Page 28 of Dark & Darker Still (Vane and Roc: Origin)

Twenty-Seven

Alice

I pull the vial of mercury from around my neck and uncork the bottle as Vane slams into me.

My feet go out from beneath me and we fly back into one of the chairs beside the fireplace.

The momentum and Vane’s size has us careening over the chair and slamming to the stone floor.

I don’t have time to uncork the vial.

There is never time to spare with a jabberwocky.

I bring my arm up and smash the bottle against his temple.

The glass shatters, shards cutting into the palm of my hand. Liquid silver shimmers in the light.

Vane scrambles back, writhing.

I get up on my feet just in time to see Callista running toward me, the dagger in her hand.

She’s just feet away from pouncing on me when someone barrels into her, sending her flying sideways.

Nix has appeared, my hat in his hands.

“Get him contained,” he directs me and turns back to the witch.

I race to Callista’s worktable and start rummaging through the jars. Dragonwood. Mugroot. Fae blood. Siren scales.

Mercury .

The bottle is big enough to fill a dozen vials.

Nix and Callista slam into a nearby end table. She starts speaking in mervay , a Wonderland language used for magic. Nix clamps his hand over her mouth, cutting off the words as he sinks his own blade into her throat.

With Vane still writhing on the floor, I uncap the bottle and start casting a circle around him.

The shimmering silver beads on the stone floor. Vane tries to swipe for me, but his vision is likely blurred, his senses diminished, and I’m easily able to dodge him.

Within seconds, the circle is complete.

The vapor barrier is invisible, odorless, but to Vane, it’s not only poisonous like it is for the rest of us but immediately debilitating. He won’t be able to cross the perimeter for hours.

His breathing grows labored, his body shaking.

I stagger back.

Callista thuds to the floor.

On all fours, Vane slowly turns his head so he can look at me.

“I’m going to kill you.”

I nod. “I know.”

“I’m going to get out of this circle, Al, and I’m going to kill you. I’m going to wrap my hands around your throat and squeeze the air from your lungs until your face turns blue.”

I’m sobbing now.

“And just when you’re about to leave this plane, I’m going to let you take a breath just so I can do it all over again.”

I blink rapidly, trying not to let his words, his promises, his pain get to me. I deserve all of it. All of the violence and the suffering.

If I could take it all back, I would. But I can’t. I can only bear the brunt of his anger and hope that I can follow through with my own promises.

Nix appears beside me, his bloody fingers holding the queen of hearts.

“As promised,” he says.

I take it from him.

Vane manages to straighten, rocking back on his knees. He’s pale, a sickly green color. “And I’m going to kill you too.”

“I’m always up for a challenge,” Nix says.

“We should go.” I slip the card into my pocket and retrieve my hat.

“If I were you, I’d run as far and as fast as I could!” Vane shouts.

At the door, I turn back. His eyes are burning bright yellow.

“I’m going to get her back,” I promise him. “If it’s the last thing I do.”