Ani’s got us all trapped inside some kind of impenetrable ward.
“They’re a little busy right now,” he calls back toward the door, his voice a sing-song falsetto. Then, turning back to me, he folds his arms across his chest and says, “You know, on second thought, I’m not going to bash your skull in just yet. Judgment and the Magician have plans for you, and if I kill you before they have the chance to carry out their dastardly deeds… Well, let’s just say that pissing off those two cranky old bastards is an even worse idea than pissing me off. But you know what I would like to do…” He taps his lips, his smile cruel and broken. “Since we’re all gathered here together, I’d like for you to share a little story with the class.”
Through the swirl of pain and confusion in my mind, his words cut deep, sending a bolt of fear down my spine.
“And what story, you ask?” He claps, bouncing up and down on my chest like a little kid. “I know, I know! How about the one where your poor little brother died. Surely we’d all love to hear that one.”
“Stop,” I whisper. “Please. I… I wasn’t much more than a child myself…”
“Oh, is that what we’re telling ourselves now? You were man enough to know how to make that potion, right?”
I close my eyes, blood pooling on the floor behind my ear, hot and sticky.
“Tell them,” he commands, wrapping a hand around my throat, forcing me to meet his gaze again. He raises his other hand, and suddenly I see it—the object of his sick fascination. The source of his darkest power.
The Wand of Flame and Fury.
“Oh, this old thing?” He bats his lashes, forcing a coy grin. “Just a little something I picked up on my travels. Great fuel efficiency. Really burns it up.” Still clutching my throat, he points the staff at Stevie, the tip glowing as red. “Now. I’ll only ask you one more time. Kindly tell the woman you profess to love what you did to the brother you professed to love. Confess your sins. Let her see what a monster you really are. Let her be the judge of your worthiness.”
“Ani, stop,” Stevie begs, reaching for us both. “This isn’t you.”
“This isn’t who you want me to be, but that doesn’t mean I’m not the real deal.”
From the other side of the room, Baz and Kirin let out low, barely-conscious moans.
“Stop,” Kirin breathes. “Cass, fight…”
Ani rolls his eyes. “Honestly. The four of you are literally the most pathetic excuse for a rescue squad this side of the realm.”
“Ani…” I reach for his face, my head spinning at the movement.
He swats me away like a fly and digs his knees harder into my chest, his eyes blazing with fresh rage.
“Tell her!” he screams, pointing the Wand at Stevie. “Or she will know the pain of Judgment, and her cries will follow you into the afterlife!”
I strain to look at her, finally catching her eyes, holding her, whispering the last words I might ever get to say before I die.
“I love you, my beautiful Star. Always.” And then, taking a deep breath that rips fresh pain into my chest, I make my confession, torn from my very soul by the man I once considered more of a brother than the one who shared my blood.
“Xavier…” I choke out. “My brother. Twenty years ago, he committed suicide. I found him in the garage after he’d shot off half his face. He was still alive. Barely, but still alive.” Tears leak from my eyes, blurring everything before me into a smudge of blood and fire and darkness.
“And?” Ani says, his voice high and mocking.
“And I held him in my arms. His blood was everywhere… He was gasping for air. I held him and I cried and told him how sorry I was… I felt his very life force leave this earth, and I knew it was over. He was dead by his own hand.”
“Tell her the rest,” Ani pushes, bouncing again. “Saving the best part for last… Love it!”
“Please,” I whisper, one final attempt. “Let them go, Ansel. Let them go.”
“No way! We’re just getting to the good part.” He smacks my cheek. “Why? Why did poor little Xavier shoot his brains out?”
I beg him with my eyes, with my heart, with my very soul. But there isn’t a single shred of Ani left inside. He’s no more