Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Iarla circled above the mob, swinging me around like a pinata. “For weeks, those running this shitheap have let us fight and kill each other in search of the truth, all while they lied and protected this cheating, murdering worm!”
“Yeah!” they bellowed back. “Liars! Cheats! Witch-lovers!”
“We all know that Lucifer will make a deal with anyone,” Iarla crowed, whipping them up into a frenzy. “He doesn’t care with who. He doesn’t care who dies as long as his blood isn’t spilled. Well, are you cowardly fucks okay with that?!” he bellowed. “Are you cool with your blood being spilled for the sake of anyone who’s willing to suck Lord Lucy’s dick?!”
“No!”
“Fuck that worm!”
“Kill it!”
Out of the corner of my eye, one of the fae guard plucked a feather and tossed it at the ground.
It happened almost instantly.
A wooden pole shot out of the ground, narrowly clubbing me in the head. At the base of the pole, wood and kindling appeared.
“No!” I went insane. Flinging, heaving, and thrashing in the ropes, I screamed through thread for someone, anyone, to stop this. “Help!”
“Burn the witch!” Iarla roared.
“Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn the witch!”
The chant echoed across the field.
Swooping down, Iarla dropped me on the wood pile, and the ropes came to life—immediately lashing me to the stake. Wasting no time, Ravenscar pulled out another feather, and I knew why.
That feather was all the match he needed.
“Burn the witch! Burn the witch!”
Iarla hovered before me, grinning manically into my tear-filled eyes. “What’s the matter?” he hissed as he brought the feather to his lips. “Don’t you think your sugar daddy Lucy will come save you?” He shrugged. “Oh, well, even if he doesn’t, it’s still a good day.” Evil lit in those beautiful eyes. “Because I get to watch you burn.”
“No!”
Puckering his lips, Iarla blew.
“NO!”
Flames blew from his palm and engulfed me.
Screaming my descent into hell, I was consumed.
Chapter Thirteen
Ifreaked out.
Straining and flailing against the ropes, I screamed myself hoarse—tears soaking my face and gag—as the flames consumed me and the pain—
Wait... The pain?
All around me was fire. Burning, crackling, and roaring so loud, it drowned out the bloodthirsty mob. Smoke filled my eyes and blotted out my vision, but the pain... why was there no pain?
No, not just no pain. Sound suddenly winked out too.
The chanting stopped, the roaring stopped, the crackling stopped, everything stopped. It was as if someone hit pause on the whole horrific scene.
Hold on. Lucifer! He did something! He stopped them from—
“Char?”
Every muscle in my body locked up.
That voice again. The voice I heard in the library that early morning before I was conked on the head. That female voice. That voice belonging to a person who absolutely could not be here.
“Char, can you hear me?” A figure moved through the smoke. “Don’t worry, you’re not hurt, and you’re not going to be. Just give me a second and I’ll get you out of there and away from these squealing pigs.”
Over the shouting and confusion banging around in my mind, I heard a clear and distinctive snap.
My ropes fell away, dumping me on the uneven surface.
I stumbled off the burning but heatless kindling, and dropped on the ground—my legs not even trying to hold me up.
She tsked. “Oh no, you’re still weak from the blood loss.”
Her shadow fell over me, and I choked. Curly golden locks, freckled nose, and that charming, crooked smile. Everything was the same except for one thing. Gone were her green eyes. Staring down at me were eyes that could be called nothing but demon red.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I have something that will make you feel good as new. The nightmare is over, Charlie. I’m here now.”
“But— But— But you can’t be here!” I burst out. “This is a trick. A glamour. An imp’s illusion! Mom,” I gasped, eyes bugged. “How?!”
My mother smiled at me. That same soft, loving smile I’ve missed for four long years. “When all other explanations fail you, the simplest one is best. You know how I came to be here, sweetheart, because there can be only one reason.
“Four years ago, when I died, I was sent to hell.”
“MOM” FLOATED ME THROUGH the halls on an invisible magic stretcher. And like a stretcher, invisible bands lashed me down. Even if I was strong enough to get up and get away, that wasn’t happening.
“The first thing to know is that you’re safe now,” she said. “From that perverted vampire, from that fae brat, and from that mutt who’s so obsessed with you.”
My goodness, how long has this weirdo been watching me?
“I cast immobilization magic over the entire academy. Normally, I wouldn’t have the power for such a feat, but I’m much stronger these days.” She looked at me. “I know you have a lot of questions—”
“I don’t have any questions for you,” I sliced off. “You’re not my mother. You’re a fake who looks like her. You’re probably Lucifer.”