Aflame (Apotheosis) (32 page)

“I’ll untie you, but hear me child. If you run, I’ll catch you. The punishment will be severe.” The man slanted his head and looked Stephen up and down. “You’re a fighter, boy. I like that about you.” In one stride, the man had a grip on Stephen’s arm and swiped at his feet, knocking him to the ground. “Don’t try to escape. I’m tired and not in the mood for playing chase.” He straddled Stephen’s thighs and unknotted the rope. “Now boy, you are going to help me—”

The moment his wrists were free, Stephen sent a blue bolt straight at the man’s heart. The force threw the man backwards and he landed with a thud against a tree trunk. Stephen’s lightning danced playful and free around the man’s body as he looked down at a charred wound in the center of his chest. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Before Stephen could stand, the man’s skinny hands were wrapped around his throat.

“What was that, boy?” Evil spirits danced in the man’s eyes. The same demons he used to see in Shayde’s glare.

If he didn’t get away, he was going to die.

Death by girlie fingers.

No. Not gonna happen.

Stephen struck again, but the man disappeared. A fearsome chuckle gave away his location behind a nearby tree.

“Where’s Grayce?” Stephen screamed. Another shot hit the tree dead center. Sparks and sticks flew. The tree snapped at the point of contact.

The man stood and looked down at the hole just below his chest. It was a perfect circle and went all the way through.

The scent of burning flesh filled Stephen’s nostrils, stinging his eyes. The man laughed. He wore no smile on his face, but he laughed.

“A boy? Bested by a pathetic child?” He cackled. “Impossible.” He staggered and balanced himself against the tree stump.

“Boy.” The scowl he shot Stephen would be forever burned in his memory. “I’m going to have to kill you now. It’s a shame. We could have done—” He stumbled forward and clenched his chest. “We could’ve done some amazing things, you and I.”

Stephen watched in horror as the man staggered toward him. The hole in his body oozed black goo.

He was mesmerized by the wound. Looked like he could fit his arm clean through it. He made that hole. Where was the blood?

Gross.

His knees wobbled. “Where’s Grayce?” Stretching his arms toward the man again, Stephen crouched, ready for battle.

The man swayed toward Stephen, reached for him with long trembling arms. “You won’t kill me. I’ll take you to Grayce. Come here boy. Help me. I’ll take you to Grayce.”

Bracing to strike again, Stephen nearly jumped out of his skin as a large hand lay across his arms, forcing them down to his sides. “Get behind me Stephen. Now.”

For the first time in what felt like hours, Stephen breathed.

Familiar arms pulled him behind Zander and locked him in a tight embrace. “Oh thank God. Are you all right?” Stephen nodded but didn’t answer. Relief washed away the crippling fear. She was safe. Grayce was safe.

“Stephen. Listen to me. You need to go back into the tunnel.”

He shook his head no. “No way.” If there was a fight, he was gonna help.

“Don’t argue with me. Just go. We’ll be right there.” Grayce’s eyes were red. Bright, shiny balls of red. He knew better than to argue. Slumping his shoulders, he turned toward the entrance.

* * * *

“My little dove. You’re here.” Tyr held welcoming hands toward Grayce. A wet cough had blood and black liquid spewing over his chin. “I’m already feeling better. It’s amazing, the effect you have on me.”

“You’ve got a bit of a hole in your chest.” Grayce stepped out from behind her giant guardian. “Does it hurt much?” Her lips twitched and the coldness in her glare gave him cause to take a step back. Fear no longer existed behind those hazel eyes.

Hatred. Fierce, flaming hatred.

Tyr’s body convulsed as he tested his ability to teleport. Too weak still. Perhaps if she came closer he could grab her and disappear.

“You’re mine, Grayce.”

Dead or alive.

“Remember that.” He warned.

“Like hell I am.” Raising outstretched palms, she took a confident step toward him.

“Grayce no.” The giant commanded and grabbed her arm. She turned with shocking speed and forced a red flaming ball at the blond warrior. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

“This is my fight” She glared with stone cold fury. “Stay the fuck back.”

Tyr struggled to maintain his composure along with his balance. What was this? A red glow enveloped Grayce, swelled like a rising tide, expanded and spread toward him. His mind raced with possibilities. How did he not know of this power she possessed?

She moved closer. His body warmed.

That’s it, keep coming...just a little closer.

With every step she took toward him, his body strengthened. The pain in his chest subsided, his breathing came easier. She was so close. He just needed to touch her...

* * * *

Time slowed almost to a stop. The familiar snap, pop and buzz of electrified heat swarmed around Grayce’s head.

This was it. Her only chance to stop him, to end Tyr. The monster lay on a silver platter. Apple in his mouth. Just for her.

Shit. It was almost as if he begged her—
come and get me
. Was he anxious for the end? He appeared weak and vulnerable. A state she’d never seen him in. The hole in his chest was a pleasant surprise. Gruesome as hell, but amusing to see nonetheless.

“Yes, my little dove. Come to me.” Fingers splayed, he reached for Grayce, nodding as if to assure her everything would be fine.

With measured steps she inched toward the monster. Fury swept around her, turning underbrush to embers at her feet. The demon who’d turned her into a shell of a human, who had made sure she’d never love or feel loved, stood powerless before her, yet dared to assume control.

Zander loomed behind. Vibrations of protective rage radiated against the back of her head with each angry breath he released.

Tyr stood straighter, took a step forward, eyes filled with hope. “That’s it. Yes. My little dove. My Grayce. Mine.”

“Yours, yes yours.” Grayce stopped just close enough to envelope Tyr inside her red field of retribution.

“Your pain.”

His clothing smoked and charred. Thread by thread it fell away from his body.

“Your suffering.”

The deep black hair on his head turned gray and piece by piece blew away, ashes on the wind.

“Your demise.”

His perfect skin bubbled and blistered.

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t scream. Didn’t try to get away.

“Mine.”

A large hand wrapped around his neck, held him just out of arms reach. Zander lifted Tyr off the ground, an offering to her. A gesture she would hold dear to her heart until her dying breath. A simple act that proved without a doubt his deep love for her. Her mate, her lover offering up a chance for true healing.

“Your angel of death.”

Grayce pulled hard from the molten depths of her soul and forced every bit of fury, fear and torment straight at the monster now dangling in Zander’s hand.

An unholy scream spilled from Tyr’s bloodied lips as his skin charred and peeled away from his body in flakes. His flesh ignited, turned to flame then ash. As Zander released his bones, they hung for a moment, floating and dancing, suspended on a gust of thermal wind.

Grayce screamed as a flaming ball erupted around her. Tyr’s bones were carried away, embers glowing through the darkening sky. Zander was thrown back through the trees. Above, the mountain rumbled as rocks tumbled and rolled toward her.

Bone-tired, Grayce fell to her knees and sucked hard to pull oxygen back into her lungs. A boulder missed her head by inches as it skidded and bounced down the mountain.

Oh shit, Stephen.

Grayce forced herself to her feet and ran toward the tunnel opening, dodging falling rocks. A sharp pain bit her shoulder and knocked her backwards. Hot, hard muscle broke her fall and she was whisked deep inside the mine.

Zander and Stephen were at her side. The threesome covered their ears. A thunderous roar echoed through the opening as the entrance was sealed by rocks, dirt and collapsed mountainside.

* * * *

Stephen rubbed at the bandages around his wrists and smiled. They made him look tough, but they’d be so much cooler if they were black. There had to be a magic marker lying around somewhere.

“Stephen, aren’t you hungry?” Chelsea asked and leaned her elbows on the table.

He glanced down at his grilled cheese. “Not really.”

“Does it taste bad?” She picked up his sandwich, took a bite and chewed. “Nope, no poison. It’s safe to eat.” Chelsea always made jokes and usually he made them too. Just didn’t feel like it today.

“Did I kill him?” He picked up a pickle spear and stabbed it at his fruit salad. “I made a huge hole in him.” Disgusting too. Made his stomach sick. But he didn’t need to tell Chelsea that. She would worry.

“No Stephen, you didn’t kill him. You were so brave. I’m very proud of you.” She scooted her chair closer and rubbed his back.

“But he’s gone, right?” Zander and Grayce had taken him away so fast, he didn’t see what happened. They wouldn’t tell him afterward either.

“Yes, he’s gone. He’ll never hurt you or anyone ever again.”

He pushed his plate away and leaned his chin on the table. “But he was bad, so if I killed him, it would’ve been okay, right?”

“You’re right. He was a very bad man. The worst kind. But no, it’s not okay to kill people.”

He took a deep breath. “Chelsea, I wanted to kill him. I was so mad that he hurt Grayce.” Did that make
him
bad? He sure hoped not.

“I know, sweetie.” She pulled him toward her and kissed his cheek. He hated lip germs. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he didn’t wipe his face. “And there is nothing wrong with you feeling that way.”

“I’m strong enough, I could’ve killed him.”

“Yes, but being strong doesn’t make it okay to hurt people, even when you think it’s for the right reason. If you do, you’ll be just like him.”

“I don’t want to be like him. The bad guys never win. I want to be the superhero.”

“You will be, Stephen. The best superhero ever.” She smiled her big happy smile. He loved it almost as much as her cookies. Maybe Chelsea would help him make a cape. Not red though. It would have to be blue or silver to match his lightning.

“What’s for lunch?” Marcus kissed Chelsea on the head, grabbed the chair next to Stephen and started to fill his plate. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Just not hungry.” He looked at Marcus and shrugged.

“Too bad. I was hoping for some racing action after lunch. You can’t beat me with an empty stomach. I bought two new controllers. I’ll be gone for a few weeks. This is my last chance to beat your high score.”

Stephen picked up his fork and started in on the fruit. No way was he going to let Marcus beat his high score. No way. “Wait a minute. Gone? Where are you going?”

“I’m taking a vacation.” Marcus wiggled his eyebrows and then winked.

Oh yeah. He had some stupid crush on a girl. Yuck.

“Did you find out where she went?” Chelsea asked.

“Yeah. Go figure. Her first vacation in years. Great timing, huh? She’s heading to a private island off the coast of Guyana. I swear. The gods are punishing me.”

Chelsea giggled. “So you’re going to follow her.”

“Well, I’m certainly not waiting two more weeks to meet her.”

Stephen finished the fruit and picked up his sandwich. Marcus was acting goofy about this woman, all soft and sweet. So not Marcus. It was weird.

Chelsea sighed and rolled her eyes. “Poor girl. She’ll never know what hit her.”

Nikolas burst through the room. “You’re not going to believe this.” He rushed to Chelsea’s side. Oh no, Stephen thought. They’re going to kiss again. He squeezed his eyes shut.