The Ravens (The Ravens #1) - Kass Morgan Page 0,110
had been struggling to hold at bay shot through her, and she screamed, her voice echoing through the empty woods until it was drowned out by a peal of thunder.
Dahlia sighed and removed the knife. “Shout all you like. Nobody’s going to hear you all the way out here.”
Just keep her talking, Vivi thought desperately. The longer she stalled, the longer the Ravens would have to find her. “What do you need my powers for?”
“I need the magic of all four suits to perform certain spells. No more waiting for any pesky full-moon rituals. No need to borrow or beg my strength from others.”
“So everything you said about sisterhood is bullshit, then? You don’t believe that we’re stronger together?”
“Sisterhood?” Dahlia’s mouth curled into a sneer. “When I needed my so-called sisters most, no one was there for me. When I begged for their magic, they turned away. They left me no choice.”
“The Kappas worship you. And even if we didn’t . . . that would be no excuse to do this to anyone. What about Tiffany?” Vivi asked, bracing for the horrible truth. “Did you kill her? Did you take her powers?” The thought of dead witches’ magic running through Dahlia’s veins made Vivi’s stomach turn; it was like imagining someone pluck out a person’s eyeball and place it in their own socket.
“You know what? I think I’ve had about as much chitchat as I can handle.” She snapped her fingers and Vivi’s lips clamped together. Vivi tried to scream, but the attempt resulted in agonizing pain. She raised her arms as much as possible and awkwardly ran the backs of her bound hands along her mouth. Her lips had been sewn together with thick string.
“Now, just relax,” Dahlia said in an almost singsong voice as she held the dagger over one of the candles. “It’ll all be over in a minute. I just need to hold your heart long enough to complete the transfer. Then I’ll kill you as quickly as possible. I have no interest in prolonging your suffering, I promise.”
A wave of terror and nausea crashed over Vivi as she pictured herself splayed in the center of the pentagram, watching helplessly as Dahlia plunged the knife into her chest and removed her still-beating heart. Would she pass out from the pain? Or would she remain lucid as she bled to death, alone in the forest, abandoned by the sisters she’d let down?
She saw her mother getting the call from Westerly, an official saying he was sorry to inform her that there’d been an accident. A sob tore through Vivi’s throat as she saw Daphne’s face crumple, her mother whispering, “No, no, no,” as she slumped against the wall. Spending the night crying on the couch, clutching one of the stuffed animals Vivi had left behind, the only piece of her daughter that remained.
She thought of her sisters, with whom she would never have the chance to make things right. And despite herself, she imagined Mason’s face when he heard whatever version of the news Kappa decided to give. His mixture of anguish and regret about losing the girl who hadn’t allowed him to love her.
Dahlia extended her arms as she tilted her head to the sky and began to chant in a language Vivi didn’t recognize.
As her voice rose, the flames grew higher until the candles looked like torches releasing smoke into the air. Vivi watched with fascinated horror as the streams of smoke began to join and condense, forming the shape of three large birds with dark eyes and sharp beaks.
Ravens.
The birds rose into the air, then turned and swooped toward Vivi, smoke trailing from their wingtips as they descended.
She tried to scream, but again, no sound came out. She couldn’t yell. Couldn’t use her magic. She was helpless . . . and she was about to die.
The first raven landed on her stomach with surprising, chilling weight. It’s just an illusion, Vivi tried to tell herself. It can’t actually hurt you. But then the bird thrust its head forward, plunging its beak into her chest and piercing her skin. Another bird landed on her shoulder and began to peck at her chest from another angle.
Vivi wrenched herself from side to side, trying to scare them off, shake them loose, but their pecking only grew more painful and intense. With each strike, they dug deeper into her skin.
They were going to rip her chest open and expose her heart.