Page 119 of Grave Revelations

She’s wearing the necklace.

Azazel didn’t reply, too consumed with his own battle.

The skeletal remains of her dead ancestors moved jerkily toward them, and Rebecca twisted one hand, exhaling as a funnel of wind blew through them, sucking them up and smashing them against nearby trees. She returned her focus to Sanura, squeezing the vines tighter.

Sanura screamed; night creatures answered her call. Blurred shapes raced for her, snapping their teeth and claws.

Rebecca burst into blue flame, wreathing herself in protective fire and sending the creatures darting away in every direction.

“Sophia, kill her!” Sanura yelled.

Rebecca spun as honey-brown hair zipped from the darkness. Her flames died as she caught her friend by the wrists, fighting with all her might to hold her back.

A tear streaked down Sophia’s cheek. “Rebecca. Run.”

“Fight it, Sophia,” Rebecca pleaded. “I can’t kill you.”

“You have to end her, Rebecca. I won’t stop until you’re dead,” Sophia said. “Or she is.”

Rebecca dug her heels into the ground, calling on earth magic to lend her strength as Sophia bent closer, snapping her teeth at her exposed throat. “If I kill her, you’ll die!”

“I let you die once.”

Rebecca’s vision blurred.

A dark form skidded to a stop, wrapping his arms around Sophia.

Rebecca met Simon’s yellow-eyed stare as he pulled Sophia back and held her in his vice-like grip.

“Do it, Bec,” he said. “It’s the only way!”

“Why did you do it?” she cried. “I can’t kill you. Either of you!”

“I should have died long ago,” Simon said.

Rebecca’s heart ached for them, both made by the creature she needed to kill.

“Do it,” Simon pleaded. “Before she escapes.”

Rebecca looked at the tangle of vines trapping Sanura, and a chill skated down her spine. Skeletal figures were picking at vines, working to set her free.

She lifted the lance in one shaking fist and twisted her other wrist, sending the skeletons scattering with a wave of her hand. Leaning forward, Rebecca tore the amulet free from Sanura’s throat.

Sanura, in Elizabeth’s body, screamed for her creatures, commanded them to save her. They raced from every direction as Simon spun, twisting Sophia with him. He swiped at them, but they dodged, intent on protecting their maker.

Rebecca glanced back at the two people she loved most in the world, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sam! Samael, she’ll kill me!”

Rebecca looked up, seeing two winged creatures—mere specks in the sky—and hefted the lance overhead. Her gaze fell to Simon, still struggling to hold Sophia back and swiping at the other creatures inching closer.

“I loved you,” she confessed.

“I’ll never stop.”

The words died on Simon’s lips as she plunged the lance into Sanura’s neck, and all around her, creatures sank to the ground.

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