Page 97 of Malcolm

“Hey, what’s going on?” Oye asked as she and the others had stopped behind them.

Lanias didn’t answer her, appearing oddly insecure before she smirked. “It’s the same answer as before because you're one of us.”

“Then, like now, I can tell you’re lying,” Eliza sharply retorted. “There is something you’re avoiding telling me, even before when I would ask you. You’d change the subject or avoid it. I want to know the truth; why did you come for me, Lanias?”

Lanias's lips quirked up in the corner. “Why do you think?”

“Because maybe, just maybe, you know about the key?” Eliza accused.

“Eliza, come on. You’re not feeling well; you just got out of the hospital,” Oye tried to interrupt, but Eliza wouldn’t have it. “Eliza, let’s talk about this back at the cabin?—”

“That prophecy,” she said, cutting Oye off. “It’s about the key, that thing they were so desperate to make me into isn’t it.”

Lanias changed from humored to exasperated as she placed her hands on her hips. “Key? What Key?”

“Two guys came here, I think…I think they were unseelie,” Eliza explained, her mind racing. “One of them said I was the key, and then the other one said I wasn’t but that my blood smelled the same.”

“Unseelie?” Sabina repeated, taking a step toward them. “You’ve met those brothers?”

Eliza looked at her, “Brothers?”

Sabina nodded. “Yeah, they work for his lordship, but something tells me they also have their own scheme going on.”

Looking back at Lanias, Eliza glared at her. “You know something, don’t you?”

“Let’s say I do,” Lanias said, looking away from Eliza. “I also know just how dangerous that person is. I know that for you and everyone here to be safe, it’s best for you to remain out of it.”

Meeting Eliza’s gaze with a sincere one of her own, she added, “You’rehappyhere, just like my cousin and sister are. There isn’t any need for you to do anything other than enjoy it. Let the rest of us who have nothing to lose do the heavy lifting.”

“I hate it,” Eliza shouted.

Lanias showed surprise at her sudden outburst. “What?”

“I hate this feeling of weakness,” Eliza said, pressing her hand to her chest. “I always thought I was strong, like I survived well, didn’t I? But when it matters, when it really matters, I’m always the one who’s being protected.” She cursed her own weakness; she’d been beaten, and yet, still, she would have others protect her. “I hate it.”

“Eliza—.” They all stared at her confused.

“You-you.” Eliza couldn’t move from where she stood, staring down at Ashe’s body. Her friend’s eyes were empty of life; she wanted to scream and tear herself apart, but she couldn’t. Her body wasn’t under her control; she tried to look away from the broken body thing at her feet. The crowd of demons cheered. Those who’d betted on her eagerly taking winnings home.

“Eliza.” She turned her head, her body stiff. “Come to me.” She couldn’t even cry unless he let her; she walked away just like that, even as she raged inside her body. She didn’t once look at the others she’d broken, stomped on, and torn apart to prove her strength.

Phen reached out, pressing a hand to her cheek. His eyes glowed with a possession she wanted to scream against; her heart was scared, shredded to pieces. She wanted to slap hishand away; she wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and squeeze till it was crushed in her hands.

Die.

Die!

Diiieeee!

“Eliza?”

She slapped the hand on her shoulder off, lifting her tear-filled eyes to Lanias’ face. Enraged, she glared at her.

“I’ll do it myself. I’ll bury them myself.” She snarled as a wave of power left her, causing the three women to exclaim in surprise when they were pushed back. “I’m going to end this!”

“Shit, Oye!” Lanias yelled.

Oye, with quick thinking, created a large hammer in the blink of an eye and brought it down, only for it to be blocked by a white shield.

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