Page 5 of Bones

As expected, Joseph Martin was inside, nervously pacing.

Only he wasn’t alone.

Concern pinched Thanatos’ face. “John, you should not be here. You have done your part, dear friend. You have helped me track the leader. Run. Now.”

He did not feel it.

I, however, did.

The emptiness in John’s chest.

The place where his soul should be.

“He is not your friend, brother,” I said.

John’s brows furrowed, and he blinked with earnest and exaggerated innocence. “I am. Youronlyfriend. The only one you can trust with your secrets. Trust to take down Absolve.” He erupted in a cruel laugh. “So easy to fool and beguile.”

Juno tossed her arm out toward him. “Who the fuck is this douche?”

“We will defeat you both,” Thanatos bit out, ignoring our sister.

“It will be rewarding when we succeed. Not because I will get a share of your power, but because I will no longer have to listen to you whine.” A cloud of acrid greenish brown smoke swirled over John’s body. His eyes grew panicked. “No. No!”

And then his body slumped to the floor.

No longer breathing.

“Is he dead?” Juno asked, kicking at him.

Before anyone could confirm, Joseph Martin was moving.

Charging at us.

That same filthy green floated from his hands. It wasn’t magicks. It was something different. Visible.

Powerful.

“The power is mine and mine alone.” The smoke filled the room. Swelled outward still, pushing at the windows. Threatening to overtake the town.

We could not let it happen.

Raising our arms, my siblings and I fought.

Together.

As we should be.

Apart.

As we were never meant to be.

The battle had come and gone.

We did not lose.

We did not win.

My lids shot open. I was not sure how much time had passed. Scanning my surroundings, I saw nothing but heavy woods. Even still, I knew I was no longer in Salem.

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