Page 128 of Stone Seduction

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His pale eyes were bloodshot from crying, his lips quivering.

Waves crashed, the sky choked with gloomy dark clouds. This was the same memory, but different. The actual one where I stole from him? Is this what she wanted to use against me?

“I’ve got news for you?—”

The whistle screeched in my head, signaling our argument. It played out until the monster arrived, ready to summon a tidal wave. I took the monster’s power and almost summoned a wave myself.

Just like Seth said.

But when did I take Finn’s protection?

Another whistle, the scene resetting.

“Stop this now!” I cried. “You can’t break me.”

No response from Ember.

I watched myself grab Finn. Saw the green magic leave him and enter me.

No. Don’t make me watch this…

Finn gasped, falling onto his backside. “Luke?”

“I… What just happened?” Past Me said, his knees buckling.

A monster charged from the waves. Humanoid, male, covered in green fish scales. It hit me with a jet of water, sending me spiraling across the beach. I hit the sand on my front, rolling five times before I stopped.

“Finn!” Current Me bellowed.

The monster seized him by the face, placing its blue lips to his. My brother twitched as the monster sucked out his soul, any trace of his light diminishing.

“Finn!” Past Me scrambled to his feet, losing his footing, face-planting in the sand.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Why did I have to see this? It wrecked me inside and out, released a tsunami of grief and fury.

I guess I wasn’t so fortified against Ember’s games, my delusion exposed like a raw nerve.

“Finn!”

The monster’s muscular body withered into a husk, its life given to make an immortal creature of destruction.

My brother.

I did this to my brother.

The truth really fucking hurt.

“No!” Rings of water formed around Past Me’s wrist. “Not my brother!”

The stolen water power of the dead monster calling to the sea.

But wait.

But wait.

But wait.

I hadn’t taken anything from the monster. Yes, it’d possessed its own water jet attack, but so did Finn. I felt it in me, the puzzle pieces coming together.

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