Do not call me that. My name is Gally.
Al, please, I said again, carefully extricating myself from Ivy, hoping she would remain asleep. The heartache of his bitter abandonment hit me hard, my emotions already paper thin because of Ivy. I felt new tears threaten, hating them. It was an accident. I was trying to . . . My throat closed up. Ivy slumped behind me, but he wouldnt help, and that hurt even more.
Oh-h-h-h, he said in mock distress. Your sad, sad little friend is dying.
He could save her with a word, but I remained silent, standing before him, hating his bitter callousness. He was better than this. Id seen it in unguarded moments.
You smell like carrion, he said, nose wrinkled. Behind me Ivy stirred but didnt wake. Butterflies like carrion. He paused as if in speculation. No, thats elf. I can smell the stink from here, even over the putrid reek of burnt amber.
Nothing in him had changed. I knew it wouldnt have. My finding love with Trent hadnt hurt him this bad. I was a symptom, not the core of what brought this hatred out. The fear that he might kill Trent just to spite me was real, though, and I backed up a step.
Silent? He sniffed, looking disgusted. Miracles do happen.
Why is he still here? I heard the scrabbling of claws and I glanced at Ivy. I could use your help, I whispered, knowing he never would.
Demons dont help, he said bitterly. Demons torment. Cant you tell the difference?
Thats not how I saw you.
Al eyed the thin bands of smut crawling over the surface of my circle, his lips twisting in jealousy. You did at first.
Because thats all you showed me, I shot back. Id thought hed understood me. Id trusted him, and hed turned his back on me because Trent was an elf, the same as the woman hed once loved and hadnt been brave enough to fight for. What did I ever do to you?
Al uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, anger shining from his eyes. You hurt me! he yelled, giving in and punching my circle.
With an inward rush of energy, my circle fell into him with a pop.
Not expecting it, Al lurched, his hat falling off as he stumbled back and caught his balance. I stared at him in shock as his hat rolled to a stop almost at my feet. Thered been an instant of connection between us, an undeniable spark. He looked just as surprised, his eyes wide in disbelief.
H-how? I stammered, then renewed the circle as claws scraped in the ugly red light.
His lips parted to show his blocky teeth. Al put a careful finger to my bubble. The black crawled to him, and when he touched it, my circle fell.
Stop that! I shouted, heart pounding as I set it anew, but he was already across it and in here with me. Something was wrong. Hed broken my circle, and he hadnt even tried.
That little bitch! Al shouted, and Ivy stirred.
I gasped as Al strode to me, halting with an unexpected shortness when I raised my hand in threat. She changed your soul, yes? the demon demanded, fidgeting and so close I could smell the smoke from his fire on him. Newt changed it so that puking elf goddess couldnt find you by your aura?
I gasped as Al strode to me, halting with an unexpected shortness when I raised my hand in threat. She changed your soul, yes? the demon demanded, fidgeting and so close I could smell the smoke from his fire on him. Newt changed it so that puking elf goddess couldnt find you by your aura?
I nodded, not breathing until he took three steps back. Okay, he was pissed, but he wasnt choking me.
The crazy bitch changed your aura to mimic mine!
My mouth dropped open. Horrified, I looked at my circle. Jenks had said my aura was different, but he never said it looked like Als! But then, mine wasnt covered in as much smut and probably looked brighter. Thats why the demon had been able to drop my circle with a touch. Great. Now I had nothing to block his spells with!
She patterned your new aura after mine. The bitch! Al wasnt looking at me, hands on his hips as he watched the surface demons throw rocks at the lantern hed left behind until it shattered and Als globe of light rolled in the dust. Thats how you were able to move my line.
But why? Had it been the crazy demons perverted attempt at a joke? Or maybe she thought it would bring us back together. But then a new thought sparked through me. If our auras are the same, then Treble can teach me how to jump the lines.
Al spun, coattails furling. Expression hard, he pointed a finger at me. I share my soul resonance with no one!
My skin was prickling. He was pulling on the line, gathering energy to him. Our eyes met, and he grimaced when he realized I could feel it. He took a breath, and frantic, I dove for cover. Knock it off! I shouted as a ball of black-tinted energy exploded against the ground, peppering me with bits of rock. It wasnt my idea! I added, scrabbling to my feet.
But he was already deep in a chant, a glowing mass of forced power stretching between his fingers. Crap on toast. He was using old battle magic. Al! I protested, then stiffened when Als lantern light rolled into my circle and it fell with the sensation of sparkling tingles.
Ivy, I whispered, turning to see a surface demon creeping to her.
Son of a bitch, I muttered. Ignoring Al, I dove for her. Howling, I pulled a massive wave of energy from the line. Al lurched to get out of my way, his goat-slitted eyes wide when I threw the unfocused energy at the surface demon instead of him. The surface demon skittered back, scuttling away with an evil chatter.
And dont come back! I shouted, shaking as I reinstated the circle. Or Ill give you more of the same!
My skin prickled. I spun back to Al. But the demon wasnt even looking at me. Relieved, I turned to Ivy, seeing her eyes black and beautiful. You okay? I asked her, and she smiled.
Ill miss watching you work, she said, more alive than Id seen her in two hours.
Pissed, I pulled the hair out of my mouth and glared at Al. Youre a prick for standing there when I need help, you know that? I said, then ducked as something flew over my head.
Rachel! Bis called, the cat-size gargoyle winging in a tight circle to drop down onto the rock Ivy was slumped against. Jenks said you were going to walk to the church. Hold on. Ill be right back. Trents at the wrong line.
Trent? I took an elated breath, but the little guy was gone. The sun had gone down unnoticed, and his pebbly black skin was hard to see against the night. Id hardly recognized him before hed vanished.
My knees were shaking, and I turned to find Al was gone. Coward. You left me! I shouted. And I can love anyone I want! I added, but there was no one there but Ivy to hear me.
Son of a bastard, I muttered, hope a quick flash as a figure stepped from nothing in the soft sound of displaced air. There was the quick pulse of leather wings, and Bis was gone again.
Nina! I had expected Trent, but it was Nina, the athletic woman in her classy dress suit and black nylons bolting to Ivy with a vampiric quickness despite her high heels.
Youve been here for hours! Nina exclaimed, black eyes angry as she fell to kneel before Ivy and covered her with her jacket. Why didnt you give her any blood?
It hurt when she said it like that. She doesnt want any, I said, my relief overwhelming.
Ivy pushed weakly at Nina, eyes slipping shut. No. Im okay. Rachel did what I asked.
She doesnt want blood. Stop forcing her, I said.
Hunched over Ivy, making her Hispanic elegance into a frightening shadow, Nina all but hissed, This is what she is. What she wants means nothing when it comes to keeping her alive.
But if she quit striving for who she wanted to be, Ivy might as well be dead.
I took a breath to tell Nina to back off, startled when Bis jumped back into existence. The little gargoyle was on Trents shoulder, and he immediately popped back across the lines, for Jenks, probably.
Thank you, God. Trent shuddered as the stink of burnt amber filled his lungs, and something flip-flopped in me. My eyes darted to where Al had last been to be sure he was gone. Trent was here. I didnt have to do this alone. He wouldnt let Ivy die. Wed be in time.
Rachel. Trents usual slacks and dress shirt looked out of place, sheened with red from the glow in the sky. His dress shoes slipped on the dust, and he caught his balance effortlessly. His pace crossing the dust was fast, and his eyes were quick. Sunset, even in the ever-after, was truly his best time. Thank God youre all right. Jenks told me what happened. Is Ivy okay?
Shes hurt bad, I said as he reached me. Nina was trying to get her pearl button undone from a silk cuff, but Ivy wouldnt let her, insistently promising she was okay. Shes got internal injuries and a concussion. I hesitated, surprised at the sudden lump in my throat. I probably shouldnt have moved her, but I had to get to a line . . .
Why the hell am I always last! Jenks complained, joining us in a bright flash of pixy dust. His bright sparkle sifted down like a temporary sunbeam over Ivy, making her smile and lift her hand to give him a place to land. She was whispering to Jenks, comforting him when it should have been the other way around.
Bis landed on the rock above them, clearly anxious to start jumping us out. His lion-tufted tail wrapped around his feet, looking both submissive and protectivedangerous even as the white tufts on his ears made him cute.
We had to gobut I nearly lost it when Trent pulled me close, smelling of green things and spice, his touch real and loving, reminding me of everything I wanted but was afraid to call my own. Suddenly I was fighting the urge to cry as fingers strong from pulling in unruly horses and tapping out keyboard commands gentled me closer. Id had to keep it together, and now there was someone to help. Ivy was going to make it. Shed make it! She had to.
You did the right thing, Trent whispered, the deep understanding in his voice bringing my defenses down. Id never have expected it a year ago, but now . . . after seeing him lose everything to follow his heart, I could. I could accept his comfort, show my vulnerabilityeven if it might not last. The undeniable truth was, he was meant for better things than me. One day Ellasbeth would have him, and Id be left with the memory of who he had wanted to be.