Chapter 38 – IVY
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
IVY
Ifollow the couple, taking a few steps outside before something catches my eye as it comes toward me from around the corner of the house. But it’s too late. I’m grabbed and the barrel of a gun is placed to my head.
“Leaving so soon?” Nikolai sneers.
My eyes meet Venom’s. He stands taller now, clearly fighting through immense pain. His body is stiff and his expression is a raw mix of anger and fear.
This is the first time I have actually seen him afraid.
He clenches his jaw. I look to Charlotte, who stands just as still beside him, then glance at Reaper, who looks the calmest of the three.
“How do you see this playing out? Because from where I’m standing, you’re already dead,” Reaper says.
“That’s the problem with bastards like you. You’re all arrogant, thinking you’ve won before the game is over. I’m willing to bet my life that our Southern Poisoner isn’t willing to risk the life of his lover. Are you now, boy?”
“What do you want?” Venom grits out through clenched teeth.
“To leave. With her.”
“Not a chance.”
“Then she dies.”
“And so will you,” Charlotte adds.
“As long as I can drag this disloyal bitch with me to hell, I can accept that.”
I can’t see a way out of this and I’m wondering if Venom feels the same according to how he’s looking at me.
This is about to be over, one way or another. I feel the end coming.
VENOM
I decide in this moment that if Ivy dies, I will use up all the poison in the world to end everyone and then I will end myself. If fate sees to it that she dies here and now, then I will see to it the world ends, because there is nothing, absolutely nothing, without her.
Reaper steps slightly in front of me, giving me a view of his vest-lined back. A vest with pockets filled with small knives and one larger handheld scythe.
It looks like fate has other plans tonight.
I give Ivy a small smirk, trying to let her know it’s going to be alright. I can’t very well pull the scythe out without drawing attention, but a small knife will do.
“Maybe I should introduce myself. I’m the Bone Reaper, and I was the one to kill your partner, Gabriel Moore, in Boston.”
“Actually, that was me,” Charlotte interjects with a little wave. “You should kill me.”
“Charlotte,” Reaper growls in warning.
I see what they’re doing, trying to draw Nikolai’s attention away from me and Ivy.
I use the opportunity and slip a small knife free from Reaper’s vest. I grip it tight in my left hand and get a feel for its weight. This will definitely do. I will myself to push past the pain and steady my hand.
“You? You killed Gabriel?” Nikolai asks sharply.
“Honestly, it was one of my most enjoyable kills,” she quips.
The instant Nikolai moves the gun away from Ivy’s head to point it at Charlotte, I launch the knife at him.
I don’t miss.
It lands in the back of his hand, making him yelp. He drops the gun, and that’s when Reaper strikes, taking him down to the ground. All I hear is Nikolai scream as the unmistakable sound of snapping bones fills the air. I run to Ivy and shout to Reaper and Charlotte, “Put him in the trunk!”
I continue bleeding all over Reaper’s car as he drives us to a location I sent to Alice, two miles up the road.
“You should have put me in the trunk so I don’t get blood on your seats.”
“There’s still time,” Reaper quips. “You would even have some company back there.”
I give him a bloody grin through the rearview mirror.
“It's okay, Venom. It’s just a rental,” Charlotte adds.
When I glance over to Ivy, I see her frowning, her eyes filled with concern as she holds on to me. “Don’t worry, darlin’, it will take a lot more to kill me.”
She wipes a tear away. “This happened because of me.”
“No more tears for me, little beast. This didn’t happen because of you. It happened for you. And I would do a hell of a lot more for you than this. This is just a regular Tuesday for me.”
She frowns. “Is there really such a difference?”
“Of course there is. Saying this happened because of you is putting the blame and responsibility on you.” I groan as we hit a pothole and my torn back hits the seat.
Ivy steadies me and I grit my teeth to continue.
“You hold no blame for this, no responsibility. It was my decision to come for you. There was no way in hell I was just going to let you slip away. You’ve been mine since you walked into my home and sunk your poison into my veins. I told you there was no cure.”
The corner of her mouth curves up in an almost smile, and then her voice grows softer. “Evelyn…”
My body tenses at hearing her name, the memories slamming back into me like waves on a shore, nearly sweeping me under until I’m lost in a sea of grief. But I grip Ivy’s hand tighter, holding on to her, my new anchor.
I let out a pained breath. “I know. Now don’t you dare go blaming yourself for that.
There’s only one person to blame and he’s half-dead in the trunk.
” I turn toward her more, bringing my hand to her cheek.
“Listen, I got to say my goodbye, and as it should have been, I was with her in the end. And believe me when I say she would be heartbroken if you blame yourself for her death. So don’t. Don’t do it, darlin’.”
Her resolve breaks and she falls against me, sobbing. My back presses against the seat again and I wince, but no pain can compare to the feelings Ivy brings me. From very early on, they have overshadowed everything else, silencing the worst of my demons.
“I’m just so relieved you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you too,” she whispers.
“I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you, ever again.”
My breathing suddenly falters and my vision blurs with Ivy’s sweet face disappearing from my view. I groan, and before everything goes black, I hear Ivy’s voice screaming my name.