Page 73 of Wolf Trap

To my horror, just as Lycaon had been possessed and attacked me, I was now being controlled like a puppet to kill him!

As their chanting grew louder, I moved faster and though I fought it, my limbs felt weaker and weaker. Almost wheezing by the time I took the spear from the frozen angel then I marched like an automaton to Lycaon.

Standing a few feet away, her voice cut through me.

“Ah, there’s a good girl. I told them, I did! She’ll come in useful, no need to slaughter her yet. And look, slaying her revolting lover with a weapon of God, how ironic! I only wish we could slay Zeus, but there’s time enough for that. Carry on, oh don’t worry, we’ll give you the energy to impale him. Chop, chop!”

Gritting my teeth, my arms moved, jolted back as I went to lunge the spear through Lycaon, who couldn’t even move his eyes.

I tried to whisper, but no words came. I was voiceless, powerless as he stood frozen, sweat beading on his forehead.

The spear spun forwards from my hand, immediately my body collapsed. A gasp, shuffling before me. Anthony had somehow broken the spell and thrown himself before Lycaon.

Yelling, Mattie ran forwards. “No!”

Anthony fell to the ground. Lycaon seemed to break free of the curse.

Gritting his teeth, Lycaon tugged on the bloodied spear shaft, yanking it free from Anthony’s body, and flung it through the air, a whisper on his lips.

Mattie looked up at the last minute, shouts from Adara, but it was too late.

The God powered weapon pierced through her, and a sudden burst of light blinded us all. Immediately, sweat broke out all over me as the star glared, scorching.

Then, only the sound of the wood, the shaft, thudding to the ground, made us look again. Her cloak lay on the floor alongside a pile of ash.

Without warning, the elite vanished before us, leaving nothing but piles of dirt where Adara had been standing. But malevolence still hung in the air like a thick fog.

Two angels, who I later found out were Lucifer and Michael, strode towards us, followed by their kin, brightly adorned in silver armour.

Lucifer picked up the Spear and glanced around.

I spoke, though my voice was weak and strained. “How could a werewolf kill a witch with a weapon from God?”

Lucifer’s smile, unlike his brother, Michael, was almost unnerving. His lips curved as he eyed the area.

“It’s not who wields the weapons of God, rather, it is all in their intention. My father doesn’t punish those who have goodness in their hearts. And Lycaon,” Lucifer shot him a considered stare, “Lycaon is the product of an angry deity. A pagan deity at that. Where-as Mattie-”

Bigger than his brother, Michael tapped his brother on the shoulder. “Mattie was an evil woman. Our father, we, we have no time for that, Elsa. Witch, werewolf, saint, sinner, what lies in your heart, in your true self, is what matters in the end. We allfail at times. Free will allows it. Now, we must help this vampire who sacrificed his life, such as it was, for the sake of Lycaon.”

I was at Anthony’s side as he lay crumpled on the ground. Rasping faintly, his skin was ashen, veins dark green and prominent on his face as the God-like power consumed him from the inside out.

Lycaon swallowed hard, his eyes downcast at Anthony, muttering, “I always hated him, I didn’t trust him, much to my shame. He gave his life so that I could have mine. Can we help him?”

His voice boomed. Michael looked him in the eye. “Unlikely. Nor would I think we should. The Spear of Destiny- this has already been inside of him, and,” he sucked in air, looking absent-mindedly at Hakon and Austin who were making their way to us, “although he had good intentions, his spirit had been corrupted. Tainted. After all, Anthony is technically already dead. He is dying now because the divine weapon of God has touched him. Taking the last of his soul.”

Gasping, Austin shouted, “Nonsense! Heaven’s chief businessisthe business of souls. So... Anthony’s soul was tainted, but never destroyed. So, cleanse it! You can do that, I’m sure of it?”

A smile tugged at Lucifer’s lips. “You’re right, souls concern Heaven.” He indicated to Anthony. “I consider him a friend. But even if we could help him,” he glanced at his brother, then back to Austin, “it would be a human soul that we would give him. There’s no way in Hell,” he grinned, “that the Seraphim’s would put a diseased vampire soul back into him,ifthey helped him. Which they won’t. At best, they may, it’s not likely, put his cleansed human soul back in him.” He shrugged. “Best we can do.”

Austin looked him in the eye. “Do that, then. Anthony never wanted to be a vampire, you know that.” Gasping wide eyed,Austin looked at everyone, a challenge in his eyes. “Heck, we all know that! C’mon! We’re either in this together, or not at all.”

I stood up. “I agree with Austin. However, I can help. Need some of my soul, my blood, whatever, you’ve got it.”

Michael wiped his brow with the back of his hand as Lucifer turned away from us, whispering to his brother before turning back.

A gasp of horror behind him, Aaron pushed past Lucifer, falling to his knees beside Anthony.

“Son of a gun!”

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