Page 94 of The Fifth Soul

“Shut the fuck up and do something.”

“Let’s test how invisible you are.” He raises both hands, and with him comes a rush of wind. My hair flies back, but other than that, nothing happens.

Laughter by Janelle from her place on the floor leaning against the wall only fires up Ray. A ball of fire is next. Like the dragon, it passes through me, leaving me unharmed. With nothing more than items on shelves, Ray turns to the curse objects. They scream at him, things I’m uncertain he can hear. With his control of the wind, he picks up items and throws them my way. The first one clips my arm before I realize they can hurt me.

Attempt after attempt, I dodge and deflect. He takes a minute to realize his only option is to get closer to me. It quickly becomes a physical fight.

Ray’s kicks and blows are strong and determined but don’t connect. I delivered a few of my own. My size gives me an advantage. I can move faster and avoid swings more easily. I begin to feel cocky. The fact that I am here for all those whom I passed on my walk here fires me up from the inside out.

He trips over a curse item and his body hits the floor. I am on top in the next breath. In a flowing motion, I take my dagger from my tight and bring it down to his chest. His arms block my forearms in the air and hold me there. His arms push up as mine push down.

“There,” he says, out of breath.

His eyes catch a glimpse of my bracelet. He uses his body weight to flip us. Once on top of me, his hand yanks the stone bracelet off my hand.

His smile grows ever so slowly. “Cheating little witch. Let’s see how you do without this.”

His hand raises to my chest, and I feel an enormous pressure, as if gravity presses me down. The sensation stops as soon as it begins.

Confused, I look back up at the man who planned on writing my last breath on his to-do list. His eyes are no longer focused on me, but the figure standing across the room from us. The figure who tossed the dagger now embedded in his chest, counting his breaths to the last one.

“Janelle,” Ray spits out the name with blood dripping from his lips.

“It’s over.” Her voice is soft and almost relieved. The hard edges of her face finally lose their tightness.

“You can’t do this. Our souls are tied together.” His words drop like demands. His eyes look down at his wound like the pure existence of it is impossible. An utter abnormality.

Janelle’s eyes light up at the statement, but she doesn’t move from her kneeling position on the ground. I hold my breath, thinking the reminder of who he is to her will make her turn on me. I’m ready for her fury, but the fierce stare stays directed at Ray; her eyes don’t spare me a single glance.

“In a world where your ambition didn’t sacrifice me, things might have been different. In this world, I’m merely collateral damage to your schemes. I will no longer be your puppet. I curse the path the Fates paved for me by pairing me with you.” She spits on the ground in disgrace. “And I will not allow it.”

His eyes widen with every word. In a flash, Ray is straddling Janelle on the ground. His hands surround her throat tightly. “Weak little witch. Do you think you know better than the Fates? I’m your soul bound because I am part of you. Your darkness shares a soul with mine. We are one.”

“Perhaps that is the case.” Her voice strained from the pressure on her neck. “But you will die today, and I will figure out how to untangle my soul from yours before I follow. When I see you in the afterlife, it will not be to be reunited. It will be to show you how free I am of you.”

Her hands stop trying to fight his hold on her neck, and instead, they twist the knife already on his chest. With one last, final grunt, Ray drops to the ground.

CHAPTER 41

BIANCA

We lay there as our heavy breaths filled the silent room. The cracking of doors and footsteps echo in the library minutes later. The sound of boots approaching grows louder, but neither of us makes a move.

“Bianca!” Brandon’s voice booms as he enters the room.

I rush up and into his arms. He hugs me tight to his chest like I could slip away. His deep breaths tell me he needs this as well.

In seconds, twenty people surround the room. Guards and the Oscuro brothers take in the fight’s aftermath. Guards move Ray’s body away from Janelle.

“Dead?” Brandon asks Roman, who is inspecting Ray.

His brother nods. Brandon rounds on Janelle like he is seeing her for the first time today.

“Give me a reason I should spare your life. To do you the mercy, many didn’t get on your path.”

I want to tell him what I think I know: Janelle wasn’t the one controlling the dragon, Ray was. She saved my life, but I fear that wouldn’t be enough. My eyes find Jesse standing by the door. His glassy red rim eyes seem to look at everything but the girl apprehended by guards.

I pull on his sleeve to get his attention. “Spare her for now. Think this through,” I say.

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