Gena Showalter: Unraveled

Riley’s voice shouted through her head, jolting her, and she ripped her hand away from the fairy. She blinked open her eyes. Brendal lay motionless, barely breathing, but thankfully alive.

She’d done it. She’d actually done it. She had drained the fairy.

Can you drain the others? Riley asked, urgent. Just enough to weaken them?

Trembling, she scanned the still-raging battle. Most of the wolves were as sluggish as Riley had been, the fairies seemingly stronger than ever. She was ashamed of the little spark of glee that flickered in her chest. Not because she wanted to help, but because she want to hear more of those songs, feel more of that warmth. “I’ll try.”

VICTORIA STEPPED IN FRONT of Aden and kissed him, just as he had done to her. She was there, in his arms, exactly where he liked her, and with the touch of her hot, soft lips, his senses snapped back into place, Caleb’s pleading drowned out, the witch’s hold on him broken. Before he could thank her, however, she jumped away from him—flying toward Marie.

“What are you—”

The two clashed together and rolled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Victoria’s skin couldn’t be cut, so Aden didn’t worry about her. Yet. He approached the beast, who had positioned himself back in the doorway, keeping everyone inside, and raised his hands, as if he meant to pet. The beast—he needed a name. Chomper, maybe—huffed and puffed through his nostrils, clearly agitated by all the violence.

“Can you place the witches along the wall for me?” Aden asked.

There was a moment of suspended silence, where no one moved or breathed, everyone waiting to see what would happen. Finally the beast dipped his head and began gathering the witches with his mouth, sometimes several at a time, and tossing them along the wall. The ones still conscious tried to dart away, but he snarled in their faces, and they settled against the wall willingly.

Finally, only Marie was left. Her fight with Victoria hadn’t slowed. Or gentled. Nails slashed, teeth bit, fists punched and legs kicked.

When the beast moved for her, Aden said, “Not her. Not until I remove the vampire. Okay?”

Chomper snorted as he nodded.

“Good boy,” Aden said. “There’ll be lots of pets for you when this is over.”

Chomper’s tongue rolled out, red and wet, and his tail actually wagged.

Aden turned to the still-fighting girls. They were rolling on the ground, their punches more concentrated—nose, throats, stomachs—and their kicks more vicious. There was no hair-pulling or slapping. This was knockdown-drag-out, and to the death. Without a single drop of blood spilled, since neither was bleeding.

What was the best way to break up a witch and a vampire?

Caleb babbled, and Aden tried not to allow himself to become distracted. “Victoria. Separate. Please.”

A moment passed before she reacted. Then she flung herself away and pinned herself to the wall, arms splayed, nails digging into rock, as if they were the only thing holding her in place.

Marie spun, facing Aden. “Not much time left,” she taunted.

He raised his chin, refusing to back down. “There’s not much time for either of us, then, because I’m taking you to the grave with me.”

“You’ll try.”

“I’ll succeed.”

“Really? What about her?” Grinning, Marie held out her hand and wiggled her fingers, revealing a ring very much like the one Victoria always wore.

Aden realized what was about to happen, and his stomach twisted.

Victoria threw herself to the right, away from the witch, even as Aden leapt forward, intending to block, forcing the liquid to splash him instead. But he was too late, and Marie moved too quickly. Every poisonous drop hit Victoria’s profile. Her face, her neck, her arm and side. Immediately she dropped, screaming her pain, clothes and flesh sizzling.

Aden changed his direction and slammed into Marie; they rolled until he was on top, straddling her and holding her down. He was so angry, he almost hit her. Almost. But he’d never hit a girl before, and didn’t want to start now. Instead, he hopped to his feet and moved out of the way.

“Get her,” he pushed through gritted teeth.

Chomper grabbed the witch and once again threw her against the wall. A gust of air left her on a pained moan.

“Hold her down.”

The beast went back for her, pinning her to the ground as Aden had, using his teeth instead of legs.

She struggled against the hold. “Let me go!”

Aden raced to Victoria. He gathered her trembling body in his arms and held his wrist over her mouth. She immediately bit down, sucking his blood. “Call the meeting to order,” he told the witch.

“Why don’t you come over here and request that to my face,” Marie sputtered.

So she could ensnare him again? Ha!

Do what she says, Caleb beseeched. We have to do what she says.

Caleb! Dude. It’s not gonna happen. Leave the boy alone. She’s bad news . Julian.

No. She isn’t!

Julian cursed at him.

He’s ensnared, Elijah explained, just like Aden was. Only Caleb hasn’t snapped out of it yet. You won’t be able to talk any sense into him until he does.

Victoria’s trembling eased and her teeth loosened on Aden’s wrist. With his free hand, he smoothed the hair from her face. His trembling increased, making him a little lightheaded.

“I think I’ll stay here,” Aden said. Victoria’s eyes were closed, and she was breathing heavily. She radiated tension, but she wasn’t screaming. “Now call the meeting to order, Marie, or I let the beast have you. And if you’re warded against death, you’ll get to live in his stomach, probably melting from the bile and acid there. Always in pain, never allowing death to relieve you.”

“I don’t care! Do you hear me? I don’t care. I could call the meeting to order, you’re right about that. I don’t need the elders. But your friends need to die, and so they will. At midnight. They’re dangerous. They’re evil. They will die.”

She wasn’t going to relent, and if she was telling the truth, they would die in just a few minutes. He was just going to have to force her to do what he wanted. And there was only one way to do that.

He settled Victoria gently on the ground and stood, then closed the distance between him and Chomper. “Whatever happens, keep holding her,” he said, patting the beast’s side.

A slight nod.

What are you doing? Caleb demanded. Don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt her. We love her.

“There’s only one way for this to end happily for everyone, Caleb.” He hoped.

Possess her?

“Yes.” He would force her to call the meeting to order. He only prayed it counted. “And while we’re in there, you can search her memories for bits of your past. Sound good?” If he had to bargain with the soul, he would bargain.

You won’t force her to do anything to harm herself?

“I didn’t punch her when I had the chance, did I?”

All right, then. Yes .

“What are you doing?” Marie’s struggles increased. “Stop. Don’t come any closer!”

“I thought you wanted me to approach you.” Aden crouched down, grabbed her wrist and closed his eyes so that he wouldn’t accidentally be ensnared. He shouted as he turned to mist and tried to push his way inside her, but there was some type of block around her, keeping him out.

A ward.

Damn this! He solidified again. “Looks like we will have to hurt her,” he said on a sigh, “but it’s only to save her, Caleb,” he added before the soul could protest.