Page 93 of Infernal Hearts

My dad sighs solemnly, eyes dripping wet. “Your blood only heals supernaturals. Jason is mostly human. It’ll overwhelm his system and only kill him faster.”

“But why can’t he heal himself?” Levi sobs again. “You said he has a healing touch. He has magic.”

I try to figure out what he could possibly mean by that, but it’s hard to focus on anything around me. My consciousnessstarts to slip in and out of darkness. It’s getting harder and harder to hold on to the scene around me.

My dad’s words are thick in his throat as he chokes on them. “That only works on others. He’s still fragile like any other human.”

Levi cradles me, crying. “I told you I’d always protect you. Why did you do that? Why did you have to save me?”

I reach up, grazing his cheek with my fingers. “I think you know why.” It only makes him cry harder.

Their voices seem to fade, and the room grows darker. Is this really the end? Is this how I was supposed to go out? Saving the life of a demon?

I’d do it again. Because this demon means everything to me.

My dad stares intensely at Levi, commanding him. “There’s one thing you can do. Take the heart from me and give it to him.”

“Are you sure that’ll work?”

My dad firmly nods. “It’ll infuse his blood with magic and cause him to rapidly heal. I’m sure of it.”

“Dad, no.” I choke, sputtering up more blood.

He takes my hand and squeezes hard. “It’s the price I need to pay. Now hurry and do it. We don’t have long left.”

A purple light roars from Levi’s irises. His hand shoots forward, passing through my dad’s shirt and into his chest. My dad gasps as a brilliant violet glow erupts inside him. Levi slowly removes his hand, a swirling ball of energy dancing in his palm.

“It’s going to be okay.”

He gently presses it against my sternum, and a rush shoots through my system. It’s a buzz like I’ve never felt in my life. The knife slides out on its own, my flesh knitting itself where the hole used to be. The handle clinks on the ground beneath me and falls to the floor. I suck in a deep breath, it filling me like it’s the first one I’ve ever taken.

Tears pour out of Levi’s eyes as he looks down at me, smiling. “Thank God.” He bends down to kiss me.

We break apart, a halo glimmering around his edges. I smile. We’re both going to be okay.

My dad sighs with relief. “Thank you, Levi.” He falls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.

I jump up and go to his side, clutching his hand. He’s already aged rapidly. He looks closer to eighty, his hair completely white and his skin wrinkling before my eyes.

The realization hits me—I’m about to lose another parent, my worst nightmare. Pressure builds up in my chest, cutting off my breath again. A dreadful tingling passes through every inch of my skin. “Dad, no. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I’ve lived a very long and full life. It’s my time.” He coughs, growing weaker by the second. “I want you to know you’re my pride and joy. Everything I’ve ever done was for you. It’s why I made the deal with Valerie to protect you when your mother was pregnant. I had to keep you safe.”

His edges look blurry through the tears in my eyes. I’ve never pretended to understand why he did everything he did, but at this moment, I think I’m starting to. He’s a good man who made mistakes. And he was willing to atone for them all along. Family was everything to him, and he would have done anything to protect it.

I sniffle and wipe my nose with my sleeve. I didn’t know a heart could hurt this bad and feel so numb at the same time. “I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry I went so long without talking to you. I was just so angry. And I was so convinced I was right.”

He chuckles and coughs, wisps of hair floating from his scalp to the ground, like the last leaves of autumn returning to the earth. “You have a gift. You were born to help others.” His voice is weak and feeble, growing deeper and more cracked as the moments pass. “You have greatness woven into you, and kindness in your heart. Promise me you’ll use it.”

I nod, dizzy and weak. “I promise.”

He sighs, relaxing into the ground. “There’s so much to say and not enough time in the world. Use my journals. Do things better than I did. Be better than I was. And know that I love you more than anything in the world.”

I squeeze his brittle hand in mine. “I love you, too, Dad.”

With a final cough, my father’s body falls still. Seconds after, he crumbles through my fingertips into a pile of dust. I’m left in silence, candles burning all around the room and casting a sobering glow.

I don’t know how long I sit there, crying harder than I ever have in my life. From behind, Levi’s arms wrap around me and turn me toward him. He pulls me close as I press my face into his chest. It’s over. And things ended horribly. I have no parents left. I’ve even lost Valerie. I’m truly alone now.

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