Trembling, I clamp my jaw shut.
I refuse to accept this.
Iwon’t.
When Ishakehim harder though, hedoesn’twake up.
Desperate, I slap his face.Hard.
Pain shootsup my arm.
Still, hedoesnot move.
“No!”
Tearsrundown my face.Pinching his nose shut, Itakea deep breath and place my lips over his.Exhaling, I fill his lungs.Breathing deep, Idoit again.I’ll breathe for him.I have to.He can’t be dead because of me.
“Jace, stop her!”Fabia yells.“There can still be traces of poison on his mouth!”
Strong arms wrap around me.I’mlifted into the air.
“Get off me!”Ipullat his fingers.Wrapping mine around his thumb, I yank it the wrong way,desperate forhim to release me.
Crack!
I look at the backwards finger in horror.My stomach revoltsas I release his thumb.Ididn’twant to hurt him.Just like Ididn’twant to hurt Richard, and yet, I’vedone both.
“Stop, Arienna.Just calm –”
“I need to bring him back!”Slamming my head against his chest, I hit him over and over again.
“Bring him back?”Fabia shouts.“You can’t bring him back!”
My nails scrapeinto his skin.“Yes, I can.I read about it before.I just need to pinch his nose and –”
“Pinch?That’s for someone who can’t breathe!”
“And he can’t!”
“No, I mean – Oh, for fuck’s sake, Arienna.”My best friend appearsin front of me.Myex-best friend.Her eyesarefull of pain but not regret.Howcouldshe have done this?Howcouldshe have done this tome?
“I used anguku poison,” shesayssternly.“It’s quick and painless, butirreversible.You can’t bring him back.”
Trembling in Jace’s arms, Icry, “But necromancers do it all the time.”
“Necromancers put a bit of their own soul into the corpse.It’s not the same thing.”
“So what are you saying?”I ask frantically.“I just need to put his cum back inside him?”
“What?No.Their own –” Sheshakesher head.“How are you even equating a soul to cum?”
“Cum makes babies!Babies have souls.”Idon’thave time to explain this.Necromancy needsthe body to still be warm to work,I think.Ihaveno idea how long thatgivesme, and I’venever attempted necromancy before.I need time to get it right.
Ihaveto get it right.
When my feet touch the ground –Jacehavingreleased me– I collapse to the floor.Crawling on my hands and knees, I make it to Richard’s side.I place my hands on his chest, feeling for warmth.
“What are you doing?”Fabia hisses.“Why did you let her go?”
