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He approaches her, slowly, carefully, warily. He draws a long blade from a sheath on his belt and lifts it as though he means to stab her. The metal glints in the light of the war room as he moves closer. But he doesn’t bring the blade down. Instead, he holds the point up to her cheek, rocking the metal back and forth until it bites into her skin.
She wants to cry out, but she doesn’t let her reaction show through.
“We would have made an impressive duo—the first of our kind.” He says it as though he’s musing aloud. “It’s a shame it must end now.”
Maddy doesn’t flinch as he raises the knife high over her. She tests the weakening bonds holding her, hoping it’s enough.
Malcolm brings the blade down hard and fast in a killing blow, victory glinting in his eyes.
But she darts to the side, her vampire speed making her little more than a blur.
He cries out when he slices through empty air.
Maddy grins, turns, and jumps behind him. She slams her fist into Malcolm’s back, sending him tripping forward. “Not as helpless as you think. Am I, Malcolm?”
A string of curses burst from his mouth. He sprints toward her, slashing at the air, aiming for her but she’s too fast. His blade slices nothing but air. Malcolm’s grunts echo in the war room, and he glances to the exit.
“No help now,” Maddy growls, shoving him backward. “They’re all out there.”
Malcolm whirls and charges at her once more.
She leaps out of his way. “What are you going to do? Call them back to help you like the coward you are?”
“I don’t need them,” he snaps. He presses his hands together and then widens his hands. “I have the supernatural power gifted to me by the Archangel Raphael. Why would I need them?”
A push slams into Maddy’s chest, and she raises her own hands to counter his magic. She slices through the attack, and Malcolm howls as his powers snap back into him. He stumbles backward.
She rushes him again, but he swings his fist and clips Maddy with a right hook. Without pausing, she throws an uppercut with the opposite hand, missing Malcolm’s chin as he anticipates and moves out of the way. He moves into her space then she brings her right hand against Malcom’s temple.
His eyes bulge as the impact forces a grunt from his body. He stumbles back, but the eyes that rise flash with a new surge of hatred. “Not today.”
A thousand stabbing sensations from invisible knives roll over Maddy, and she winces, trying to turn away from the hits.
Malcolm launches himself backward. “You’ll never reach Orion. Don’t you understand this?”
“You won’t win.” She leaps up into the air and brings her hands down.
He poofs into the corner of the room. “Orion will release the Eldritch, and he will bring order to this chaotic world.” He flicks his fingers and sends a handful of maps off the walls. “Humans don’t deserve to live.” His mocking laugh echoes in the cavernous room. “Caleb will die.”
Maddy's hands turn to fists and she chases him into the corner.
“Caleb will die, you foolish girl. In fire and terror. Orion will pull him apart limb by limb.” Malcolm laughs and laughs, deflecting each of her strikes. “As we hasten the Eldritch into our realm.”
The image of Caleb being torn apart ravages her mind, and she shakes her head from side to side. “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.” Then she understands. “Get out of my head, you monster.”
He disappears, but his voice echoes in the space. “Ah, yes, monsters will rule this realm, consuming humanity, piece by piece.” Layers of cackling, mocking sounds send a tumult in Maddy’s heart. “It will be a paradise.”
“A paradise of Orion’s design is no paradise at all,” Maddy yells, searching the shadows. “We’ll never let it happen.”
Malcolm appears at the end of the table, his eyes gleaming as he studies the books spread out before him. He raises his glowing hands over them. Webs of power burst out of his hands, zapping Maddy over and over.
She raises her arms to block him and draws a raging river of warlock power inside of her. With a shout, she brings them down and stomps her foot at the same time. A concussive blast explodes out of her, throwing Malcolm back into the wall behind him. His eyes widen as he slides down the wall.
This time, Maddy laughs. “Didn’t expect that, did you?”
He snarls and jumps to his feet. “You’ll pay for that!”
Maddy crouches, ready to launch herself at the evil man. “You’ll be the one who pays!”
