Page 150 of A Dose of Agony
“You better kill me now, witch.” the demon growls. “Before it wears off or before your prince dies.”
I squat down beside the paralyzed demon, ignoring the jolt of fear his words drop into my stomach. “Ahh, but that’s the best part,” I croon. “It won’t wear off.”
He freezes, eyes darting back and forth. “No,” he says. “That’s not possible.”
This is my favorite part. He believes me, even as he denies it. He believes I could have this kind of power. And maybe I could have, if I’d had more time. Maybe I could invent this potion that’s striking just enough fear in this demon for him to drop the mask and show is terror.
This moment, when the demon truly fears the human.
I chuckle. “I wasn’t sure it was possible either, but I gained some new friends in the last few days who were able to help me develop something new.”
“You mean—” Liz says, still sitting, staring shell-shocked at Vincent.
“Vincent will never have magic again as long as he lives,” I say sweetly, squatting down next to him. I pull out my obsidian blade from my boot and press it to his neck. He winces, but he can’t move. Not even a little bit.
“No,” he whispers. He stares straight ahead. “No.”
I press it harder, pushing into the rough skin. It takes a lot of pressure to carve through his thick skin in this form. Finally, blood begins seeping out from under his skin.
“I figured it was an appropriate punishment for someone like you—to become what you’ve always preyed on.” I drag the blade down his throat, not enough to break more of his skin but enough to make him shiver. “You’re weak now, Vincent. Forever. For good. How will you face your loyal clan members now? How will you do anything?”
“Lies!” he screams.
I grin.When in doubt, bluff.
I lean in close. “You’re no one. You’re nothing.”
Yes, the nullifier will wear off in about an hour, but I expect he’ll no longer be breathing by then. I press the point of the blade to his heart and press hard.
“Do it,” he growls. “Kill me.”
“Which would be a better punishment,” I muse. “Death, or a life sentence of helplessness?”
He screams in rage, but his body remains perfectly still. It’s beautiful, really.
She’s here.
I release a quick breath. Relief like I’ve never felt floods my body. I almost fall over from it.
Bea is here, Jarron tells me again.
I stand and press my hand to my mouth.Hold on, I tell him again.Don’t leave me.
I don’t know how long the nullifier antidote will take to work. I don’t know how quickly he’ll be able to heal. My vision flickers to darkness. The shaky weakness filling my limbs. Two leathery wings come into view.
My body starts shaking the moment I feel him drink down the liquid.
He’s so weak, and we’re so close.
We won,he tells me.No matter what. Finish him.
He’s right, but I have one thing left before I can. I stand and turn to Liz.
She looks up at me, big blue eyes soft and scared. Innocent, like I remember her. So much about her is different now, but innocent or not, she’s the person who has always mattered most to me, even if she shares the honor now.
“I never gave up on you,” I tell her.
Again, tears well in her eyes. “I know.”
