Page 61 of Night of Death and Flowers

He glances at my torched fingertips. Under the crimson moon, his big, brown eyes seem even darker, and as the canopy above us unravels, revealing the sky, I notice how much he has changed since The Choosing.

His confident stance and hungry stare are accentuated by the gray bark he wears as armor, splattered with blood that suggests his victory over another witch or warlock rather than his own injuries.

“I’m going to kill you,” I promise as I shakily rise to my feet, poising myself to attack.

The pain and exhaustion lessen, but as I lunge at Edwardo, he reveals a handful of purple seeds, then hurls them at my arms.

My brows furrow, and I glance at my arms and hands, horrified as the tiny seeds penetrate my pores, dotting blood around the areas like a large rash.

I move forward, only to be forced back down on my knees by a sharp pain that cuts through my muscles, while a growing pressure builds beneath my skin.

My jaw slacks when I realize he’s forcing the plants to bloom from within.

Every fiber of my being is alight with a vibrant, all-consuming pain.

Waves of anguish pulse through me, any thoughts of survival and fighting back suddenly eclipsed by unrelenting suffering.

A guttural cry quakes from my chest, my fingers curling into the slimy moss.

Delicate stems emerge from my arms, tearing through flesh, as the green sprouts become drenched in my blood. My eyes well up with tears as I unleash another scream, the sound reverberating in the air, while unbearable agony mercilessly tears through me, as if my very cells are being ripped apart.

Buds form at the ends, bringing forth a garden of crimson, lethal blooms that cover my exposed arms, shoulders and hands. As I hold out my trembling hand, thorns spiral from my skin, chunks of flesh catching against the thick spears of the flower, transforming into a crimson rose.

Stars fill my vision, my head throbbing as each breath becomes a labor, the slices of agony shredding through my upper body, my senses distorted by Edwardo’s relentless attacks.

Screams tear through my lips until my throat is raw, my body curled up on the ground, every tiny motion enhancing the excruciating pain radiating through my muscles.

My racing heart pounds in my ears, drowning out all other sounds, while I desperately long for death to hurry me and take the pain away.

“Stop,” I beg between agonizing sobs, my limbs convulsing. “Please, stop, please.”

A shaky groan leaves my lips as I hold my breath, my eyes rolling to the back of my head.

I close my eyes, dizziness consuming me, and I welcome oblivion, the sensation of falling, of passing out, folding me into the edge of blackness.

I linger on the fringes of unconsciousness, the sharp stings needling my sticky, blood coated arms while the roots of the plants uncurl around my bones, etching closer to my heart. The vines move alongside my veins, meeting my magic. The moment that happens, my hungry darkness devours everything in its path, necrosing what is left of my shredded skin.

I refuse to lose my senses, turning my head in time to watch Drake launch himself at Edwardo. My heart stammers when Ari runs up behind him, then grabs his neck.

In no time, the whites of Edwardo’s eyes shine with unshed tears as his lips part, blood frothing through them, crimson bubbles trailing down his chin.

That’s when I realize that she’s infusing a tremendous amount of her healing powers into his body to overwhelm his system.

Vines thrash around them while Drake takes the brunt of their whips, seeds sowing into his arms to turn him into a grotesque human garden.

Edwardo’s shrieks taint the edges of my hazy mind as I watch Ari sink the claws of her powers deeper, and his abdomen swells to ten times its size before exploding.

“Ari,” I whisper just before I fall into nothingness.

TWENTY-FOUR

Calista

It is a most beautiful place, a dream found between life and death.

The golden petals of the sun stretch into the horizon above me, the sky alight with the most captivating purple and pinks. Misty clouds settle together, as if the sky is dancing, welcoming a new day. Orange hues peek into the sky, its rays arrowing around me, spreading warmth over my desperate, aching body.

I blink twice, enjoying the heat, and as the colors touch me, I am as vibrant as this brilliant morning. Tall grass tickles my sides, brushing up against my cheeks as a gentle breeze caresses me. Bees buzz in a symphony with the crickets, and a smile settles over my lips.

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