Page 67 of Stalked

My eyes grew wide as I realized Lily was attempting to draw out my power, using me as a Spirit conduit to use telekinesis magic. I saw the dagger lift from the ground and fly toward her hand. She clasped her fingers tightly around the handle and lunged toward me, throwing my body off balance. I landed painfully on my back, my head slammed on a large rock, and I winced.The jet stone pulsated with energy, holding back the darkness that held Lily in its grip.

“Lily, wake up!” I shouted. “Force him out of you!”

She tried to plunge the tip of the blade into my chest, but I held her back with all my strength. But the metal slowly sank into my skin, blood staining my sweater. I stared up at her, and for a moment, her face was replaced with the face of my mother. I shook my head, suppressing the memories of that night, erasing her face.

I resisted the urge to throw up as the flashback threatened to consume my senses.No, this is Lily.My sweet aunt was possessed by a monster. She wasn’t like my mom. If Lily could resist his power, she would.

I flexed my fingers as the power begged to be let out, but I feared I’d hurt Lily if I used them. She may be a witch, but she couldn’t heal like me, and I didn’t want to risk it.

I decided to try a different tactic, and I grabbed the dagger at the hilt and summoned fire to my fingers to heat the metal. It quickly grew red hot, and Lily yelped, releasing it. I caught the warm end of the blade and tossed it again behind me. I reached for her temples and used my element to pull the smoke out of her eyes. She fought me, trying to keep Kylan’s magic inside, but my power was stronger.

I shielded my face as Kylan’s power exited her body. For a second, I felt it trying to enter my mind, but my necklace lit up and pulsated against my chest. The power of the pentagram had repelled the dark force away from my body and back into Kylan. The beast stood with his hands in fists and fury in his eyes.

He isn’t going to win. I won’t let him.

Kylan grinned, showing his sharp fangs again. For an ancient, all-powerful vampire, he wasn’t fighting much. In fact,hewasn’t fighting at all.

“It’s over, Kylan. Let them go.” I pulled myself out of my fear, jumped to my feet, and helped Lily to hers. She was in a daze and held her hand to her head like she had a vicious migraine. “It’s okay, Lily,” I said. “You’re safe.”

Kylan lifted his right hand and froze Lily like the others. He snarled between his teeth. “So be it. I’ll find another way to get rid of you.”

I felt conflicted. I could fight this monster and kill him, but not at the risk of having him kill my family and Caleb. I held out my wrist, not knowing what else I could do at that moment. Maybe I could bait him and direct his focus to only me.

“Drink my blood,” I begged. “Here. Just take it. That’s the other way. My blood will allow you to walk in the daylight, Kylan. Don’t you want that? Here. Drink!” My voice cracked. “Drink from me, dammit!”

It was crazy to give in to being sucked dry by that monster, but I didn’t know any other way to fight him. That’s what he wanted; that was what they all wanted. So, I’d give it to him to keep the ones I loved safe.

“I don’t want your tainted blood,” he said distastefully. “It isn’tdesirable to all of us.”

I blinked.What?

His lip curled up at the baffled expression on my face. I had no idea what was happening. If he wanted to kill me, wouldn’t he have done it already?

What is he waiting for?

The fire spell burned out around him, and he walked over to the dagger on the ground and picked it up. Instead of using it to attack, he flipped the handle toward me and thrust it in my face.

What the hell is happening?

“Take the dagger and plunge it into your heart, or I will gut your aunt right in front of you with it.”

I could feel my breath growing shallow from panic. I didn’t know what to do. How was I supposed to stop the original vampire? My memories of some battles I’d fought in my previous life were brief. I couldn’t recall any training that I could use right now.

I’m surprised I’m not already dead. Why am I not already dead?

“You’re making me take my own life?” I asked. “But why? Why not kill me yourself?”

He frowned. “It’s more poetic.”

No, that’s not it. Something isn’t right.

I looked down at the dagger. This didn’t make any sense. “No.” I handed it back to him, but he wouldn’t take it. This was his chance to use the one weapon that could end an immortal, so why was he hesitating?

He looked down at the dagger and then up at me. “No?”

Nothing was adding up, and I was starting to have a good idea of why he hadn’t killed me already. I was taking a gamble, but I needed to know. I lifted my chin and met his eyes. “You do it, you bloodsucking piece of shit. Just make it quick, though … please.”

He frowned again, and his eyes twitched in irritation. “Take this dagger and kill yourself with it, witch! You don’t want to see what horrible things I will do to your aunt, do you?”

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