Page 98 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
"Bugger. Aren't we all?"
Killian was airborne before his wings completely unfurled. Tierra's screams echoed in his head, and her pain clutched at his neck and scalded up his legs.
Honing in on her tortured cries, Killian flew toward Ambrosia's, dread filling his heart. Smoke spiraled into the sky, and he knew she was locked inside the burning building.
She couldn't die. He'd bound her to him. No one could take her life but him. As long as he lived, she did, but that didn't mean she couldn't be hurt, or the child.
He flapped his great wings, surging forward, praying to the Goddess that he wouldn't be too late.
* * *
Tierra screamed again.
Imprisoned within the ring of fire, she frantically fought against the chains binding her to the stake. She tried connecting with the iron like she'd so easily linked with the golden crown, but all that she could make out were horrific, nonsensical mutterings and shrieks.
"The chains were forged in the fires of Hell," Lucy supplied with a knowing smile. "You can't break them. Don't you think I thought of that, too, you ill-equipped, pitiable excuse for an earth witch. I had hoped this would be more challenging. You see, the victory is so much sweeter when it is."
The coven started to slowly recede, their chanting growing a little panicked as the flames shot higher, licking toward the four corners of the café, creeping up the walls in wicked strokes, and flinging ash and sparks to the floor only to be regurgitated by the fire.
Lucy laughed, her arms flung wide, directing the fire like a conductor in front of an orchestra. It flared, hissed, and smoldered, much like a beloved pet. The flames crackled and spat, reaching for Tierra with destructive fingers. Taunting and tormenting as it inched closer only to retreat and then hungrily begin again and again.
Smoke seethed and billowed across the antique tin ceiling. Heat intensified until the commissioned paintings on the walls melted, creating grotesque nightmarish images. Tierra gasped for breath in the smoke-heavy air, her lungs rejecting the pollution, producing rib-wracking coughs.
How did Claire stand this?
The windows burst and flames bellowed, greedily devouring the additional oxygen. The Sisters of the Serpent screamed and yelped, running outside to safety.
Lucy's laugh turned to a sadistic cackle.
"Why are you doing this?" Tierra gasped, fighting to breathe. "Why not just kill me?" Why did she have to be burned?
"You have no idea, do you? Let me educate you, witch." Lucy stayed outside the burning circle, but dampened the flames in order to taunt Tierra further, dragging out the torture.
If Tierra could keep her talking and the flames from consuming her, she might be able to think of something to save herself.
"Burning a witch at the stake is traditional," Lucy said, "and in my opinion, not practiced near enough these days. It works amazingly well for destroying earth witches. Especially apregnantwitch." She spat the word pregnant as though it was offensive.
"Did you really think you could keep the father a secret from me?" she continued. "That I would let you live once I knew?" she sneered, sounding like a woman betrayed.
Confusion must have shown in Tierra's face, for Lucy suddenly changed tactics, her tone a mix of pity and scorn. "Are you aware that Death and I have a long and tempestuous history? Once upon a time, we were lovers, collaborators. We have followed and led each other through the Ages. Even Revelations speaks of our special bond in chapter six, verse eight:'And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, andHellfollowed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth...'"she quoted, satisfaction shining in her face as the barb took root inside Tierra.
Tierra had never asked Killian about his past relationships. Why would she, when she knew there was no future for them. Baby or no baby, he was an immortal. But to know that he had lain with the Devil, had done some of the same things to Lucy's body as he had to hers...
That, she couldn't stomach.
Anger and fear and the need to lash out stirred inside Tierra. The wooden beam she was tied to suddenly sprouted leaves and branches. Roots plowed into the floor, breaking through the foundation until it reached the soil under the building and burrowed into the earth.
Lucy's eyes widened in shock and surprise, but she couldn't be more so than Tierra. The power came from her core, her womb chakra, and herchild.
The branches and leaves grew rapidly until the wooden beam resembled a weeping willow and cocooned Tierra inside the circle, providing much needed oxygen and crying tears of sap over the flames, causing them to sizzle and die.
"No," Lucy growled. "You tree-hugging bitch, you will not defeatme!" The fire flared, becoming a beast with teeth and claws. It attacked. Licking and slicing at the tree, swiping at Tierra and sizzling the leaves until they curled in on themselves, only to have new ones take their place.
The tree whipped its willows in defense at the advancing flames, and a frenzied dance began.
New branches grew between the links of the chains securing Tierra to the post until the iron groaned and the links gave way, freeing her of the bonds. She fell to her knees, coughing and clutching at the brimstone leashed around her neck.
"You can't dothis!" Lucy screeched. "You don't have thepowerto resurrect the dead. That wood wasdead. There is no heart core, no sap. I made sure it was kiln dried and dead. So how thefuckare you doing this?"
