Page 84 of The 13th Daughter
Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, I call upon you to do my will
And Bind Jonas Paul Martin's powers this night,
And forever let it be."
The wind whipped and tore at him, howling in its own rage. It ravaged him before dropping him limp and broken on the ground. I turned my attention to the screeching sky.
"Spirit, banish these souls back from whence they came.
Their time here has passed and never let them return.
I command it and so shall it be on this holy night of Samhain."
The sky blackened and the ear piercing wails cried out in anger and frustration. I felt the calming peace leave me and wash over them, soothing their agony. The silver ruptures in the veil began to knit back together and a light rain started to mist down around us. It was a healing rain to purge the wounds of the past, to heal the anger in our hearts and souls, and to settle peace within us once more.
I saw my father haul Mr. Martin up. I don't know who untied him, but I was grateful. He'd deal with Kay's crazy dad. I focused my attention Ethan. His eyes glowed with his love for me. They were soft and gentle. They were also dulling, the life fading as I watched.
"My, Cassie," he smiled down at me. "Didn't I tell you to trust me no matter what happened?"
"Ethan..." My hand came up to cup his cheek as he had done mine so many times before. Blood stained my fingers. His blood.
"I didn't know who you were until that day in the diner when you told me about your birthday. By then it was too late. I couldn't kill you, I'd fallen in love with you, my little hellcat, and so I broke my promise."
"Your promise?"
"I promised myself I'd get justice for Sara. That meant your death and there's not a force in heaven or in hell that could make me to that."
"Shh," I said. "We need to get you to a hospital."
"It's too late, Cassie Jayne. I can feel it," he grunted in pain. "I left to try and find a way to save you and I found it. There was only one way. The curse was a blood promise. Blood was the onlyway to stop it, blood given willingly in sacrifice, and I willingly sacrificed myself for you. You're worth dying for, Cassie."
"Please, Ethan, please don't leave me." I hugged him to me. He loved me. I couldn't bear to look into his eyes, to see the light fade from their beautiful depths.
"I don't want to," his voice came out whisper soft.
I cried harder. I damned everyone and everything. He was dying.
"Hush now," he whispered.
"Ethan..."
"I love you, Cassie Jayne Bishop."
I heard the soft rustle of leaves and smelled jasmine. Someone whispered his name.
"Sara?"
I looked up into his face. For one moment, it shone with joy and love and then he looked down at me. Pain filled his eyes. The sky had lightened and the stars were shining. In the moonlight I saw her. Long blonde hair swirled like a cloak around her as she stepped into the meadow. She smiled and held out her hand.
"Matthew, it's time to go."
"I'm sorry, Cassie." He leaned down and brushed my lips with his. His body went limp and I knew he was gone.
I saw him appear beside of Sara and take her hand. She smiled up at him, but then faltered when she followed his gaze to me. She stared into my eyes. Her face looked sad as she read the pain in mine. Then she led him away. He looked back, his eyes never leaving mine, as they walked away into the night, fading from my life as mysteriously as he'd appeared.
He was gone.
Chapter Thirty
