Page 70 of When Monsters Rise
Shemsmiled thinly. “I’mno fool,Gabriel.I’maware of how to utilize my resources.”
“SoI’ma resource now?”Ikept my tone light to disguise the fact that his words kinda hurt.
Hisgaze flew to meet mine. “Notyou.Him.”Hejerked his thumb inGabriel’sdirection. “He’sthe resource.”
“Hey, can we get on with this?”Beesaid. “Myass is getting cold.Thehay’s not that dry.”
Iknelt beside her and took her hand. “Youcome back to me, okay?Youfight to come back.”
Shesmiled up at me. “Youknow me.Idon’t go down without a fight.Besides, someone’s got to keep you out of trouble.”
Butshe’d been willing to sacrifice herself to save me all those weeks ago when we’d been chased by rippers.She’dbeen willing to offer her body as a diversion to allow me to get to safety, and now…now she was putting her life on the line to save everyone here.
“Ilove you,Bee.Youcan do this.”Ilooked up atErelim. “Losingher is not an option.”
Theothers closed in around us, andErelimasked, “Areyou ready?”
“Yes.Let’sget this over with,”Beesaid.
Erelimheld up his scythe, and the air hummed with the weapon’s power.
Beesucked in a sharp breath and closed her eyes. “Fuck.”
Isqueezed her hand as the scythe arched down and stopped with the blade’s tip lightly touching her chest.Herbody tensed, and her eyes flew wide.Sheexhaled then…then nothing.
“Bee?”Shelay still and silent and unbreathing. “Erelim?”
“Ihave her.”Hestood stiffly, teeth clenched. “Onemoment.Imust…Imust attune with the scythe and ask it to release the soul back into its old shell.”
“It’snot an old shell.It’sher regular one.”
“Yes, but the scythe sees it as redundant now.Onemoment.”
Hischest heaved, silver eyes swirling with flecks of gold as he slowly, deliberately forced the scythe back towardBee’sbody.
Theblade gleamed silver, and warmth radiated from it.
Bee…Theenergy wasBee. “Hurry.”
Butinstead of tipping downward, the blade jerked upward and away fromBee’sbody.
“Argh!”Erelim’seyes flashed as he fought his weapon.
I’dseen him transfer a soul from a body to a container in theGoldenCity, but for some reason, the scythe refused to let him putBee’ssoul back into her flesh and bone body.
“Itwants to keep it,”Erelimsaid. “It’shungry.Ican’t…Ican’t fight it.”
ButBeewas there.Inthe blade.Icould feel her essence.Herconfusion and fear.Shewanted back into her body. “Puther back.Puther back now!”
Gabrielstepped forward to help.
“Don’t!”Erelimordered. “Onlya reaper can touch a scythe.”
Heatflooded my limbs, and my head felt light and dizzy.Beewas dying.Shewas dying for real.
Ihad to help her.Ihad to help her back into her body.
Iacted on instinct, pushing up on my knees to grab the staff of the scythe.Powerslammed into me along withBee’senergy, and for a moment, my friend andIwere one.Ifelt her love, her resilience, and her goodness as it flowed through me, down my arm and into her body through our joined hands.
