Page 22 of Live Like Legends

“Believe me, Blondie, no such thing will happen. I amdelightedyou are on my side for once. Maybe I’ll start thinking about fewer ways to erase you from this realm from now on.” She gave him a smile that showed all her teeth and held her hand out to me. “I don’t have all day, Nicholas.”

I grabbed her hand, shoving it away. “You are out of your fucking mind, if you think any of us are letting you do that.”

“What are you even planning to accomplish, Ellie? You alone can’t stop both Lilith and Dimitri.”

Elise whipped her head towards the pink haired demon, who had more hurt and concern written on her face than anger. “It’s insulting that you underestimate me.” The look she gave her was one that told me they were having some sort of silent conversation that none of us were invited to.

“What about Dani?” I questioned, crossing my arms over my chest.

Elise stepped up to me with the kind of confidence that would suffocate someone who hadn’t stood up to her before. She volleyed my own question back to me. “WhataboutDani?”

“I think he means, it’s shitty how you want to completely leave her out of a fight she is pretty damn determined to participate in.” Reese explained.

“Her determination to figure her powers out is due to this whole mess and you just want to go and be…” I added, my voice trailing off, but Natalia picked up where I left off.

“You want to go and be a hero.” Natalia let out a small, satisfied laugh. The concerning nature of the situation no longer troubling her.

Elise turned her hands into fists at her sides. “No, you witch, that’s not what I said.”

“That is how it seems,” Beetee offered, playing with the ends of her pink hair.

The grumpy demon threw her hands up. “I’m herenottrying to deal with any of this shit anymore and you dumbasses are standing here telling me you don’t want to just settle this?” She turned to look out towards the front yard, tapping her foot against the floor.

I let out a loud sigh. “No, fuck, Elise, your help is appreciated I promise.” I slowly approached her, not wanting to increase her already boiling temper. “Dani tried to do whatever shit on her own in Purgatory before and look what happened. I’m not going to let that happen again, but I also won’t let you have her make all this effort for nothing all because you’re fucking impatient. Whether you like it or not, she’s your fucking friend and you need to have some faith in her.”

Everyone was watching us, but I focused all my attention on her. Elise tilted her head to the side and placed her hands on her hips. Her t-shirt rose up a bit as she lifted her shoulders in an overly exaggerated sigh. “I have faith in Dani believe me and the fact that you make it out like I’ve just forgotten seeing her dead body in Purgatory is fucking…” She pressed her lips together, halting her sentence. Elise closed her eyes, taking small, calculated breaths in and out. She opened her eyes and her gray irises flashed red for a small moment. “I don’t think you quite understand how different Dani and I are. Purgatory?—”

“What about Purgatory?” We all spotted Garrett as he walked out on the veranda. “Zane told me you all were out here. From the looks of it, it’s not for pleasant conversation.”

“It would be if tiny psycho over here wanted to play by the rules.” Reese shook his head.

Garrett raised an eyebrow. “Elaboration seems necessary here.”

Beetee answered. “Ellie wants to go to Purgatory to play hero and save us all because somehow that is so much better than admitting that she has a heart and cares…OW!”

Elise slapped the back of her head, groaning. “That’s not what I fucking said!”

“Is it untrue though?” Natalia challenged, crossing her arms over her chest. Elise ran a hand down her face in frustration. I had a feeling if she could strangle all of us right here, right now, she would have.

Garrett cleared his throat, looking over at Natalia. “You plan to portal her to Purgatory?” His voice sounded hurt. It made sense since we had been continuously telling him we weren’t going to just dive back into Purgatory, while Elise kept begrudgingly reassuring him Axel would make sure his family was safe.

Natalia walked up to him, tentatively touching his shoulder. “No, I’m not. Elise made a false assumption.”

Elise growled in annoyance, but Natalia paid no mind. “Pretty boy here also refuses to be of assistance.”

“I want to help, but not at the expense of everyone else, Elise.” I touched the portal key that I’d tucked into my shirt. I snuck a look over at Garrett, who looked slightly more exhausted than usual. “You want to have this kind of discussion, make these kinds of decisions, then weallneed to be here.”

Everyone gave slow nods confirming that they agreed, or they were in their own worlds at this point. I felt Garrett’s large presence before I’d turned to face him. “Your key can still get us back to Purgatory with no issue?”

I nodded, remembering that he had only been present when we were heading out of Purgatory. He licked his lips, placing a hand on my shoulder and nodded in understanding.

“Does anyone actually give a shit about what I was saying about Ariel earlier or are we all just ignoring that?” Reese said, but his voice was clouded by Garrett’s.

The Enchanter’s hold on my shoulder became a bit harsher and his fingers dug in deeper. “Please try to understand.”

I tilted my head to the side, confused. It was like it happened in slow motion when his hand reached out towards my neck. His fingers trapped the chain of my portal key in their grasp, and he yanked. I hissed at the quick burn of the metal pulling at my skin as he ripped the key from my body, before he pushed me backwards into the railing

“Garrett, stop!” I yelled, gaining everyone’s attention.

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