Chapter 55 #2
An unsettling feeling hits me like a blow to my chest, and a shift in the wind runs my blood cold.
I glance into the pocket of shadows where the forest starts and notice a looming darkness that stands out.
The moon overhead shines against the large, curved blade that peaks out, and I feel the color drain from my face.
“Someone help me,” I sob into the air. “Anyone. Help.”
Another surge of dread pushes me over the edge, and I scan my surroundings, looking for anything to draw blood.
But nothing catches my eye, and I begin clawing at my own arm, desperate to bring blood to the surface to offer it to Crew.
Swipe after swipe, my dull nails gouge my skin, but not enough to bring the blood I need to the surface.
Locke falls to his knees and grabs my wrists. “Please, stop.”
The darkness shifts around us, and the Grim moves closer.
“Talk to him,” Locke repeats.
Crew locks eyes with me, and I can’t stop the tears that rain down my cheeks.
“I love you, Crew. I love you so fucking much it’s agonizing.”
He smiles and struggles to take a shallow, crackled breath. Crew’s trembling hands find mine, and he tries to squeeze them, but they slip to the side. I catch both of them and hold on tight. I hold on for dear life—for his life.
“He’s here. To take you from me,” I whisper to Crew. “Keep trying, Crew. Push him away.”
He coughs, and I watch in horror as blood spills from his lips and sprays my face.
“Why did you do this?” I cry. “Why did you let them hurt you?”
His unsteady hand cups my face, and for a moment, he doesn’t speak. He stares into my eyes, and I realize he’s memorizing my features—every freckle, every detail he can hold onto knowing his seconds are limited.
“I never noticed the halo of light around you,” he whispers. “You are… so beautiful.”
“Stop talking like that.”
“I’m so sorry I left you before.” His voice shakes. “I should have spent every fucking second with you.”
“Don’t apologize for that,” I say, gently petting his head. “We have more time.”
His voice flickers between strong and weak. “You are going to be okay, Mara.”
“Hush,” I shout. “You aren’t going to die. Don’t fucking say that.”
His eyes slowly drift to the night sky. He examines each twinkling star as if they are the brightest thing he’s ever seen. They reflect in his silver eyes, and even in this moment, he’s the most stunning person I’ve ever seen.
“Locke,” he rasps. “Protect her while I can’t.”
Locke fights back a sob and nods.
“Don’t do this,” I shout. “Stop giving up.”
Crew replies, but only in my mind. “But I’m tired.”
He extends his arm, and pools of black blood trickle down his forearm, coating my legs in a thick liquid, and realization hits me in the chest.
“Drink it,” he says. “Use the power to stall. You can’t let them win.”
“Stall for what?” Another tear rolls down my cheek. “It’s over.”
Crew barely shakes his head. “It’s not.”
I angle my head and take his hand. The bond flickers in my chest like a candle on a windy day, seconds from blowing out.
“Bring me back, Mara…” His voice begins to fade. “And I’ll return as strong as they are.”
My mind travels back to the words Theo spoke. When an Elder dies, if they return, they return stronger, intertwined by divine intervention.
“I can’t lose you,” I cry.
Crew places my hand on his heart. A thump barely moves my hand. “You will never lose me.”
“I am.”
“I’ll be with you, whether you can see me or not, little angel.”
I nuzzle into his hold. “I’m no angel, Crew.”
“You were mine.”
I look at the black blood and back at the figure that moves closer with every second that passes. As Crew’s heart slows, the Grim approaches, ready to take his soul, and I nearly stand to fight him. The faint pulse in Crew’s chest barely rattles my palms as I place them against his cold body.
“Give us a goddamn minute,” I scream toward the hooded figure. “Get the fuck away from us.”
Crew coughs. “Let me go.”
Tears fall onto his cheeks, and I can’t stop my body from shaking. This isn’t happening.
“Never.”
A soft smile curls his lips, and I lean forward, pressing our mouths together.
With everything he has left, Crew kisses me back, and it’s the best feeling I’ve ever known.
I pull away, kissing his cheek and brow before resting my forehead against his, watching as my tears dampen his face.
His cold hand cups my jaw, and he speaks again in my mind.
“If you can find a way to bring me back, I will see you again, my angel. If not, Mara, know I spent every second loving you.” He gasps for air but continues speaking, aloud this time. “Time was never in our favor, but eventually, we'll have our moment when it no longer matters.”
I press my head more firmly against his, feeling his weak hand wrap around my back. I grab his other hand and intertwine our fingers, watching as his eyes close. A sinking feeling rushes over me, and it hits me—the reality slams into me.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Crew attempts to take a deep breath but fails, and my lips quiver.
“You can let go, Crew…”
As if he were waiting for my permission, Crew’s opposite hand slips from my back and hits the ground with a thud. A frantic cry escapes my lips, and my heart feels like it’s about to burst. I raise my trembling hand and press my fingers to his neck.
Thump.
The world around me pauses.
Thump.
My world stops.
Thump.
My world shatters.
My world ends.
And Crew’s soul goes silent.
…
“Is he…” Locke whispers.
“Locke…” My lips quiver as I stare at Crew. “His heart.”
Locke responds, “Oh, God.”
“…Just stopped.”
“Fuck,” Locke cries.
“No, no, no,” I weep, unable to accept this. “No.”
An ungodly scream escapes from my lips, and I lunge forward, letting the emotions take over as the bond shatters into a million pieces within my soul. I feel myself breaking—I feel myself ripping apart—and Crew won’t be there to put me back together.
I close my eyes and envision his face, his bright smile slowly fading into darkness.
A desperate, pleading cry escapes my lips, blurring my sight with tears.
The night dims, stars becoming indistinct above, and I tilt my head back, letting out another anguished sob to fill the overwhelming silence that once carried Crew’s voice.
“Crew,” I scream into the night. “No. No. Oh, fuck. No!”
I can’t contain the cries that escape from my lips, and I cling to his lifeless body. I feel Locke’s hand on my back, and I tear myself away from his touch.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I weep.
The bond disappears, taken by death, leaving a void where a strong, beautiful connection once existed.
The hum of that love is now silent, replaced by an overwhelming emptiness I never thought I could feel.
It feels like loneliness and desolation, tearing my soul apart.
I don’t know where Crew went, but he took a part of me with him.
The bond is shattered, and Crew is gone.
An unbearable pain arises in my chest, and I scream until my voice is raw.
I am empty.
Alone.
I am hollow.
I press my lips against his wrist and begin to drink.
I swallow everything I can to stay connected with Crew. The black blood burns my throat as it sinks into my system, and I can’t hold back the sobs that break my connection now and then. A new darkness moves through my veins, and with Crew’s Elder status, I can barely handle the power.
The others remain still, watching as I consume Crew’s lifeforce, and I hear Bronwyn gasp as my wings gradually turn a bright gold that resembles a rising sun. An exhilarating power surges through me, and I tilt my head back, letting it fuse into my bones, knowing this time it won’t fade.
The Grim steps forward, and I raise my gaze, unhooking my lips from Crew.
“I need to take him,” his ancient voice speaks.
“Please, don’t. Please.”
“It’s time,” the Grim responds. “He is no longer here with you.”
“Where is he?” A deeper voice leaves my lips. “Because if you tell me, I’m going. Please kill me, too.” I sob. “Dad, if you can hear me—if you’re in there—fucking kill me. This is too painful. Fucking kill me.”
The Grim angles his head and removes his hood.
A shock ripples through me, and I stumble backward as I suddenly come face to face with him—my father.
His strong jaw, our shared nose, and his hair—now silvered by time—sit perfectly on his head.
The familiar smile I love appears on his face, and I can’t blink.
“Dad, make it stop. Please, make the pain stop.”
“This man sacrificed something for you that many never would. He gave his life for you, willingly.”
“How do I bring Crew back?” I scream with all the anger I’ve ever known. “How. Do. I. Bring. Him. Back?”
“Many people aren’t this selfless in life, Mara. Bonded or not, Crew showed me something that many never do. He surprised me.”
I slowly stand. “I’ll do whatever you want if you bring him back. Hand me your scythe. I’ll replace you right now, if that’s what you want.”
My father steps back. “That isn’t what I want for you. It’s not your destiny to replace me.”
“Then what do you fucking want?” I scream.
My father slowly fades back into the cloak's darkness, and his features dissolve into a distorted form.
“I want peace. I want quiet. And I need the balance restored.”
“Done,” I say, determined. “Tell me how to do that.”
“Carver Bannermin,” the Grim’s ancient voice returns. “Becoming a High Elder was not his destiny. And I don’t like being cheated.” He glances toward Halcyon City. “Kill him.”
The Grim extends his hand, and I glance down. He holds a scythe, as if he wants me to take it, but this one is different from the one I’ve seen before.
“When his soul enters this, if it’s written in destiny, your prayers will be answered.”
I stare at the blade. “I thought if I touched it, I would replace you.”
“Replacing me is done mutually and through death. It is not your destiny, and you are not becoming me. You are joining me.”
“What?”
“You will not truly be death, as there can only be one. But you will wield it similarly to how I do. We will exist on two planes for now. You stay here, and I will return to the shadows.”
The Grim walks past me, toward Crew, and I close my eyes as the sharp blade touches his chest. I feel a gust of wind move my hair as Crew’s soul goes with the Reaper. A breeze moves around me, and I swear for a moment I can smell smoke and deadly nightshade.
“Choose now, my child. I will not extend this offer again.”
My hands tremble as I reach out to grab the blade. The heavy weapon fits perfectly in my hand, and a gasp escapes my lips as I feel the weight of death pass through me. It’s pure darkness and light, and the neutral power floods me with chaotic, beautiful ease.
“Kill Carver,” the Grim whispers. “Play the game better than them.”
The hooded figure floats toward the darkness, and tears stream down my face again.
I turn around, and to the naked eye, Crew looks unchanged. His body stays still, mangled, and I drop to my knees again, the scythe appearing in our world. Damien and Bronwyn step closer to us, and I hear them softly sobbing. Locke’s eyes widen when he sees the weapon lying on the ground next to me.
“God… Mara?” Locke’s voice trembles. “What did you fucking do?”
I ignore Locke’s question and lean forward, pressing my lips to Crew’s again before pulling away. I cup his face and look into his closed eyes. Another breeze blows my hair across my face, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
“I am far from finished with you,” I whisper to Crew. “You won’t just become a memory to me. I will bring you back. You’ll be mine again, my death bringer.”
I focus on the power flowing through my veins and extend my golden wings into the night sky.
I feel the light and darkness begin to battle within me, and I revel in the power.
The tips of my golden wings begin to turn an unholy black in some places, and the surge of new power rattles my chest. I look ahead at the blinding lights of the city, and I feel my eyes slowly shift to pitch black.
With a single push, I propel into the open air toward Halcyon City, gripping the scythe tightly. I soar through the sky—like a golden phoenix rising from the ashes—toward the city that created the Hollow Huntress, the city that shattered her, and the city where she will be reborn once again.
Reborn into chaos, rage, and death.
Careful of the Grim is written on the walls.
But…
Fear the Hollow Huntress will be etched on souls.