Page 88 of Wicked Thieves
“I’m fine,” she gasped.
Wellyn’s wails turned into roars of rage as he spun toward them once more, revealing the bloodied black gash across his face. He fell onto his arms and legs, the bones bending at odd, unnatural angles before shooting toward them, claws outstretched.
Gabriel barely had time to shove her aside, sending her slamming into the wall before Wellyn sprang toward him. He dodged Wellyn’s claws, and, in one swift motion, thrust his sword through his chest. But Wellyn was frenzied, barely flinching as the sword impaled him, and drove his claws straight across Gabriel’s chest. The sound of flesh and fabric tearing ripping through her.
“Gabriel!” Anelize yelled as the creature shoved him back so hard that he sent him across the chamber, slamming against the wall hard enough that it shook beneath the force.
As Gabriel crumpled to the ground, he made no move to stand again.
Wellyn turned his vicious gaze upon her, black tears streaming down his face as he staggered toward her. With the sword protruding through his spine, having torn his shirt, Anelize caught sight of the pale mottled skin beneath. A network of black veins, like a spider’s web riddling his flesh.
Gabriel’s attack must have done a considerable amount of damage, for as he stalked toward her, his bare feet dragged across the ground. His arms falling to his sides, hanging low.
“Wellyn?” Henry’s voice came from one of the tunnels, where he stood with a bloodied sword in hand. A horrified look on his face as he took in the ghastly sight of his son.
And standing behind him, wrapped in a cloak around her feeble body, with a too thin face, was none other than Enid. Staring at the boy she loved with hollow eyes. Any relief Anelize might have felt of being rescued or reuniting with her sister was quickly overcome with dread as they all took in the sight of what had been done to Wellyn.
The boy staggered to a halt as he slowly turned to face his father. The black tears streaming down his cheeks endless as he said, “Father…”
“Oh, my son. What have they done to you?”
Anelize got to her feet as Henry urged her to get behind him, coming to shield her and Enid as Wellyn released a low growl.
“Anya,” Enid breathed out as she wrapped her into a bone-crushing embrace. Kissing her head and cheeks as Anelize silently cried, finally able to hold her in her arms.
Henry and Gabriel must have set her free. The question of how they’d managed to get through the gates and an entire army of Watchman was beyond her. None of those things mattered so long as she could hold Enid again.
“Wellyn.” Enid moved her gaze toward Wellyn before she turned away and stumbled forward, purging what little was in her stomach. Anelize hurried to help her, hating all of this. This twisted turn that had taken place within mere moments.
“F-father…” Wellyn gasped as blood pooled down the front of his shirt where Gabriel had thrust his sword through him in a sheer act of defense. He took one step forward before his legs gave out and he crashed onto the floor.
Henry rushed to his side, yanking the sword in his chest out and tossing it across the chamber with a hateful glare. But when he pulled him into his arms, Henry’s voice was gentle.
“Yes, I’m your father. I’m here now.”
“I want to go home,” Wellyn murmured as he stared up at the gap on the ceiling of the tunnel, watching the snow fall around them. Henry’s eyes shined with tears as he laid his son down onto the ground, resting his head upon his lap and ran his hand through his matted, red hair. “Home…I want to go home…” Wellyn gasped again, his voice weaker this time.
“We’ll take you home,” Henry reassured as he held him. “We’re all waiting for you.”
Enid turned into Anelize’s arms, her tears silently streaming down her face and onto her shoulder as they heard Wellyn’s final breath ease out of his lips.
Dead.
Wellyn was dead.
None of them spoke. The only sound around them coming from Enid’s muffled sobs as she cried against Anelize’s shoulder.
Gabriel got to his feet, limping over to where Henry held his son.
“Henry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for?—”
“You did what you had to do,” Henry breathed out, still running his hand through Wellyn’s hair and wiping away the blood across his once freckled cheeks. “He would not have wanted to become a monster.”
Gabriel turned with a solemn nod and walked over to Anelize and Enid.
“Are you all right, Anya?”
She nodded, her voice thick. “Yes, but how is it that you’re both here?”
