Page 97 of Sworn to My Heart
“There will be no peace between us, Zale. Bring my parents back, and I will spare your life and your son’s,” I try a different approach, but he continues laughing, his scars contorting his face into something demonic.
With all my strength, I seize his body again, but with a powerful blow, he sends me flying backward. I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my back. He charges toward me, and without hesitation, I use my powers to hurl his son’s body at him,slamming them both against the balcony’s glass barrier.
Mariano rushes to help me up while Pedro scoops up Bay, who remains motionless, and carries her back into the apartment like a rag doll.
“How did he manage to break free from my grip?” I ask aloud, but they are the last ones who would have an answer.
“He’s not leaving here alive!” I declare, and Mariano and Pedro nod, waiting for my instructions.
“Pedro, take Bay upstairs. She can’t help us now, and that means she’s also at risk. Keep her safe. Mariano, start shooting at Zale and Galen. I need you to slow them down so I can get the bag Luca left with the venom on the balcony.” Mariano complies and starts shooting, aiming at their bodies on the balcony.
Galen takes several bullets and can’t get up, but Zale continues toward us. It seems my powers don’t work on him, but direct injuries do slow him down.
Mariano fires a shot that grazes Zale’s left arm, and he pauses for a moment. I seize the opportunity and manage to pull my bag toward me quickly.
“I’ve never tried soaking anything with liquids before, but there’s a first time for everything,” I inform Mariano as if he knows the exact plan I had in mind, pulling out the sea wasp venom from my bag.
Mariano exhausts his bullets and swiftly draws another gun from his suit. Time is running out.
Carefully avoiding the venom, I raise my hand and draw it out of the vial using my power, directing every drop onto Zale. I clench my fists tightly, ensuring the liquid seeps into his skin. His screams are immediate, his flesh appearing to burn from within. Seizing the moment, I muster all my strength to hold him in place. Within moments, he collapses to the ground, convulsing briefly before lying still.
As Zale falls motionless, my legs tremble beneath me, and I collapse, overwhelmed by sobs. Mariano rushes to Luca’s paralyzed body nearby.
In one day, I’ve lost everything dear to me: my love, my parents, my home.What will become of the Mal-El lineage? What will happen to my city? It’s all my fault... I should never have listened to Luca.
“Alin! Come now!” Mariano shouts from the balcony, snapping me out of my thoughts and forcing me to confront the nightmare unfolding before me. I muster all my strength to stand and move toward Mariano.
“He should know what to do, right? Can he release them?” he asks angrily, shaking Galen’s body forcefully.
“Even if he knows, only Zale could release them from the paralysis,” I whisper hopelessly. “So he’s good as dead to us,” Mariano spits, aiming the gun at Galen’s head and loading it slowly, threateningly.
“No, no, there is a way to release them without my father,” Galen adds fearfully in a weak voice, his body drenched in blood, just as Mariano is about to pull the trigger.
“You’d better start talking, or this bullet will meet your brain in exactly three seconds,” Mariano threatens through gritted teeth, and hope rekindles in me.
“How do I know you won’t kill me afterward?” Galen asks in desperation, now aggravating me.
“You don’t have a choice,” I retort venomously, delivering a harsh kick to his broken arm, unmoved by his cries of pain. He struggles to speak through his agony, finally managing to explain after a tense silence.
“You can release them yourself. If you put their subconscious to sleep and dissolve the paralysis before they wake up,” he offers, igniting a spark of hope within me.
“But I wouldn’t recommend it. If they wake up even a second too soon, their death will become permanent...” he adds, chuckling but choking on his own blood and coughing.
“I can melt them, but how do I keep their subconscious asleep?” I ask Mariano, my last hope. “Hypnosis?” he suggests, running to Luca’s frozen body.
“We’ll get you out of this, brother,” he assures him, pulling out his phone to call Pedro. He comes down immediately with Bay, her face swollen from crying. At least she’s snapped out of the shock. She runs to me, hugging me while crying, and I desperately want to join her and break down, but I need to be strong for everyone. There’s a way to save them. This is not the time.
“Bay, we have a way to wake them, but I’ll need your help,” I inform her directly, ignoring her tears and breaking away from her hug.
“There’s a way? I’ll do whatever you need!” she wipes her tears and straightens up, the hope I instilled in her visible.
“Good. You were in the hunters’ pod; your grip on consciousness is stronger than most. Do you think you can keep their subconscious asleep while I melt the paralysis in their bodies?” She ponders, insecurity washing over her.
“Alin, I’m not even sure I can reach their subconscious in this state...” she raises her hands in defeat.
“This is our only chance. If it doesn’t work, they’re lost anyway,” I tell her, holding her hand.
“We can do this!” I encourage her, determined not to lose anyone today.
