Page 89 of Barely Breathing

Costin’s face twists with rage at his sister’s words, but I see the desperate hope flickering behind his anger. The possibility that she might be right, that there might be a way...

My body convulses as the venom reaches my heart. Costin finally obeys and lowers his wrist. I see his face, torn between love and desperation, between his promise and his need to save me.

“You’re weak.” Elizabeth’s voice seems to come from far away. “Always too weak to do what needs to be done.”

Through the haze of pain, I see her launch herself at him. A wave of pure golden light sweeps over us. Diana stands in its center, the amulet blazingagainst her chest. Paul holds her hand as she lifts the other toward Elizabeth.

“Stop! No!” Diana’s young voice carries ancient power. Draakmar’s presence is all around us, not destructive like before, but protective. Where his power once felt like an inferno through me, through Diana, it seems to radiate like gentle warmth. The dragon appears calmer with her as if her innocence soothes his ancient rage. He has found his perfect vessel.

Paul appears next to me, ripping his shirt to bind my shoulder to stop the bleeding.

Elizabeth slams against a column. I see real fear in her eyes as she faces something she can’t corrupt or control. Costin appears next to her, his hand gripping her throat. This is his chance to end her schemes, to avenge everyone she’s hurt, and to finally stop her.

“Do it,” she taunts through bloody lips. “Finish what you started all those centuries ago.”

His grip tightens. I don’t need to look into his eyes to know the war there. I see the moment his resolve breaks. He still sees a fourteen-year-old girl he unwittingly sold to a monster.

“I can’t,” he whispers, releasing her. “Elizabeth, please, stop this madness?—”

“Coward. You’ve always been weak.” She spitsblood at his feet. Her laugh is empty as she stumbles backward. “You can’t save anyone.”

Elizabeth transforms into a bat and flies out of the broken dome. Costin watches her disappear, and I fear he might follow. I don’t want him to leave me.

“We have to help Tamara,” Paul says hoarsely, towering over me. Diana slumps against him. The amulet’s magic dims. Paul struggles to lift his daughter into his arms. He holds Diana close as if he wants to absorb all the horror she’s been through into himself. “There must be something we can do to save her. Some magic potion or spell or?—”

He stops as if realizing how foreign those words sound coming from him. This isn’t his world. It was never meant to be.

The bank groans ominously, and the walls begin to crumble. Another spasm wracks my body.

“We have to go,” Costin orders. “Follow me.”

“Where?” Paul looks around, clearly not wanting to return to the supernatural tunnels. “The bank doors are welded shut.”

Costin lifts me carefully. Every movement is fresh agony. “I promise we’ll find a way, Tamara. We’ve survived impossible odds before. We’re going to get you through this. I won’t lose you.”

I close my eyes. I hear the ceiling start to cave in and wonder if we’ve finally run out of miracles.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Time loses meaning. It’s marked by waves of unbearable pain and glimpses of victory. I drift in and out of consciousness as Costin carries me through the darkness. I prefer oblivion over the agony of my ravaged shoulder and dying body. The wolf venom spreads like lava in my veins, and I imagine it’s melting everything it touches.

“Stay with me,” Costin’s voice pulls me back when I start to slip away. He wants to save me. I don’t think he can, but he whispers about ancient rites and possible cures if only I hold on. “Focus on my voice, Tamara.”

I try, but the fever makes me see things. The past and present swirl together until I can’t tell what’s real. For a moment I’m in the labyrinth facing my fears. Then I’m a teenager watchingCostin through the spy hole in the wall. Conrad aims a gun at Paul and shoots. A house explodes. Anthony smiles and hands me a joint as we hide in a janitor’s closet at my birthday party.

Diana’s small hand finds mine in the dark. “You don’t have to be scared. The dragon can sleep now.”

I don’t have the heart, or the strength, to tell her that is not the monster that scares me. I catch a glimpse of the amulet. There is a part of me that wants to take it back so that I can end this pain.

She falls behind me, her hand dropping from mine. She’s exhausted from the ritual, barely able to walk. Paul supports her with one arm while the other braces his weight on the wall to propel him forward.

“We’re near the old subway tunnels,” Costin says. “If we can reach the underground city, we can try to find Morvok. He can help us with the amulet so you can?—”

A thunderous crash cuts him off as more of the bank collapses behind us. The ceiling groans. Dust and debris blow through the tunnel. Diana starts coughing.

“We’re running out of time.” Paul barely controls his panic. He lifts Diana into his arms and tries carrying her despite his weakness.

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