“Cut the bullshit, Ignatius.Lex is up there reading the runes you’re using to control her.Lucy’s fighting though.Gods, is she a fighter…”
He frowns, trying to piece together what’s coming.
“I realised something… what was the phrase you used?”I clear my throat dramatically and do my best impression of Ignatius.I deepen my voice, fling as much arrogance as I can into it, mocking him.Revelling in the fact I know I’ve finally got the bastard.“Then you have a choice to make.Your soul, for hers.”
I strut around, puff my chest out the way he does when he thinks he’s getting his way.
“Do that, give me my daughter and I’ll let you out of this contract.I want what’s mine and you took it from me.”
The final puzzle piece must click because his face darkens to a violent shade of red.It’s a divine feeling.
“A soul for a soul.That’s what you said,” I grin.The satisfaction is bone deep, nestling against every cell and fibre.I’ve never smiled so hard in my life.
His shoulders stiffen; a pulse throbs in his temple.I take my time to memorise the rage throbbing through his features.There is no pleasure like this.Despite the fact I’m about to die, I finally won.
“Here’s the thing, if I give you my soul, you can’t have hers.She will finally be free.So, Ignatius Corvine… I am here to give you my soul.”
“No,” he barks.
“There’s a thing I do for each soul I reap.A final gift I give them.Do you want to know what it is?”
He launches himself up and runs at the bars, only to be flung backwards as the chains lock out at full extension.“Don’t you dare.”
I ignore him and continue.“I say: whisper your last truth and I’ll carry it to the dark with me.Do you want to know what my final truth is?”
“Go to hell, Midnight.You don’t have the balls to do this.”
I bring the scythe to my neck.Ignatius yanks on the chains, trying anything to rip them free of their restraints.
“My last truth is that all these years I kept sacrificing myself for others.For love and worthy causes.But the thing is I never once believed I was worth saving too.Omnia mors aequat.”
I plunge the scythe deep into my neck and slice in one swift movement.
I suck in a breath, my mouth parts in a scream and then I’m plummeting to the floor.The last thing I hear is Ignatius’s howls of fury.
And then there’s only peace.
43
Lucy
The hold the runes have on me relinquishes in a gasp of air and a rush of noise and colour.
“Where is she?”I say, grabbing the first person I see.
I release the person, realising it’s an unfamiliar face.“Er, sorry…”
“Red,” she reminds me.“And no worries, you were in a strange place for a while there.”
“Thanks for…” I start, but I’m not entirely sure I know what she did.
“No worries.”She waves me off like it was nothing.
Lex’s hand touches mine so suddenly it makes me jump.Her face is smeared with tears and snot, her eyes are bloodshot.
“Where is she, Lex?”I ask again, my voice deep and full of warning.
She can’t bring herself to look at me.She stares at the floor shaking her head, two round tears plopping on the church cobbles.
