which would be a heady experience for a vampire who was so old he was far removed from his humanity.

“This will work, right?” Jeff whispered, now sounding doubtful.

“Yes. Of course.” Cian gave the man a pat on the shoulder.

Nodding his head, Jeff edged closer to Cian. “I need to talk to you about something before we go.”

“Now?”

The witch continued to lay out the small stones and crystals, her long bronze hair catching the light of the chandelier overhead.

Jeff winced, then nodded.

Cian stepped into the main foyer of the house. It was empty except for them. Drawing a little too close for Cian’s comfort, Jeff leaned in to Cian.

“It’s about Eduardo.”

“Oh?” Cian said inquisitively.

Jeff swallowed hard, then said in an ever quieter voice, “He’s a serial killer.”

Cian lifted both of his eyebrows.

“Girls that look a lot like Amaliya have been disappearing. Samantha has seen two of their ghosts. They were ripped apart, ravaged by a were-creature. The last girl to vanish was near your old place after you tossed Eduardo out of the van. Both ghosts were angry at me for not stopping the person who killed them.” Jeff sighed. “I know it’s flimsy evidence, but...”

Cian gave a shake of his head. “No, I believe you. Though I’m not sure you can call him a serial killer. He’s a coyote. His nature is to hunt.”

“Yeah, but he’s not supposed to kill humans, right? That’s your rule over your city.”

“True.” Cian reflected on the things Amaliya had told her about Eduardo. “He did say something once to Amaliya about wanting to have sex with her because he could rip her up and she’d survive.”

Jeff winced. “He thought that was a come on?”

Cian lifted a shoulder dismissively. “He’s an idiot.”

“What should we do?”

The human was obviously worried and unnerved by the situation on top of everything else they were experiencing. “We need him tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“Then we tell him to leave the city, or die.”

The spot between Jeff’s eyebrows furrowed. “Okay. I guess.”

“It’s working!” Cassandra’s voice called out excitedly.

Cian moved faster than the human could follow to the table and leaned over the map. A single drop of Cassandra’s blood was slowly sliding along the surface of the map just over the I-35 corridor. From what Aimee had explained earlier, Cian knew the red globule indicated Galina’s location. Her daughter’s blood was the best way to find and track her.

“She’s just past Austin,” Cassandra exclaimed. “We can catch her!”

“Grab everyone,” Cian said to Jeff. “We go now.”

The long black dress fluttered around Amaliya’s legs as she walked behind the possessed Bianca. The other necromancer was dressed in a white lace dress and her blonde hair was twisted up onto her head and held in place with diamanté hair clips. The Summoner had insisted on them looking “proper” and Amaliya had reluctantly complied. The gauzy silk material of her gown whispered against her skin and the fishnet insets in the arms and torso were a nice nod to her usual fashion choices. Her dyed black hair flowed unfettered to her waist and she wore her regular heels. On those two points, she’d refused to capitulate to The Summoner. He’d been amused.

Before them, hovering in the air, were the twelve rings. The pulsing light emanating from the jewelry formed an ethereal sword. Only a section of the hilt was missing. It was nearly complete.

Striding down the stairs behind the glowing sword and The Summoner/Bianca, Amaliya saw Etzli and the thirteen black witches waiting in the foyer. Vampires, infused humans, were-jaguars and demons stood behind them. All were garbed in dark colors, even Stark and Trish. The levitating sword swept downstairs to the floor below and the crowd bowed their heads. The Summoner/Bianca smiled triumphantly at the sight. Amaliya supposed it was a small taste of what was to come once he conquered the sun and plunged humanity into the abyss.

Amaliya expected some sort of arch-villain speech about the end of the world, but instead The Summoner regally strolled through the gathering and out the front door. The cold, moist air and dark, low clouds over the San Antonio skyline threatened a winter storm. Sirens tore through the night from all directions. An orange glow illuminated the sky over the south side of the city. It was a little after seven in the evening, but already the city was in chaos. The black witches had unleashed the volcanoes of negative energy and violence ruled the city.