Page 88 of In the Dark

The skin under his fingers heated until Morgan let go with a yelp. The woman’s figure shifted further, filling out in places and shrinking in others until an entirely different person stood there.

She held her sides in a gale of laughter, tilting her head back and releasing peal after peal. “I fooled you! I really fooled you!” She stared at him like he was the punch line of a joke only she knew, stomping her feet in delight. “How could you think you would get to her this easily? Has it ever been easy? Silly man, with your silly expectations. How very human of you.”

Her voice was lyrical somehow and held the hint of an accent Morgan could not quite place. Large eyes, small nose, and square chin completed the face. A tall and willowy angel with delicate hands and a pale complexion.

Too bad she was completely mad.

Morgan didn’t focus on her fairness, knowing there was more brewing beneath the surface than met the eye. He glanced over to Vane. The other man kept his unwavering gaze focused on the crazed woman. There was sadness beneath the stoic façade. More than a bit of regret.

Morgan wanted to do something. To push her aside and investigate what lay behind. Sure she was hiding something. “Where is she? Where are you keeping her?”

“Oh, are you looking for this?” The woman snapped her fingers and a ball of sun-bright light appeared. It hovered above her open palm, quivering slightly. “It’s less than half the size it was when we first began this venture, you know. This is the last bit left.” She tickled the sides of the ball until it shied away from the touch. “Almost gone, too.”

“You let go of her.” Morgan knew exactly what she held in her hand. A soul, a witch’s soul. He clenched his teeth, jaw flexing in determination. The pain in his chest swelled. “I said, let her go. I won’t tell you again.”

“Why would I?” the woman asked innocently. She tossed the soul high into the air and caught it deftly in one palm. “We’ve been having so much fun, she and I.”

“Cecilia, enough.” Morgan whirled around to see Vane stepping forward. “You’ve had your fun. It’s time to let the girl go. This isn’t her fight.”

It seemed only then the woman recognized his presence. Her eyes latched onto him as she wrenched her head around. Unbearably sad. “Vane.”

Her one word held the pain and hope of the world.

Morgan tensed, not trusting what he heard. No doubt she was playing the game hoping to gain the one thing she sought: the utter control of Karsia’s soul and her own freedom.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Vane continued. “You need to let her soul go and be gone from this place.”

“No. I refuse. Don’t you see?” She gestured and tightened her hold on the soul. “The instant the light dies, she takes my place and I am free. Free, Vane. Free to be with you.”

Cecilia took a halting step forward before Vane held up a hand to stop her.

“Hold. We have a part to play in this. And yours does not involve subjecting this girl’s soul to the horrors waiting ahead. She did not choose.”

“She did!” Cecilia insisted. “She stepped in front of my blast when I set out to claim her sister. That is a choice.”

“You are stretching the word beyond its limits, my dear.”

Suddenly she smiled, as if changing tactics. “It is so good to see your face.” Cecilia moistened her lips. “To really see it. Vane…”

Morgan watched the woman flex, drawing attention to certain parts of her body in what looked innocent but was probably intentional. Had he not been on guard he may have accepted what she said for truth. Or even felt sorry for her. Fortunately, he wasn’t stupid enough to trust her. She wasn’t fooling him.

But this was between Vane and Cecilia. Panic constricted his chest. He had no part in this and no idea what to do now.

“Do you know how long it’s been?” she asked, her voice full of longing.

“Yes, love. I do know. I’ve counted the days until we can be together again.” Vane shook his head, his sorrow palpable. “But not like this. Never like this.”

“Why not? This is a gift, Vane. A gift so that we may be reunited.” Her voice was sweet, compelling.

He would not be moved. Vane shook his head again. “We are the ones who hold the balance in check.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

Her tone had risen sharply, and several winged creatures took flight from the haven of the tree branches. An answering howl sounded in the distance. Cecilia panted, energy spiking.

“It is not our place to decide who to damn,” Vane said softly. “The veil must stand, yes, but it’s not up to you to choose for another.”

“I know that better than anyone! I had my choice taken away, remember, and for what? For a group of people doomed to die anyway? I lost you, lost our life together. Our baby.” Her voice broke as she clutched at her empty womb. “Vane, our baby.”

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