Marjorie Liu - Within the Flames

Matthew tasted like shit. And the images in his head. .

Lyssa finally broke off, gagging — but it was already too late. She felt the cigarette between her fingers as she burned a young boy’s hand— a beautiful child who disgusts me because he is weak, a fag, a piece of shit— and then the memories shifted, and she saw a lovely teen girl with long dark hair and huge eyes, and—

— Lyssa lashed out, unthinking, desperate to kill what was flowing through her mind—

— realizing too late that it was Matthew receiving her final, killing, blow. She saw him drop, half his throat missing, eyes rolled back in his head as the fire turned his skin black.

Strong arms wrapped around her body, pulling her backward. Eddie’s voice broke through the roar in her head, and she clung to him — staring in horror at Matthew’s body.

She had killed him. Consumed his dying blood.

Power ripped through her, tearing through her veins. Lyssa gasped, clutching her head, throat cracking with a soundless scream as a thousand, a million prickling needles dug into her soul.

And then, just as a abruptly, the pain faded. . leaving nothing behind but a floating sensation that was cold and sharp as a knife’s edge.

Birthright, whispered the dragon, with pride and pleasure. Finally.

“No,” she said, horrified.

“Lyssa,” said Eddie sharply, and she staggered from him, holding up her hands — which were covered in blood.

Eddie chased her, grabbing her wrists. “Come on. We have to go.”

Lyssa stared at Matthew’s charred, blackened remains. Cars drove past the alley entrance, but she thought she heard shouts, coming close.

“No,” she said again, and Eddie pulled ruthlessly away, making her run.

When they reached the end of the alley, he slowed them to a walk and slung his arm over her shoulders. Lyssa staggered against him, clutching his shirt. Power still flowed through her, and it was sweeter than she wanted to admit.

“I killed him,” she murmured.

Eddie said nothing, wincing as he reached into his coat for his cell phone. Lyssa sucked in her breath. “He shot you.”

“I’m fine,” he said.

Lyssa closed her eyes, nauseated. “Be honest.”

“I am.” His hand tightened around hers. “I’ve had much worse, I promise you.”

Sirens filled the night air. Eddie made them walk faster, and Lyssa finally straightened, trying to pull herself together.

“I didn’t mean to kill him,” she said, as he dialed his phone. “Actually, I take that back. I really wanted him dead for hurting you.”

“Good,” he replied, flashing her a quick hard look — and then regret hit his eyes. “I didn’t mean. . I know how you feel about. .”

“Don’t.” Lyssa took a deep breath, steadying herself. “He’s not worth second thoughts. Trust me. . when I drank his blood, I saw. .”

Eddie blinked, and his breath caught. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, haunted. He swallowed hard and gave her a sharp nod. Then, with visible effort, he turned his focus back on making his call.

“Roland’s not answering,” he muttered, moments later. “We’re close, though. We should go there. Lay low. I don’t know how much anyone saw back there.”

“You think. .?”

“I don’t know,” he said grimly. “But Dirk & Steele has too many connections to let any of us go to jail for taking the life of a child molester.”

“You make it sound like the mob.”

“Feels like that, sometimes.”

It was a ten-minute walk. Both of them silent, focused. San Francisco, which Lyssa had been falling in love with, suddenly felt like some glittering, alien cage that might collapse its bars around her at any moment.

Except I’m the monster now, she thought. I am a Cruor Venator, and if I chose, if I wanted to. .

You could control the world, whispered the dragon. There has never been one like you. Demon blood, mixed with dragon? There is a reason Georgene wants you, either to control or to consume.

They reached the building, but Lyssa grabbed Eddie’s hand as he began to unlock the narrow glass door. A scent curled around and through her — impossible, wicked, and muscular.

It couldn’t be. . not so quickly. It had only been a day.

But then Lyssa remembered that Estefan had known how to contact Dirk & Steele, where they were located, that it was filled with people who could help her. . people like Eddie.

And what Estefan knew. .

“Georgene is here,” she told him, and deep inside, the dragon began to purr.

They took the stairs. Eddie moved on light feet, fire sparking off his hair and shimmering over his hands. Lyssa followed, using the climb to mentally prepare — as if such a thing was possible. Being a Cruor Venator would not be enough to kill Georgene. For witches who were unaffected by magic, it would come down to hand-to-hand combat.

But this time, there was no small child to use as bait. No mother forced to choose her life over the life of her daughter. No father, away on business, coming home to find his wife being slowly murdered, her body too far gone to save.

When they reached the ninth floor, it was all very quiet. But Lyssa smelled Georgene’s scent. . as well as blood. She grabbed Eddie’s shoulder, holding him back.

“She’s here,” she breathed.

His jaw flexed, and he pulled her close. “My arm. It’s bleeding.”

Lyssa stared, confused. . until he swiped some of his own blood and placed his hot, wet fingers on her lips. She recoiled instinctively. . but the scent filled her, and so did the trace of blood that he left on her mouth. Her tongue licked it off, and his love coursed through, as well as golden light. It chased away the stink and sourness of Matthew Swint. . and the next time he held up his hand, she did not resist.

She licked his blood off his fingers, then did the same to the wound on his arm — soaking in his strength and goodness, feeling her heart grow, and her spirit.

Eddie’s breath quickened. Between them, that mental link bloomed. It did not last, but there was enough time to feel his mind touch hers in a blossoming shower of concern and affection that was not in the least bit dimmed by her lapping his blood away with her tongue.

Which, frankly, she wouldn’t have blamed him for finding disgusting. That he didn’t. . was just another miracle. Her miracle. Her man.

I understand, Lyssa wished she could tell her mother. I understand now.

“Ready?” Eddie whispered.

Lyssa nodded, jaw set. . and moved in front of him to stride down the dark corridor to the living room. The lights were off, but the city gleamed through the windows, shedding a glow. Close, the scent of blood intensified. . and so did the sound of harsh, pained, breathing.

It was Roland, she discovered. Bound hand and foot, and shivering as he lay sprawled on the floor near an overturned table. An obsidian dagger jutted from his shoulder, but he had suffered cuts all over. Blood soaked his clothes.

When he saw Lyssa and Eddie, his eyes widened and a low, pained rumble escaped his throat. He had been gagged, too.

She smelled his fear. The room stank with it, and the stench of his blood.

“Interesting man,” said Georgene, moving in the shadows on the other end of the room. “Stronger than I expected. Still not able to resist me, but he fought the fear. He still fights. And his mind. .”

She made a hissing sound, filled with pleasure. “Such unexpected power. Everyone he loves is filled with power. I could harvest them all and rule this world.”

Lyssa didn’t look away from Georgene, not even when Eddie slipped past her to crouch beside Roland.