Page 76 of Tethered Souls

My.

Life.

Both of my hands are needed to hold the flames in place around Myers, meaning I can’t use them to protect myself. If I let them down, Myers will be at Varius’ back. He’ll kill him in a second. Then do whatever he’s planning on doing to me – probably knocking me out, kidnapping me, then killing me later as the ‘hero’ who dealt with the traitor.

Looking into Varius’ eyes, I don’t see the man who held me a second ago. I only see the monster behind the stories I’ve heard. The boogieman to the boogiemen. The heartless, hollow bastard who will kill friends and allies just as fast as he will his enemies.

If I don’t try to protect myself, he’ll kill me. Then Myers will kill him, my flames dying with me unless I allow them to have a mind of their own – though if I do that, this whole fucking house will go up in flames. Potentially the whole continent given nothing can put them out but me. I have no idea if they can traverse across the ocean if given enough time.

Fuck.

My.

Life.

Because I get it now, why Myers warded both the room and made me mute. I can’t argue my case, can’t give up information only the real me would know.

So I do the only thing I can do that will force Myers to reveal himself. Ignoring Varius’ sudden charge forward, I push my flames towards his uncle. His eyes too fucking calm, he jumps straight up and uses his magic to latch onto the ceiling like a gecko, transforming his hands and feet.

A knife embeds itself into my hand just as Myers crawls towards a window. I flinch my arm back as I twist out of the way of another blade. Able to dismiss my fire now, I throw up a shield over the windows, blocking both the exits, then concentrate on avoiding the knife slashing through the air, aiming for my throat, my chest, my eyes.

I’ve lost track of Myers in all this, and his game is up. He doesn’t have a reason to hold back anymore, to pretend like he can’t kill us in a second. I might’ve just made things worse by forcing the ex-reaper into a corner, but I didn’t have any other choice. I pray to the gods I at least brought us enough time for someone to realize Myers is missing.

But the door doesn’t open.

And I’ve just caught sight of Myers dropping from the ceiling behind Varius, with a knife in his hands.

Thinking fast, I throw a blast of magic into Varius. It knocks him across the room and into the door leading into the hall. The silence ward will stop all sound from escaping, but it won’t stop the vibrations. As long as Khalid hasn’t left his post outside, he’ll see it and –

Pain explodes in my side as Myers closes the distance to me. By having moved Varius, I left myself wide open – an opening he took. I guess he doesn’t want me as a patsy anymore.

Staring into eyes that look exactly like mine, I try to push him back, but he rips the knife up, opening me from my hip to my breast, cutting through my ribs like butter. That isn’t a regular knife. It’s cursed with magic. Lethal.

I stagger back as Varius turns to me and the door bursts open behind him. Khalid takes half a second to study the room, and then he’s moving on Myers. Guess it’s clear I’m not the stronger witch now that I’m dying.

Stumbling to my knees, I press a hand to my side, only to curse myself like a fucking fool. There’s a knife in that hand, pushed all the way through, and in my dumb, shocked state, I’ve just stabbed myself with it.

Fuck.

I sway, the ground rushing up to greet me.

My.

No one comes to my aid, both the brothers focusing fully on Myers. He’s strong. Old and powerful and too fucking experienced to not demand all of their attention if they wish to live.

Life...

I’m bleeding out, my intestines and organs sliding out of me. I want to live too, but I don’t know if I can. I can’t find the magic to heal myself. Don’t have the skill even if I had the energy...

My eyes fluttering close, I look at Varius.

But he never once looks at me.

Twenty-Seven

HIM

For situations exactly like this, I’ve ranked everyone in my family. Who would I save if forced to choose? These thoughts allow me to bypass all emotional conflict during the moment and act without hesitation.