Page 37 of Shadow & Stars
From the corner of my eye, I clocked the demons almost upon us. Soon I’d be dead to join the two men on the ground.I kicked that hope in the balls. I didn’t deserve to see them. I deserved to burn, to suffer every torment in the afterlife if a place of pain existed.
Here I come, Hell.
Butterfly said something I didn’t catch. My hands curled into tight fists, ready to beat him to a bloody pulp with this new strength of mine.
At least it’d be put to good use.
Before these demons snuffed me out, I’d take him down. Beat that handsome face into the ground, make him hurt for setting me on this violent path.
His device saved my life as a child. Now it ended it, burning everything down and salting the earth. Death by my fists was the least he deserved.
I plunged into an inferno of rage and sorrow, surging forward with a bloodthirsty scream. Before I managed to land my uppercut, he twirled out of my trajectory like a ballerina, snatching something from the air. It glinted in his hand as he moved too quickly for me to dodge.
He plunged the dagger into my chest.
12
ROMAN
The blade pierced the device. I felt it malfunction, grow hot and shoot jolts of pain around my chest.
“Fuck,” I wheezed.
The dagger was buried up to the hilt, golden sparks spitting around it. I tried to touch it, getting a sharp electric shock for my efforts.
He’d betrayed me. Us. Butterfly was a turncoat.
Man, I should’ve seen it coming.
I stumbled back, losing my footing. I landed on my backside so hard I was convinced I broke my tailbone. Thankfully, I didn’t. Not that it mattered. Any moment now, I’d die. The fact I managed to go through life without a real heart was miraculous enough. Without anything to keep me breathing, my minutes were numbered.
Man, what a way to go—by the hands of that purple-haired prick. He should’ve been slaughtered first.
“Well done,” Ismael said, coming up beside him.
“He is too dangerous, Your Majesty,” Butterfly answered, bowing at him.
My body jerked, more sparks fizzing around my chest. Any minute now, I’d black out and be gone.
Right?
Ismael folded his arms. “Clearing up your mistakes, are you?”
More demons circled us, Tanith slithering behind her king.
Past Xavier was nowhere to be seen.
Was he dead like his present self?
“Yes, My King,” Butterfly answered. “I wanted to help Roman, to find a way to reverse time to make things better. Even at my own expense. Yet when I saw him kill the intriguing rat, and then his lover, I understood the gravity of this situation. Remembered who I am. I did this for revenge. I did this for a second chance.” He held up the jar, the storm inside as vibrant as ever. “I have played with time enough.”
“Then destroy it,” Ismael commanded, eyes on me.
So much for them being enemies.
Take me back ten minutes,I tried.
The device sputtered, clawing at my chest. No demon died, my power broken.
