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He tried to hit me again, and I moved out of his way.
“Of course, you’re too useless to get the info yourself. Dream jumping in exchange for immortality. Are you happy with your deal?”
“Wasn’t my choice,” I spat through gritted teeth. He swung at me, and I barely managed to dodge it. I was slow, too. Damn it!
“You got yourself a little pet. I must admit, you’re useless but smart.”
My heart sank. He took a step toward me, then another. He knew by now that I wasn’t going to attack him because I could barely defend myself. He probably couldn’t guess why, but he took advantage of my weakness anyway, and tried to corner me.
“How do you know all this?” I managed.
“You thought your mother and I don’t talk anymore? We’re not best friends, mind you. She hasn’t forgiven me yet. But I visit her from time to time, make sure everything’s under control. She told me about your… what’s her name? Doesn’t matter.”
Eyes wide and mouth agape, I couldn’t say a word, couldn’t move a muscle. He was towering over me now, and all I could do was stare at his parchment-like face.
“You sent that kid to find her. So very bold of you. Daughter, you’re more like me than you think.” He grinned darkly. “Look at you! I have the perfect name for this journey you’re on: The Making of a Villain.”
“I’m not a…”
He raised his scythe above his head, and when he let it fall upon me, I didn’t block him. My arms turned to jelly. He knew. My mom knew. Yoli knew… That meant one thing and one thing only: my cousin had been lying to me.
“Do it,” I whispered.
Things would’ve been so easy if he could kill me. I’d exit this life, go to atone for my sins in Hell, and forget about how epically I’d failed. I closed my eyes and waited for it. I knew it wouldn’t happen, but I still waited for it. The blade of his scythe stopped a few inches from my forehead. I could hear it rumble. I opened my eyes and looked at the tiny cracks that served as a reminder that Morningstar couldn’t kill me. Ever. I was blood of his blood.
What happened next was a blur. A golden bull jumped between me and Morningstar, his horns digging into the Grim Reaper’s stomach. Valentine flew a few feet in the air and landed with a grunt. Slowly, he pulled himself to his feet, his eyes trained on the beautiful, strong animal that had attacked him. Paz came out of nowhere and helped me up. Francis and Sariel stepped out of the forest as well, scythes at the ready. My father looked at the five of us for a long moment, probably contemplating his chances against my four warriors.
“It was good catching up, daughter,” he said, then teleported away.
Corri popped out of nowhere, specks of pixie dust flying out of her buzzing wings.
“I’m sorry, Mistress. I didn’t know what to do! I called for help!”
I pulled myself free from Paz’s protective hold.
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much,” I grumbled.
“Didn’t look that way,” GC said, now standing in front of me in his glorious naked form. He’d shifted back, and he was in dire need of clothes.
I rolled my eyes at him. At all of them. “You know he can’t hurt me. Come on!”
“Mila, you’re weak.” Francis stepped closer and studied me with concerned eyes. “It’s been too long. Way over four months. Are you trying to commit suicide?”
I shrugged. “I don’t want to do this anymore. I can hold on until after graduation. Death will give me immunity, and this whole rotting business will go away.”
“You’ll be a pile of teeth and bones until then.” The tone of Sariel’s voice said he was tired of my bullshit. “You have to do it. Today. Now.”
“I have a good candidate,” Paz said.
I rubbed my aching temples. “You’ve been looking for a blood sacrifice for me?”
“Of course I have. We’re in this together.”
“No, we’re not.” I looked at them as intensely as I could, hoping this time my words would actually get through their thick skulls. “I’m not your responsibility. You don’t have to find victims for me, make sure I do the ritual, and you definitely don’t have to save me from Valentine Morningstar. We’re separate people. I take care of my shit, and you take care of yours. You asked me countless times why I needed a break. Well, this is a top reason. We’ve become co-dependent! We do everything together, we’re too involved in each other’s lives, and it’s gotten to a point where if I want to do something b
y myself because I believe it’s my responsibility to do it, you won’t let me. What the hell?! You’ve helped me a lot, and God knows I appreciate everything you did for me. You helped me stand on my own two feet. But the clock is ticking, twenty-two students will become Grim Reapers, and the rest will go work in research or whatnot. You don’t want to be among the rest, okay? You must focus on yourselves, your grades and your worth scores, and make sure you make it. You make sure this story ends with the four of you becoming Grim Reapers! Leave the whole Morningstar drama to me, because that’s my business. Same with the ritual. Don’t worry, I won’t die again. I’ve made it this far.”
“Mila…”
