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Reaching down, he pulled up a pant leg. A harsh burn wrapped around my leg. It had blistered and flaked, like the world’s worst sunburn. His fingers trailed lightly over the wound and I hissed as the pain returned.
“A feral grabbed me just before I could get through the gate,” I explained. “In Hell, they look like these shadowy phantoms of death. Their touch burns, just like the demon in my head.”
That was the first time I’d thought about my demon side in hours. The sudden reminder of my evil side made me wilt. I may have escaped Hell, but I was still the home of a parasitic worm that hated everything Gabe and my family stood for. The thought made me loosen my grip on Gabe’s hand, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Lizzy Redding, you will pay for this.”
Silvia came storming down the aisle, apparently no longer speechless. Fire burned behind her dark eyes. Hot on her trail followed Oscar and Manuel. My trainer gave me a grim nod when he approached, relief on his face. I smiled at him, thankful for his presence. At least he hadn’t given up on me, even if his comrades preferred to hide me away in the dungeon.
“Lizzy didn’t do anything wrong.” Luke stepped in front of her, blocking me from view. “She was thrown into Hell against her will.”
She huffed loudly, her voice raising above the din of the room. “She let a band of ferals through the Hell Gate. If it wasn’t for her, they’d never been able to pass through all at once. For all we know, she’s working with the demons. How do you know her demon side hasn’t taken over?”
“Because it hasn’t.” Gabe pushed me behind him as he took a step next to Luke. “I’d know.”
“Like how her father knew about her mother?” She laughed mockingly. “Please, don’t pretend you know better than me. Now stand aside, gentlemen. Let me do my job.”
Despite her threatening tone, I stepped out from behind them to face her. Luke and Gabe wore matching expressions of stubborn hostility, evident in the deep lines of their frowns and the way their eyebrows met above fierce glares. Gabe reached out to stop me, but I gently pushed his hand away. If Silvia wanted proof that I was still me, she could see for herself.
“I didn’t mean to let them through,” I said, lifting my chin.
If anyone was to blame, it was Silvia herself. She’d housed Elizabeth across the hall from me. It was probably why she’d allowed herself to get caught in the first place—access to me. We’d played right into their hands.
“But you did.” Silvia’s eyes narrowed into slits. Her red lips pressed into a grim line. “And there’s no telling what damage you’ve done. My only means of action now is to make sure you don’t cause any more.”
I bit my bottom lip. She could try to throw me into the dungeon for the rest of time, but there was no way I’d stay there. We’d played her game long enough. I needed to be up here, among my family, figuring out how to slay my demon. She couldn’t cage me anymore.
“Oscar...” Silvia flicked her wrist casually at the giant blond man. “Kill her. Do it now.”
A small smile flickered on his lips as his hand reached for the broadsword that hung from his hip. Charging like a bull, his weapon flashed in the warm light of the ballroom, aiming directly for my heart.
Chapter Sixteen
The absurdity of the situation hit me as Oscar drew nearer with his sword. I’d risked my life to get back here and save these people. And now, they wanted to kill me? Would I never be safe?
Gabe threw me to the ground. Oscar’s sword whizzed over the top of my head, skimming off a few stray hairs. Around us, the room broke out into a roar. Two men grabbed Luke as he tried to intervene. Oscar regained his footing and charged again. Keeping his head down, he lunged forward. I had just enough time to roll to my side before the broadsword cleaved the space I’d left behind.
“Stop,” Gabe ordered. “That’s enough.”
He dove for Oscar’s feet, dragging him down hard. The sword dropped to the floor with a deep clang and the two of them wrestled to reach it. Oscar got it first. Swinging the hilt of the massive metal weapon, he struck Gabe directly on the temple. Gabe crumbled to the ground, his body going limp.
“Gabe!” I ran toward him.
We’d been in this position before, although I never imagined another Nephilim would be the one to bring him down. Cradling his head in my lap, I stroked his hair and the tender spot on his temple where a bruise had already begun to form. The soft rise and fall of his chest told me he was going to be okay. That brute hadn’t killed him. If Gabe had been human, he would’ve been a goner.
“What are you waiting for?” Silvia screamed.
I looked up to see her standing only feet away, her face red and little blood vessels popping out along her forehead.
“Kill her,” she said. “Kill her before she can let that army of ferals through the gate. Our fate depends on getting rid of the key.”
Oscar panted as he stood in front of me. He wrapped two hands around the base of the sword, as if it were a baseball bat, and pulled it back. My judge, jury, and executioner.
Closing my eyes, I tried to take comfort in the warmth of Gabe’s body next to mine. There was no better way to die. Fighting back would’ve been insane. I couldn’t fend off an entire room of Nephilim warriors. And they had every right to want to kill me. I was the end of their world. With me gone, maybe they’d stand a chance.
I waited for the final blow, the stinging pain that would end my life. It didn’t come.
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