My Soul to Steal
Page 92
Nash hesitated, and I read confliction on his face. He couldnt deny what we all knew had happened, but passing the blame on to Sabine, where it rightfully belonged, would only push her further toward making a proverbialand almost literaldeal with the devil. I take it back, he finally said. I was frustrated and angry, and I acted on impulse, when there was probably a better way to handle the situation, he said, and I wondered if that was a direct quote from his mother.
Hell do it again. Invidia swept a rivulet of hair over her shoulder, and drops of it splattered the floor behind her. As long as shes in the way, hell abandon you again and again. Sign over your soul, and Ill make all that go away. Ill make her go away.
And suddenly I was out of patience.
Okay, look, I started, and when all heads turned my way, I had to swallow the lump in my throat before continuing. Your soul is your business, Sabine.
Kaylee Nash started, warning me with his tone.
Shes a big girl, Nash, I insisted. She can handle the truth. I turned back to Sabine, uncomfortably aware that I also had the full attention of two hellions. What you do with your soul is up to you. I personally think youd be an idiot to sign it over to someone who plans to torture you for all of eternity, and that is what shes planning. Ask her, if you dont believe me. But I wont let you drag Emma down with you.
I propped my hands on my hips and shot Sabine a challenging glance. You let her go right now, and then if you still want to sell your soul Ill prick your finger myself, so you can sign in blood. Hows that?
Kaylee! Nash snapped, but I could only shrug, hoping my attempt at reverse psychology didnt backfire. Sabine typically did exactly what I wanted her not to, so maybe if she thought I wanted her to sell her soulor at least that it wouldnt bother meshed run in the opposite direction.
Let her speak, Avari said, hands in the pockets of his suit jacket. I find her honestyblissfully chaotic. He was dressed like any human corporate monkey, which should have made him look harmless andnormal. But his eyes
I couldnt stand to look at those solid black orbs; they seemed to suck the light out of the room, rather than reflect it. His eyes were windows not into his soulhe didnt have onebut into a void so deep and dark it was the very definition of despair.
Good. Here, lets get this over with. I marched toward Sabine, hoping a show of aggression on my part would push her into action.
Sabine took a step back, pulling Emma with her. Nash called my name, but I didnt stop. And when I was halfwaybetween him and Sabine, a sudden wink of motion drew my attention to my right. My head swiveled, eyes searching for the anomaly.
Avari was gone.
Nash yelped behind me. I spun to find Avari holding him by one arm, and suddenly I understood why neither hellion had made a move until that momentId gotten pretty damn good at crossing over in a hurry, and based on what Id seen minutes earlier, Sabine could do it nearly instantly. Neither hellion was willing to risk us crossing over and depriving them of four victims.
But once Nash was out of my reach, he was fair game.
I froze, stuck between my maybe-boyfriend and my definitely best friend, unsure what to do.
One move, and Ill kill him, Avari said, and since hellions cant lie, I was pretty sure he wasnt bluffing.
Kaylee, go! Nash shouted, face already twisted with pain, and I understood that he was feeling exactly what Id felt in the nightmare Avari had given me. Take them and go!
But Id no more leave him than Id leave Emma, and the hellion obviously knew that.
Avari glanced past me at Sabine. Lets make a deal, Ms. Campbell.
No! Invidia screeched, and Emma gave a startled yip. I followed her gaze to see that the hellion of envy now sported several rows of razor-sharp, needle-thin teeth, the yellowish white of aged bone. No deals. The mara is mine, and so is the lovely Emma-body. Mine!
Kaylee! Em moaned, and now she was clinging to Sabine.
Sabine, get her out of here! I snapped, splitting my attention between Invidia, Sabine and Em, and Avari and Nash.
If you go, youll never see him again, Avari said, and Sabines eyes widened in panic. She wouldnt let Nash die, and as grateful as I was for that impulse, I was terrified to even think what shed do to save him.
Whats your offer? Sabine asked, and a horrible screech of fury erupted from Invidias inhuman throat.
No! Mine! I found her. I fed her. I cultivated her envy into a fragrant bouquet of desire and bitterness and rage, and she is perfectly ripe right now, and I will pluck her!
Avaris gaze never wavered from Sabine. A trade. Mine he shoved Nash forward, without letting go of him, and Nash moaned for yours. And thats when I understood that Avari was feeding from him. Draining his energy, like hed done for more than a day, the last time Nash was in the Netherworld.
No, Sabine, Nash gasped, as his face drained of all color. Kaylee, dont let her do it.
I didnt know what to say. I couldnt choose between Nash and Emma. I couldnt!
Hell do it again. Invidia swept a rivulet of hair over her shoulder, and drops of it splattered the floor behind her. As long as shes in the way, hell abandon you again and again. Sign over your soul, and Ill make all that go away. Ill make her go away.
And suddenly I was out of patience.
Okay, look, I started, and when all heads turned my way, I had to swallow the lump in my throat before continuing. Your soul is your business, Sabine.
Kaylee Nash started, warning me with his tone.
Shes a big girl, Nash, I insisted. She can handle the truth. I turned back to Sabine, uncomfortably aware that I also had the full attention of two hellions. What you do with your soul is up to you. I personally think youd be an idiot to sign it over to someone who plans to torture you for all of eternity, and that is what shes planning. Ask her, if you dont believe me. But I wont let you drag Emma down with you.
I propped my hands on my hips and shot Sabine a challenging glance. You let her go right now, and then if you still want to sell your soul Ill prick your finger myself, so you can sign in blood. Hows that?
Kaylee! Nash snapped, but I could only shrug, hoping my attempt at reverse psychology didnt backfire. Sabine typically did exactly what I wanted her not to, so maybe if she thought I wanted her to sell her soulor at least that it wouldnt bother meshed run in the opposite direction.
Let her speak, Avari said, hands in the pockets of his suit jacket. I find her honestyblissfully chaotic. He was dressed like any human corporate monkey, which should have made him look harmless andnormal. But his eyes
I couldnt stand to look at those solid black orbs; they seemed to suck the light out of the room, rather than reflect it. His eyes were windows not into his soulhe didnt have onebut into a void so deep and dark it was the very definition of despair.
Good. Here, lets get this over with. I marched toward Sabine, hoping a show of aggression on my part would push her into action.
Sabine took a step back, pulling Emma with her. Nash called my name, but I didnt stop. And when I was halfwaybetween him and Sabine, a sudden wink of motion drew my attention to my right. My head swiveled, eyes searching for the anomaly.
Avari was gone.
Nash yelped behind me. I spun to find Avari holding him by one arm, and suddenly I understood why neither hellion had made a move until that momentId gotten pretty damn good at crossing over in a hurry, and based on what Id seen minutes earlier, Sabine could do it nearly instantly. Neither hellion was willing to risk us crossing over and depriving them of four victims.
But once Nash was out of my reach, he was fair game.
I froze, stuck between my maybe-boyfriend and my definitely best friend, unsure what to do.
One move, and Ill kill him, Avari said, and since hellions cant lie, I was pretty sure he wasnt bluffing.
Kaylee, go! Nash shouted, face already twisted with pain, and I understood that he was feeling exactly what Id felt in the nightmare Avari had given me. Take them and go!
But Id no more leave him than Id leave Emma, and the hellion obviously knew that.
Avari glanced past me at Sabine. Lets make a deal, Ms. Campbell.
No! Invidia screeched, and Emma gave a startled yip. I followed her gaze to see that the hellion of envy now sported several rows of razor-sharp, needle-thin teeth, the yellowish white of aged bone. No deals. The mara is mine, and so is the lovely Emma-body. Mine!
Kaylee! Em moaned, and now she was clinging to Sabine.
Sabine, get her out of here! I snapped, splitting my attention between Invidia, Sabine and Em, and Avari and Nash.
If you go, youll never see him again, Avari said, and Sabines eyes widened in panic. She wouldnt let Nash die, and as grateful as I was for that impulse, I was terrified to even think what shed do to save him.
Whats your offer? Sabine asked, and a horrible screech of fury erupted from Invidias inhuman throat.
No! Mine! I found her. I fed her. I cultivated her envy into a fragrant bouquet of desire and bitterness and rage, and she is perfectly ripe right now, and I will pluck her!
Avaris gaze never wavered from Sabine. A trade. Mine he shoved Nash forward, without letting go of him, and Nash moaned for yours. And thats when I understood that Avari was feeding from him. Draining his energy, like hed done for more than a day, the last time Nash was in the Netherworld.
No, Sabine, Nash gasped, as his face drained of all color. Kaylee, dont let her do it.
I didnt know what to say. I couldnt choose between Nash and Emma. I couldnt!
