Page 3 of The Danger Kiss

Oh no.

The chase went on until dawn, until she reached the wharf, where there was no place else to run into save the black waters.

They had her cornered.

But a Zola was never helpless.

She fought them. Hard.

She was harsh and unforgiving. Ruthless and so very fast and unstoppable.

The sun was peeking above the horizon when she fell on her knees onto the bloodied wooden planks on the seaside, her pale-skinned hands no longer pale but as red as the freshest roses.

All around her, scattered in the manner of a ghastly entourage, were twenty-one dead bodies.

Her flowers, she realized, were gone too.

Victory had its price.

Blanca began to stand, her knees shaking. She spat on the bloodied wooden planks, her breathing uneven. As she rose, blood poured from her own wounds, too many to notice.

Sell my pretty little head?

As she spoke, more blood came out of her body, this time from her mouth.

Dream on, uglies.

Then it was dark.

***

Miss? Miss, are you awake? Please open your eyes.

It's no use. She needs to be taken to the hospital.

The hospital is all the way across the city. She may not make it in time. She has lost so much blood already.

Gods. Where did you find her? Why does she look like that?

It doesn't matter. Give me a glass of water. Make sure it's cool.

No...water...

The small voice was sputtering yet insistent. Demanding.

Was it her voice...?

No...water. Ice...ice c-cream.

She tried to lift a hand to gesture to her throat, but she couldn't find any of her hands. Did someone borrow them?

Dr--ry. Want. Ice cr-ream.

Miss, please open your eyes. I need you to look at me. Please.

It was a nice voice. A very, very nice voice.

Preeet-ty voice, she said.

---