Page 162 of Broken Souls

I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to survive...

Ignoring the pain, I press an arm to my stomach, trying so hard to feel my baby one last time. The spell I cast on myself is still there, protecting her. Tears burn my eyes. Will it protect her long enough for Sau to get here? Can she save Rafiki when she’s not even nineteen weeks old?

Rafiki… What a stupid name.

But gods, if she lives… I’ll gladly name her whatever he wants.

Just let her live.

Please.

A little foot kicks inside my belly. My eyes snap open as I hear her urging me on.

Get up, ma. The fight ain’t over yet.

Gritting my teeth, I focus on the magic inside of me. I need my hands or my wand to use it though.

But I don’t need either with black magic.

I just need to be willing to sacrifice a human.

Luckily, there is an army of werewolves I hate outside.

Opening my mouth, reacting on instinct, I start to invoke the darkness that always surrounds us witches. I touch it, and it feels ancient, all-powerful. It feels my veins and urges me to let it free.

But it isn’t an incantation that comes out of me. It’s a blood-stained gasp as Antonio’s foot slams into the arm protecting my belly. My vision narrows as agony threatens to send me into the dark.

I dig my nails into the world of consciousness.

My arms are burning nerves of molten fire, dragging me back down. But I can’t leave my baby.

I’m the only one here to protect her.

Kneeling down in front of me, Antonio grabs my arm. I’m struggling to breathe, wheezing from my punctured lung. My chest is half-collapsed, deformed from its injuries. I’m pretty certain I have a concussion. I’m bleeding from multiple places, both inside and out.

Yet, still I try, reaching for the dark magic inside of me.

He yanks my arm away. My eyes roll back into my head as he slams it on the floor. The sound of ripping flesh hurts my ears, and I open my eyes to see he’s shifted his hand into that of a werewolf’s.

My heart pounds rapidly as I realize what he’s about to do. I want to scream, but my throat is too crushed and bruised.

“Heal her a bit, Eduardo,” Antonio purrs. “I want her awake for this.”

A hand touches my forehead, and warmth flows into me. My worse wounds start to heal. I open my mouth to try to take advantage of the opportunity, but Antonio shoves his hand into my stomach, easily breaking through my magic, and all I can do is scream.

He gropes around inside me, searching for the life I’d sell my soul to protect. I pray to every god I know, offering them anything and everything, but I’ve already given them my magic. There’s nothing else they want.

White light flows through me as Eduardo keeps me from passing out.

Please….

Please…

“Varius!” I scream, trusting him to save me. “Varius!”

But he doesn’t come.

Antonio jerks his hand out, revealing a bloody fist.