Page 126 of Grave Revelations

“Let me,” Adalaide said, sending her own blue sparks into the air. They were impressive, but not enough to stop a creature like Sanura.

“No more games, girls,” Sanura said. “You’re here to give me what I want. And because you wasted your mortal skin, I’ll have to use this one’s body.” Sanura tossed her head at Sophia.

“She’s not Nephilim. You cannot,” Adalaide said, giving Sophia an appraising stare as if to ensure the words were true.

“No, but when I merge your blood with hers, it will be enough to bring me to my king.”

Merge. The word resonated in Rebecca’s mind. She had to merge. It was the reason Sanura was so much stronger than they were. She'd let Elizabeth's body be killed so her soul returned to Sheol and was made whole again. Her gaze darted to Adalaide, who was still watching Sanura, a wary look on her face.

Rebecca’s brow wrinkled. She had one chance to try the mad plan forming in her head, and if it didn’t work, she would become the thing that unleashed Sanura on Earth once more.

“Come, Adalaide. I will drain you first; a favor for an old friend.”

Adalaide was frozen, rooted to the spot.

Sanura dug her nails into Sophia’s arm, making her cry out.

Adalaide’s leg twitched as if to move, but Rebecca stepped forward.

“I’ll go first.” Slowly, she let her hand drop to her side, stretching her pinky toward the other girl.

“Good,” Sanura said, loosening her grip on Sophia’s biceps. “Come here, child. I promise to be quick.”

Rebecca darted a look at Sophia, whose gaze had dropped to Rebecca’s fingers. She dipped her chin imperceptibly, and Rebecca knew Sophia had figured out her plan.

Rebecca took one step and lunged for Adalaide. “Merge with me,” she said as she wrapped her arms around the girl, knocking her backward.

Chapter 83

Sophia

Rebecca and Adalaide fell as if in slow motion, and as they did, a shimmering light surrounded them.

Sanura released Sophia’s arm, darting forward as if she could put herself between them and stop it, but the light grew blinding as the world was bathed in bright white.

When her vision cleared, Rebecca sat up, dusting her palms off, and the earth beneath her exploded in new growth, a blanket of green rolling out from underneath her. The tree beside her burst into bloom, white blossoms erupting all along its branches, petals floating listlessly to the ground.

Sanura leaped for the girl, but Rebecca threw up her hands, and blinding blue flames tore from her palms, engulfing Sanura.

She screamed and dropped to the ground, rolling over freshly formed grass. When the flames winked out, she was on her feet again, racing for Rebecca.

Rebecca lifted both hands to the sky, and fat rain clouds formed from nothing, spears of lightning striking the ground all around her.

Sanura jumped backward. “Give me your blood, girl!” she screeched, her wild eyes searching for a path to Rebecca that didn’t end in her being charred to a crisp.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you, but your hate has blinded you. We aren't our ancestors." Rebecca squared her shoulders, letting one hand fall to her sideas a tremor rocked the earth and vines burst from the ground, surging forward and knocking Sanura off her feet. They climbed up her body with blinding speed, wrapping her in place.

A strong wind funneled into existence, trapping Rebecca and Sanura inside it and Sophia watched in fascination as the lance Rebecca had used on the mortal plane appeared in her hand. In a blink, Rebecca darted forward and plunged it into Sanura’s chest. Her eyes misted as she sunk to the ground with her.

The witch stretched her mouth wide, a guttural roar bursting from her lips, shaking the very fabric of the realm. Thick black blood spewed from her wound; she scratched and clawed at it, trying to dig the object free.

Rebecca pressed the lance deeper, twisting until it was buried in Sanura’s chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Sanura’s eyes stuttered, golden hue flashing yellow before dimming to a soft saffron. Her head dropped as her arms fell loosely at her sides, and she stared blankly at a rapidly brightening sky.

Rebecca pressed her palms into Sanura’s limp body and dissolved it into dust, drifting on a phantom breeze.

Sophia dropped to her knees beside Rebecca and wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders. Rebecca startled, momentarily forgetting she wasn’t alone, then wrapped her arms around Sophia, hugging her fiercely. Her head dropped onto Sophia’s shoulder, and she sobbed, wet tears staining Sophia’s bare arm.

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