Page 19 of When Monsters Rise
“Ofcourse you do.Aprophecy.Butthere is a cost, you know that.”
Thiswas my cue. “Iknow.I’mwilling to pay it.”
“Areyou?Don’tyou want to hear the cost?”
“Iknow what it is.Akiss.”Fuckmy life. “Let’sdo this.”
“Akiss?” he sneered. “Akiss will hardly suffice.Lookat me!LookwhatI’mbecoming.I’llneed more.I’llneed to bathe in the power, if only for a moment.”
Thechill in my bones congealed to ice. “What…what are you saying?”
Heshifted closer, andIbit back a yelp.
Hiseyes blazed with the fire of rage for a moment before going dull and cold once more. “Ineed what you give to him.”Hejabbed a finger towardShem.
Shem’sgrowl was a sound of pure malevolent rage as he placed himself between us. “Youdon’tneedthat.Youwantit.Youwant it so that you can feel less like the monster you’re becoming, but the fact that you can ask it means you’re already a fucking monster.”
Kabielrecoiled, his spider legs tapping across the stone.Hecurled in on himself quivering in a way that made me grit my teeth and curl my hands into fists.
“Youdon’t need it,”Shemsaid, his tone softer now. “You’rebetter than that,Kabiel.Allyou need is a touch and a moment bathing in the open doorway.Shecan give you that.She’sstronger now.Ableto control the channel better.”
Kabielretreated into the darkness. “Theothers will come.”
“No, they won’t,”Shemsaid. “Ruehas mastered control of the door.Shecan close it just as quickly as it opens.Theywon’t have time to sense it.”
Iloved that he had such confidence in me, butIwasn’t feeling so sure.Itwould take a huge burst of power to restoreKabielto a state where he might be able to receive a prophecy.
“Rue?”Shemwatched me with a frown, waiting for me to confirm his words, no doubt.
Ihad to make this work. “Ican help you,Kabiel.Canyou…Canyou come down here please?”
Tap, tap, tap.
Iheld myself still, focusing not on the sound of his spider legs or on the fact that he was approaching but on the warm place inside me that wanted nothing more than to save lives.
Kabielappeared in the lamplight, the top half of his body, the humanoid half, illuminated by soft amber hues.Buthis skin looked leathery and patchy—crimson in places, blackened and browned in others where the devolution was taking hold.Hishead was bowed as if in shame, and my heart ached for him.
“Kabiel, look at me.”
Heslowly raised his head and peered at me with mournful eyes. “Idon’t want to lose myself.Idon’t want to hurt anyone, butI’mso hungry.Alwayshungry.”
Thetorment in his tone clawed at me.Hewas fighting so hard to remain tethered to the watcher he once was.Ihad to buy him more time.Ihad to help.
Iapproached, and his body shivered as if in anticipation.Revulsiongripped my nape, trying to hold me back, butIfought it and pressed forward.
“Youwon’t devolve,Kabiel.Iwon’t let you.We’llfind the pieces and put them back together.Wewill fix this.Iswear it.”
Shemmade a soft sound of protest, as if he was unhappy with me making such a promise, butIhad to.Ihad to swear it and believe it or else all was lost.
Imoved closer and tipped my chin up to lookKabielin the eye, taking a moment to scan his terrifying face—the mandibles that poked out of his jaw and curved toward his mouth, the sharp bridge of his nose, and the cold reptilian edge to his eyes.
Hewas drowning, butIwas going to save him.
Ireached up tentatively to touch his cheek, keeping my gaze locked with his and ignoring the rough texture of his skin. “Areyou ready?”
Hisfront legs tapped on the stone around us, andIsuppressed a shudder.
“I’mready.”
