Dead Man's Deal The Asylum Tales - By Jocelynn Drake Page 0,52

the air, and more knives jumped from the butcher block on the counter. I smiled. This would keep the bastard busy for a bit. With a nod, all the objects hovering in the air flew through the doorway into the living room, seeking out the only other living creature in the apartment.

I pushed to my feet with a groan and grabbed the handled knife sharpener out of the butcher block. It was little more than a dull silver rod about the diameter of a Magic Marker that came to a sharp point. I could barely grasp my wand in my right hand, but this weapon was held firmly in my left hand.

Charging from the kitchen, I dodged a wicked steak knife that was slashing at the warlock and used my wand to knock aside his wand as he attempted to focus on me while ducking the downward blow of a stainless-steel ladle. I plunged the knife sharpener into his chest just below his heart. He stiffened, his eyes going wide with pain and surprise. At the same time several knives hit home, burying themselves in his arms, legs, and stomach. As he crumpled to the ground, I waved off the spell that was controlling the silverware, allowing the utensils to fall harmlessly to the ground.

The warlock gasped, blood gurgling up his throat and spilling out the side of his mouth. On shaky legs, I kicked his wand away from his reach. I hadn’t killed him, but he was dying. He could heal himself without the wand, but he could use the wand to kill me. My stomach clenched to look at him. I needed to finish him off, put him out of his misery. Right now he was in so much pain that he couldn’t concentrate enough to use magic to heal himself or even take himself back to the Towers. I could pull the silver rod out of his chest, heal him, save him. But wouldn’t he come after me again?

“What the hell?” thundered a deep voice.

Spinning toward the front door, I raised my wand but stopped myself before I let loose the bolt of energy I had summoned. Gideon stood in the open doorway, his hair mussed and shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows. It was the most unkempt I had ever seen him. Yet it was the sight of Sofie bloody and limp in his hands that nearly stopped my heart.

“Sofie! What happened?” I cried, lowering my wand.

Gideon walked into the living room, his sharp gaze taking in and assessing the damage. “I found her on the landing of the stairs as I came up. She must have been caught on her way back.” The warlock’s frown deepened as he looked down at the mortally wounded warlock. “Why isn’t he dead yet?”

“I hadn’t . . . decided . . .”

“Damn it, Gage! You have to kill them!” he shouted, losing his temper. With a growl, he shoved Sofie at me. “Heal her. I will take care of him.”

I didn’t question it. As I was kneeling down to gently lay Sofie on the floor, I saw Gideon pick up a long boning knife from the carpet. He knelt beside the warlock and stabbed him straight through the heart, ending his pain and the threat he presented.

“Holy shit!” Robert cried from the open doorway, popping my head up again. My older brother stood white-faced and frozen on the threshold, a pizza box in one hand and a six-pack of beer in the other. This was not the side of my life my brother needed to see—a warlock kneeling over a dead body, me kneeling over a nearly dead cat, and my apartment trashed from a magic fight. Perfect!

Gideon raised his wand, his body twisted toward my brother as he prepared to sling whatever attack that had come to mind.

“No! Don’t! He’s with me!” I screamed while throwing a protective shield in front my Robert with my free hand.

The warlock’s wand halted, but I could see the thick muscles in his forearm tensed and ready to strike.

“Please, he’s my brother,” I said.

Gideon’s gray eyes jumped to my face, filled with shock. He knew I wasn’t in contact with my family. It wasn’t safe, as evidenced by my thoroughly trashed apartment.

“Please,” I repeated, a little firmer and a little calmer.

With a frown, Gideon lowered his wand and looked back at my brother, waiting. I dropped my shield and waved my brother into my apartment. Damn, I needed to get that front