by R. L. Perez
I approached the creature and poked it to make sure it was dead. Then, my mouth twisted with a grimace. I had no idea how to skin a rabbit. Or cook one. What parts of it were safe for me to eat?
I pulled the knife from my pocket and crouched next to the animal. Holding my breath, I forced the knife into its fur and cut.
HOURS LATER, I TRUDGED through the woods as the sky lightened with approaching daybreak. The guts and blood of the rabbit still coated my hands up to my forearms, but I’d eaten. The rabbit’s fur had been surprisingly easy to cut through, even with my dull kitchen knife. Aside from a few hairs and some bones I had to spit out, the meat had been satisfying. I’d prepared kindling and used my magic to summon sparks before cooking the carcass. Then, I’d put out the flames, eaten what I could, and continued my journey.
I tried not to smile as I thought of how shocked Angel would be if she could see me now—braving the backcountry and hunting for food. But as soon as I thought of her, my smile vanished, and an ache of longing filled my chest.
I would never see her again. Even if I could end the time loop, I couldn’t very well return home when I knew Lilith was inside me, just waiting to be unleashed. I couldn’t doom my family and my city to that kind of destruction.
No, I vowed to find somewhere secluded to live out whatever time I had left. If Leo could help me, then great. But I was skeptical. Part of me knew I was living on borrowed time.
I’ll help break the curse and then find a safe place to unleash Lilith. Somewhere no one will get hurt.
The idea of surrendering myself to her—of giving up my soul and dying—hadn’t yet settled in my mind. It still seemed like a faraway idea. Almost like a fairy tale. Or a bad dream.
But it was there, lurking in the shadows of my mind. Waiting to crash down on me.
A few days passed. I trudged through the woods, stopping often to rest, eat, and relieve myself. Anytime I felt tired, I succumbed and took a break; if my energy was too depleted, I wouldn’t be able to cast spells. And I was almost certain the Count’s men would follow me.
How could they not? The Count claimed he’d been looking for Lilith’s cursed witch for years. If this was what he’d been waiting for all this time, he couldn’t just let me go.
At night, I sought out large bushes for cover and slept on the forest floor. The fitful sleep was far from refreshing—between the bug bites, mud, and chilly air—but it was enough for me to keep going.
At last, the mountains grew so close I could see them through the trees without even climbing. Relief soared in my heart, and I surged forward, eager to reach my destination before nightfall.
Something prickled my ears. I stiffened and scurried behind the nearest tree, waiting. Listening.
I shut my eyes and trusted my hearing and sense of smell. Then, I caught it. A faint whiff of ash and magic.
I swallowed and patted myself out of habit. But, of course, my only weapon was the dumb kitchen knife. Still, I clutched it in my sweaty palm and sucked in several deep breaths.
Soft footsteps crunched on leaves and twigs. My brow furrowed as I concentrated on the sounds.
There were multiple sets of footsteps, but I couldn’t tell how many. Two or three perhaps.
You can do this, Brie. It’s just another hunt.
When the footsteps grew close enough for my skin to prickle, I lunged from my hiding spot and swung my knife. One of the men ducked, avoiding my blow. I drew back, ready to strike again, and my eyes fell on my opponents.
All five mages faced me. Ignacio stood in the front with his arms raised. “Please, Miss Gerrick.”
I hesitated, but only for a moment. I wielded my knife again, my arms lifted in a fighting stance.
“Please what?” I snapped. “Please return with you so the Count can torture me some more? So he can unleash the monster inside me?”
“The lives of everyone in this city depend on it,” Ignacio pleaded. There was such sorrow in his eyes, such torment and devastation, that something within me faltered.
I’ll be responsible for thousands of deaths, all because I wouldn’t give in. Because I was determined to find a way out.
But what if there isn’t a way out? What if by escaping, I’ve doomed this entire city?
Ignacio edged closer to me, and my arms lifted again, sensing an attack.
“Don’t come any closer.” My voice sounded feebler.
“You are no killer, Miss Gerrick,” Ignacio whispered, stepping closer toward me. And this time I didn’t draw away from him. “I know you’ll do the right thing. Would you really put your life above the lives of everyone here? Above the lives of your friends in the castle?”
Izzy. A hard lump formed in my throat. “They won’t die,” I said. “The castle is protected.”
“Yes, but they are all trapped there indefinitely until this threat is contained. Which means they will live out their lives away from their homes and families. Unless you submit yourself and eliminate the monster.”
My eyes shifted to the mountain base still visible through the trees. I was so close.
“What if there’s a cure?” I asked. “What if there’s a way to defeat Lilith? To push her out?”
Ignacio smiled sadly, his eyes full of pity.
Anger roared within me, and I gritted my teeth. The mages behind Ignacio tensed, obviously sensing my intent to attack.
Something unreadable flashed in Ignacio’s eyes. Blue magic burst from his fingertips, spearing through the air and straight into my chest, knocking me backward. I fell to the forest floor with an “oof,” but in an instant, I was back on my feet.
The mages surged toward me, their cloaks billowing. I ducked and kicked the legs out from under Ignacio. Then, I swiped my knife, cutting the sleeve of another mage. I aimed a high kick into the chest of a third mage and finally broke free, sprinting toward the mountain as fast as my legs could carry me.
Magic tickled the air, and I ducked instinctively as another flash of blue magic seared toward me. Heat stung the top of my head, and I knew I’d narrowly avoided a spell.
Sucking in sharp breaths, I pushed onward, weaving through trees and using the foliage for cover. Gasping, I cast a spell.
“Magic above and powers that be,
Conceal me from this enemy!”
A faint blue glow surrounded me, but the usual warmth of my magic felt feeble and thin. Like the simplest spell could break through it.
I wouldn’t last much longer.
The forest grew thinner. I was almost free. Almost there.
Something sharp lodged itself into my shoulder, and I fell over with a yelp. The knife flew from my grasp. Warm blood soaked my shirt. I wriggled on the ground and glanced over my shoulder to find a dagger buried in my flesh. Already, blood blossomed on my shirt.
I crawled forward, but pain sliced into my shoulder with each movement. Sobs poured from me as I slithered along the ground. Footsteps approached. I glanced behind me and found the mages surrounding me, blocking my escape.
It was over.
29
Leo
FROM THE SHADOWS OF the trees, I hovered, watching the events unfold. The Count’s mages had caught up to the Little Nightmare. They’d used excessive force—she was bleeding freely from a wound in her shoulder.
The terror and anger in her face struck something within me.
“What should we do?” Guadalupe asked from behind me.
“Nothing. Let them take her.”
“But Leo—”
I fixed a steely gaze on her. “She isn’t our responsibility.” My shadows swirled around me, prepared to shift, when I caught a whiff of something that made me freeze.
Fresh wood chips and honey mingled with the sharp, metallic smell of blood.
Ronaldo.
It was the faintest hint of him like it was swept away with the wind. As if he had only shared air with someone.
Someone like this girl. Like Brielle.
“Attack,” I hissed to Guadalu
pe before I could change my mind.
Her eyes widened in shock, but she recovered quickly. In a flash, she vanished in the brush, communicating with my other brethren hiding nearby.
I burst forward in an explosion of shadows. I felt the mages’ blood racing when they saw me, and their fear shot a thrill through me. I shifted to bat form and flitted around until I hovered behind them. Then, I shifted back to vampire form and lunged for the first mage. With a shout, I pounced, knocking him over before sinking my teeth into his neck. I only allowed a moment of satisfaction before I stopped drinking his blood and moved on to the next one. I wasn’t here to feed, and there was something foul about their blood. It was tainted in ways I couldn’t explain.
Drops of blood poured down my chin, and I spat on the ground. My brethren surged forward from their hiding place, engaging the remaining mages. The girl remained limp on the forest floor, her body still pinned down by the blade. After ensuring our enemies were being taken care of, I approached her cautiously.
Her face was covered in burns and bruises. She stared unblinkingly toward the trees as if not seeing anything at all. If I hadn’t sensed her blood and her heartbeat, I might’ve thought her dead.
She looked . . . broken. And for some reason, this sliced through me, filling me with regret. I thought of the spirited ball of fire she’d been when we’d last met.
That girl was gone, leaving nothing but a hollow shell behind.
Carefully, I stooped to lift her into my arms. She shifted slightly, but not aggressively. It was as if she wanted to fight me off but lacked the strength. I cradled her to my chest and caught another whiff of Ronaldo.
Yes, I was certain of it. She’d been in the same room as him.
My blood raced with excitement, but I squashed it down. If she had answers about my brother, I would have to extract them carefully. But first, she needed to recover from her injuries.
“Fret not, Little Nightmare,” I said in a soothing voice. “You’re safe now.”
I glanced up at the fray. Miguel had just rendered the last mage unconscious. The other mages lay motionless on the ground, some sporting bloody wounds.
Miguel wiped blood from his mouth and approached me, his eyes wild from the fight. “What should we do with them?”
I stared at the unconscious mages for a long moment. Kill them, a sinister voice within me whispered.
But they were merely obeying orders. My coven followed a code. If I broke it, what would that make us?
It would make us no better than the Count.
And yet . . . one of the mages smelled of my brother. I inched closer and inhaled deeply.
Yes, the scent was there. This mage had been covered in my brother’s blood. Though the man’s hands were clean now, I smelled Ronaldo as clearly as if the mage had bathed in his blood.
My entire body went still. Fire roared within me, demanding justice. For a moment, conflict warred in my mind as I was torn between the principles of my coven and the cry for revenge in my blood.
Ronaldo would preach of forgiveness and mercy.
But Ronaldo wasn’t here. And right in front of me were the men responsible for that.
The monster within me roared, and I glanced down at Brielle again. Her vacant eyes stared emptily at the forest, but pain was etched into her face. A long, bloody cut ran down her arm, and her clothes were soaked in blood, sweat, and grime. She’d lost so much weight since I’d last seen her that she looked gaunt.
Those mages had done this.
Forgive me, Ronaldo.
I fixed a hard gaze on Miguel. “Finish them.”
I turned away and carried the girl toward the caves. Behind me I heard the cracking of bones and the slurping of blood.
But I felt no sorrow or sympathy. Instead I thought of my brother—who was most certainly dead—and how I had taken the first step in avenging him.
30
Brielle
A MONSTROUS ROAR CONSUMED me. Fire burned everywhere. Children screamed. Women sobbed. Men yelled in anguish. Metal clashed. Blood soaked the ground, filling the air with a metallic smell.
But it smelled wonderful. Delicious, even.
And I reveled in it.
My eyes flew open, my whole body jolting as consciousness slammed back into me. I sat up quickly. Too quickly. Spots danced in front of my eyes, obscuring everything from view. I blinked impatiently and raised a hand to my head, trying to rub away the faint throbbing that pulsed incessantly.
As my vision cleared, my jaw dropped. I was inside a cave. But it was unlike any cave I’d ever seen. The ceiling climbed higher than a cathedral, putting even the ornate ceilings of the castle to shame. I gazed upward, craning my neck, and found a few small openings in the cave ceiling. Sunlight filtered through in small chinks, providing the smallest slivers of light to fill the room.
Yes, room. That was the only way to describe it. A fur rug lined the smooth floors. I was sitting on a king-sized bed with fur blankets and soft pillows. A large, wooden wardrobe rested in the far corner, and its open doors revealed a stunning collection of satin gowns and frilly lace shawls. Lanterns had been built into the rocky walls, though they weren’t lit since the sun provided enough light.
Slowly, I swung my legs over the bed and rose to my feet. The ground felt cool against my bare feet, and it was as smooth as marble. Though the walls were rocky and bumpy, there were no stalactites or stalagmites. It was as if someone had smoothed the top and bottom of this cave, transforming it into comfortable living quarters. A safe place. A home.
I glanced down at my toes. They were clean, though I’d certainly remembered them covered in grime in the forest. And I was dressed in a thin white shift that barely covered my naked body. My skin had been scrubbed free of dirt and blood. I tried rolling my shoulder and winced, hissing in pain. With a glance behind me, I realized someone had bandaged and cleaned the wounds on my shoulder and arm, though they still throbbed.
I rubbed my arms that prickled from the chilly cave air. Though the air smelled faintly of demon, it had a musty, mineral smell that mingled and almost made the scent . . . pleasant. It smelled earthy. Ethereal.
Magical.
I pushed the thought away, reminding myself I was among enemies. These caves belonged to Leo and his coven, who had attacked the castle—attacked me—on multiple occasions. They probably saw me as an enemy too.
Though I couldn’t help but notice I was in some kind of guest room—or guest cave. Not a prison cell.
Which already put my host in a higher standing than the Count.
“The dresses in the wardrobe are available for you to wear,” a soft voice said from the mouth of the cave.
I yelped and darted to the side, hoping to shield myself from view.
My visitor chuckled softly. “Fear not, Little Nightmare. I can barely see you. I won’t come too close anyway, what with the sunlight.”
I crossed my arms and peered toward the mouth of the cave, though all I saw was darkness. “Leo?”
Leo sucked in a breath and laughed. “Such informality. And yet I do not know your name, Little Nightmare.”
I rolled my eyes at his nickname for me. “Brielle Gerrick.”
A pause. Then, “An exquisite name. Though surely you’re not French?”
I groaned. “No. I’m not French. My mom just thought the name was pretty. You can call me Brie if it bothers you.”
“It doesn’t bother me. It’s quite beautiful.”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, unsure of how to respond. “Erm . . . what happened to the mages?”
Leo was silent for a moment. “They left when my men emerged. They knew it was a battle they could not win.”
Goosebumps rose on my skin at the thought of this demon coven fighting . . . for me.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, dropping my gaze. The words didn’t feel like they were enough.
“It wasn’t for you.” Leo’s voice was tight. “They were trespassing. We were protecting ou
r home.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful.”
Leo said nothing.
I rubbed my arms. “So, uh, who dressed me? And bathed me?”
Please don’t say it was you. Please don’t say it was you. The idea of Leo with his hands on me like that made my skin crawl.
“Guadalupe.”
My body sagged with relief. “Oh. Who’s Guadalupe?”
“My cousin.”
I cocked my head, waiting for more information. “And she . . .?”
Leo laughed again. “What would you like me to say? She’s a demon. A part of this coven. A shapeshifting vampire like me.”
My hand instinctively flew to my neck, but I found no puncture wounds.
“She would not bite an unwilling victim.” Leo’s voice sounded terse.
Anger flared within me. “Why not? You did.”
Leo barked out a laugh. “Need I remind you that you attacked me first? It was a matter of self-defense.”
I scoffed. “Hardly. You could’ve easily just left me there without drinking my blood.”
“Ah, yes, but you would’ve followed me. Wouldn’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
My mouth clamped shut, and I couldn’t keep the corners of my mouth from twitching. Yes. I would’ve. I shook my head to clear my expression. “Can you come forward just a little? It’s creepy talking to nothing but a shadow.”
Leo sighed and edged closer. Though he was still mostly concealed by shadow, the nearness of the light helped me make out his figure. His long hair was tied behind him, and he wore a loose, casual tunic. No waistcoats. No ascots or cravats.
I once again remembered I was in nothing but a transparent nightgown, and I drew my arms tighter around my chest.
Leo smirked. “As I said before, you are welcome to the dresses here.” He waved a hand toward the wardrobe.
I gazed around the room, curiosity overwhelming me. “Whose room is this?”
