Page 112 of The Dagger and the Flame
Down in the Cavern, Dufort was on his feet with the rest of the Daggers, trying to make sense of the dust falling from the ceiling. When he spotted Ransom, he went rigid. His silver gaze swept over the body in his arms. There was no smile. No pat on the back.
‘Is she dead?’ he said, in a strained voice.
Ransom went to a nearby table and laid Seraphine down. Then he stood over her like an avenging angel.
‘No,’ said Lark from behind him.
Dufort removed a vial of Shade from his pocket and tossed it to Ransom. ‘Then kill her.’
Ransom batted it away, letting it shatter on the stone. ‘Kill her yourself.’
There was a collective intake of breath. The other Daggers moved away, afraid to get caught in the crossfire.
Dufort’s nostrils flared. ‘I said,kill her.’
Ransom raised his chin. ‘And I said no.’
Dufort stalked towards him. ‘What the fuck did you just say?’
‘Ransom,’ hissed Nadia.
‘I’ll do it!’ said Lisette, leaping up from her chair by the fireplace.
Dufort’s hand shot out and shadows darted from the walls, shoving her back. He didn’t take his eyes off Ransom. ‘Ransom will do it.’
Lark stepped up. ‘I can—’
‘No,’ growled Dufort.
Ransom was too revolted by Dufort to be afraid of him any more. The Dagger wasn’t even looking at Seraphine – that was how little he cared about the life of his own daughter. This wasn’t about her. It wasn’t even about monsters or Lightfire. It was about ego and power, and control.
Dufort flexed his fingers. Shadows crawled towards Ransom.
‘Look at her,’ said Ransom.
‘No.’
‘Lookat her.’
‘No,’ he hissed.
‘What are you so afraid of, Dufort?’ challenged Ransom.
Dufort’s eyes darkened. But whatever he was about to say was lost to a distant bloodcurdling scream. It echoed all the way down the north passage, filling the cavern like a terrible aria.
It was followed by a warning cry. ‘MONSTER IN THE PASSAGE!’
And then, an earth-shattering roar.
Chapter 42Seraphine
Sera came to with a jolt, jarred back to life by the unmistakable bellow of her father.
‘ALL DAGGERS TO THE NORTH ENTRANCE! BARRICADE THE DOOR!’
For a brief moment, it was like being nine years old again, hiding in the darkness under her bed. She kept her eyes shut, steadying her sawing breaths before they gave her away.
Breathe.
