Page 120 of Diamond Kisses

I squeezed the trigger—

No.

What?

Why was I here?

Why wasn’t I dead?

I moaned and tried to push Dr Belford away. “Let me die.” Words were such a struggle. “I don’t want—”

“Hush up.” Dr Belford grabbed the line she’d inserted into my vein. “No speaking. Save your strength.” Pushing something cold and thick into my bloodstream, she barked orders to someone I couldn’t see.

And then, I couldn’t hear anymore.

Couldn’t feel.

Couldn’t move.

I faded.

* * * * *

“Hello, Master H.”

I jerked awake and sat upright.

Flames surrounded us. A cathedral of them formed a vaulted roof and red bright walls, trapping me in some sinister burning church. “Where am I?”

“Where you belong.” Peter sat on a large rock before me. A tiny island of protection from the river of magma lapping around my waist.

My skin smoked and shrivelled the longer I sat in molten fire, but I didn’t try to move. “Where’s Ily?”

“Safe.” He gave me a soft smile. “You did right by her, Master H. It was theonlything you did right.”

“Stop calling me that. We’re friends. We’re—”

“I’m not your friend.” Peter shook his head. “How could I ever be friends with a monster like you?” Standing on his rock, he looked above us to a single gleaming star. The fire couldn’t touch it, couldn’t swallow it.

Ily.

I’d been on that star with her.

I’d been so fucking happy.

How had I fallen so far?

A pair of white feathered wings sprouted from Peter’s back. “I’ll look after her. I always have. I wish you well in your next reincarnation. You’re going to need it.”

He took off.

I tried to grab him.

The lava sucked me down all while a single white feather tumbled into the fire and sizzled into ash.

* * * * *

“He’s severely malnourished, dehydrated, with numerous fractures. Not to mention the infection that’s set in thanks to the lacerations. All of that has taken its toll, but it’s the fever he might not survive.”

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