Page 138 of The Blood Witch

Let it be just a dream.

Just another nightmare.

Now fully formed, Kallista cocked her head to the side, gazing around the roof with wry amusement. Her eyes trailed over each of the three blinding flood lights, raised high on metal legs, before finally settling on Vee.

“Cute,” she purred. “But I don’t need my shadows to hurt you, little Witch.”

With a deadly smile on her face, Kallista stepped forward, toward the center of the roof.

“We can do this the old-fashioned way,” she cooed, advancing without fear, arms stretching out at her sides. “It’s been a long, long time since I’ve felt someone’s blood running through my fingers. I imagine I’ll quite enjoy it, tonight.”

Amalia screamed.

She couldn’t help it. The pain that suddenly took her, twisting her spine violently backwards, was such agony she couldn’t hold the sound inside. She’d screamed before she’d even realized what was happening.

“One more step and I break the princess’s neck,” Vee told Kallista.

Fear replaced the pain in Amalia’s chest as she felt Vee’s hold on her vanish. Vee should know that wouldn’t stop her. Amalia was nothing to Kallista, nothing at all. The Demon would never stop to protect her. She had no reason to keep her alive…

But… the threat worked. Eyes flaring with rage, Kallista stopped her advance.

“I can do it, too,” Vee continued. “You’ve seen it yourself, Demon. So step back, if you want her to live.”

Remarkably, the Demon did. Glancing quickly over at Amalia as though to ensure she was still alive, Kallista took a step backward, toward the edge of the roof. And then another.

“That goes for you too,” Vee said, pivoting.

Amalia hadn’t heard the Witches arrive. But they stood there now. Near the top of the ladder that Vee had made her climb.

Alice. Alice and…

Amalia swallowed a sob.

Alice and anightmare, dressed in black leather.

Please, merciful Goddess, let me wake up.

“We won’t move,” Alice assured Vee, palms raised. “There’s no need to hurt her.”

Amalia’s chest tightened.

Alice had no reason to want to help her. And at her side, the Witch in the Blades uniform, blonde hair streaming down her back, that was the last Queen’s Blade, wasn’t it? The only Witch with an intact Blades mark left alive.

These Witches didn’t come here to save her, Amalia knew, with a sinking realization. That’s not what the Blades did. They had come to kill. And despite everything, despite the pain and the fear and the betrayal, Amalia felt more fear for Vee than for herself.

“Why don’t you tell us what you want,” Alice continued, speaking slowly. “And we can all help each other.”

“Are you okay?” the blonde Witch asked. It took Amalia a long moment to realize she was talking to her. “Did she hurt you?”

“No,” Vee told her, stepping between them, blocking her from view. “I haven’t hurt her. But I will. If any of you makes one move against me, I swear I will.”

“What do you want, Witch?” Kallista asked, voice cold.

Vee turned toward her, baring her teeth.

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped.

Kallista shrugged. “Why not? It’s what you are, isn’t it?”

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