aren’t normally used in that capacity, but they pack a nice punch, don’t you agree? Oh, and your screaming won’t help you. The silence spell I put around this room won’t let out a peep.”
Had she screamed? Her mouth was open, but the pain had blocked out everything else. She shut her mouth, trying to regain some composure.
“There is a way to stop the agony. Just give me your gift. The pain will go away.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Kira shivered on her lower back, and Angelique sent comfort to her. She’d never give up her familiar. As far as she knew, if they parted, they would both die. “Never.”
“You’ll wish you had relented. I promise.” He patted his hand against her cheek before sliding out another ant. “When these are gone, I’ll resort to another method. By then, you’ll be begging me for death, which I’ll grant. After I receive your power.”
One ant bite followed another during the twenty-something minutes of agony. He only had three bullet ants left, but he set the small bottle on the end table and then cracked his knuckles.
Breaths ripped from her lungs as she gasped for air. Her throat hurt, and she found herself making sounds no human should make.
“So, I’ll renew my offer. Just—” A sudden blast of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries cut off Mahon’s words, making them both tense. He stood and walked toward the bathroom to answer his cell.
Angelique could see now that vines from the door had encircled her ankles and feet. Kira moved, brushing her warm fur against Angelique as sympathetic feelings washed over her. Kira’s resolve to do something picked up with the distance from Mahon. She no longer reminded Angelique of a scared kitten.
Not having Kira with her would drain them both, but if Kira was out, she might be able to get help. It’d be safer for both. Mahon wanted her familiar. Surely, he wouldn’t kill her before he got what he wanted.
Harsh words came from the direction of the bathroom. She glanced over to see him staring at the mirror. While his attention was taken by the call, she lowered her grip on Kira, inviting her out.
Kira loped from Angelique’s back around to her stomach, and Angelique braced herself for what was to come. The big cat slammed upward hitting her like a punch to the gut. Angelique bit her lip hard, only making a low moan while her body screamed. Mahon’s voice rose in rushed agitation. He paced a circuit from the vanity to the bathroom and back again.
Angelique pushed out, helping the cat go. Her skin bulged into the shape of the melanistic leopard. Pain blinded her with white-hot agony, worse than all the ant bites combined. Her consciousness dimmed, but she fought to stay awake.
The bed creaked with the sudden added weight as Kira became a reality. The big cat rose upward and hopped to the floor next to the bed, crouching out of sight of the mirror. The feeling of being alone drenched Angelique with sadness before she could get her emotions under control.
The druid’s gaze drifted her way, but he turned away again after satisfying his curiosity and continued his pacing. Mahon’s anxiousness to get off the phone stirred up his restless power. “I know… Yes, I know.” He sighed. “This is not the first time I’ve dealt with your kin. I appreciate the assistance of your wolf. Enjoy your half of the deal, do what you promised, and we will both live long and happy lives.” He leaned over the sink.
The conversation sounded like it’d soon be over. Kira nudged Angelique’s cheek softly, and Angelique moved her head closer to her familiar. The big cat needed to leave while she still could. Angelique ordered Kira to find Connor and lead him here, putting enough energy behind it so the black panther wouldn’t fight the command.
Her vision darkened. The sounds of glass breaking and Mahon’s cursing were the last things she heard.
Help would come. Hopefully.
Chapter Eight
A throbbing ache
Had she screamed? Her mouth was open, but the pain had blocked out everything else. She shut her mouth, trying to regain some composure.
“There is a way to stop the agony. Just give me your gift. The pain will go away.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Kira shivered on her lower back, and Angelique sent comfort to her. She’d never give up her familiar. As far as she knew, if they parted, they would both die. “Never.”
“You’ll wish you had relented. I promise.” He patted his hand against her cheek before sliding out another ant. “When these are gone, I’ll resort to another method. By then, you’ll be begging me for death, which I’ll grant. After I receive your power.”
One ant bite followed another during the twenty-something minutes of agony. He only had three bullet ants left, but he set the small bottle on the end table and then cracked his knuckles.
Breaths ripped from her lungs as she gasped for air. Her throat hurt, and she found herself making sounds no human should make.
“So, I’ll renew my offer. Just—” A sudden blast of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries cut off Mahon’s words, making them both tense. He stood and walked toward the bathroom to answer his cell.
Angelique could see now that vines from the door had encircled her ankles and feet. Kira moved, brushing her warm fur against Angelique as sympathetic feelings washed over her. Kira’s resolve to do something picked up with the distance from Mahon. She no longer reminded Angelique of a scared kitten.
Not having Kira with her would drain them both, but if Kira was out, she might be able to get help. It’d be safer for both. Mahon wanted her familiar. Surely, he wouldn’t kill her before he got what he wanted.
Harsh words came from the direction of the bathroom. She glanced over to see him staring at the mirror. While his attention was taken by the call, she lowered her grip on Kira, inviting her out.
Kira loped from Angelique’s back around to her stomach, and Angelique braced herself for what was to come. The big cat slammed upward hitting her like a punch to the gut. Angelique bit her lip hard, only making a low moan while her body screamed. Mahon’s voice rose in rushed agitation. He paced a circuit from the vanity to the bathroom and back again.
Angelique pushed out, helping the cat go. Her skin bulged into the shape of the melanistic leopard. Pain blinded her with white-hot agony, worse than all the ant bites combined. Her consciousness dimmed, but she fought to stay awake.
The bed creaked with the sudden added weight as Kira became a reality. The big cat rose upward and hopped to the floor next to the bed, crouching out of sight of the mirror. The feeling of being alone drenched Angelique with sadness before she could get her emotions under control.
The druid’s gaze drifted her way, but he turned away again after satisfying his curiosity and continued his pacing. Mahon’s anxiousness to get off the phone stirred up his restless power. “I know… Yes, I know.” He sighed. “This is not the first time I’ve dealt with your kin. I appreciate the assistance of your wolf. Enjoy your half of the deal, do what you promised, and we will both live long and happy lives.” He leaned over the sink.
The conversation sounded like it’d soon be over. Kira nudged Angelique’s cheek softly, and Angelique moved her head closer to her familiar. The big cat needed to leave while she still could. Angelique ordered Kira to find Connor and lead him here, putting enough energy behind it so the black panther wouldn’t fight the command.
Her vision darkened. The sounds of glass breaking and Mahon’s cursing were the last things she heard.
Help would come. Hopefully.
Chapter Eight
A throbbing ache
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