Page 159 of Visions & Shadows

“Alchera.”

At the sound of Ares’ voice, my head snaps up and I see him standing a few feet away.

“Don’t panic,” he says quickly. “I won’t hurt you.”

Unable to think of what I should do, I can only stare at the man who made me pray for death.

We’re both doomed.

He shakes his head. “No, you’re not. I’ve seen how strong you are. You can fight it.”

Shock shudders through me, and I climb to my feet. “You can hear my thoughts?”

“I can hear everyone’s thoughts. It’s a talent.” He shrugs. “Or curse, depending on how you choose to look at it.”

I’m torn between hating him for what he’s done to me and feeling compassion because he suffered at the hands of his mother.

“I had a vision of you,” I admit. “I saw some of what Adeth did to you.”

He shakes his head, his eyes resting on me with so much guilt it finds an echo in my chest.

Not commenting on what I just said, he asks, “Will you let me help?”

“It’s not up to me.” I sigh, and sounding a little bitter, I mutter, “Awo made the decision, and we just have to abide by it.”

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m so fucking sorry for what I did to you. I tried to fight Void and my mother.”

I’m just about to turn around so I can head into the house to join Raighne when an intense wave of panic and desperation hits me hard.

“Move!” a policeman shouts, his tone urgent as he gestures for crowds of people to keep running while ash and rocks rain down on them. “Don’t stop. Just keep going.”

“We have to leave, Riccardo,” another policeman yells while the ground rumbles and quakes beneath their feet.

“Christ,” Riccardo breathes as he looks over his shoulder. “We’re not going to make it.”

“Come!” the other policeman shouts as he starts to run away from whatever danger they’re facing.

Riccardo follows the other policeman, constantly glancing over his shoulder. Suddenly, I hear something that sounds like a crack of thunder, and Riccardo ducks down for cover. He reaches for his weapon while he twists his body to land on his back.

Absolute horror tightens his features as he gasps, “Mother of God.”

I hear the sound of a gunshot, and an intense pain spreads through my chest.

When my vision starts to blur, I shout, “Riccardo!”

“Alchera, please!”Ares’ voice sounds panic-stricken in my mind.

I feel him pressing his hands hard repeatedly against my chest, then I feel his mouth on mine as he blows air into my lungs. He presses hard against my chest again.

“Don’t die. Please. You need to give me a chance to show how sorry I am. Please,”Ares worried words bombard me.

Panic fills me. Firstly, because Ares is giving me mouth-to-mouth, and I can’t tell him to stop, and secondly, because I can’t move a muscle.

“What did you do to her?” I hear Raighne shout, accompanied by the sound of cups crashing on the ground.

Ares’ hands disappear from my chest, and a moment later, I hear him fall somewhere with a grunt.

“She fainted, and her heart stopped. I’m trying to help her.”

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