Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
But this?
This is surprisingly fun.
Antonio rushes over, stepping protectively in front of Delphi and Mabel. I see Mabel show him the knife, and concern crosses his face. He looks back at me. I shake my head in an exaggerated motion, hoping he understands what I’m trying to say. Stop going after it. It knows we’re onto it.
I can barely see what’s happening because of the stage lights, but I watch Delphi, Mabel, and Antonio pull back. Antonio takes his phone out, and I can see the glow of the screen in his hand. I keep singing, sweeping my gaze from one side of the room to the other. The demon went through the kitchen doors and disappeared from sight.
Being onstage has officially lost its advantage. But I can’t exactly stop in the middle of the song and run away. Right? No sooner does that thought enter my head than something crashes at the bar.
People turn to look.
I keep singing, hoping I can distract them long enough for the demon to at least get out of here before it hurts anyone else. Then the doors at the back of the room open.
A single silhouette is outlined by the bright light from the hallway. Ryder moves silently through the room, stopping about halfway in and staring at me. Even with the harsh stage lights making it difficult to see the crowd, there’s no mistaking the look on his face.
I keep singing.
I get to the part about feeling nothing at all and make eye contact with Ryder as I sing it. Not intentionally. It’s just how the timing works out. But nevertheless, I can tell it guts him.
There was a time when I wanted this.
When I wanted him to hurt.
I wanted him to know he fucked up. To know he lost the best thing he would ever have. I wanted to remind him over and over that there was nothing better than me. No one better waiting for him somewhere else.
And not because I was a superior hunter. Because of the way I loved him. Because I was kind. Understanding. Patient.
But now…Now I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want him to suffer the way I suffered, because his suffering isn’t going to lessen my pain. That was something I had to go through. Something I had to survive on my own.
And now, as I stand here looking out at the man I used to cry myself to sleep over—the man I once wished more than anything would just be brave enough to choose me—I only feel sorry for him.
Not because he lost me.
Because he was never able to choose himself.
The doors open and close once more. Theo, Xavier, and Zeke walk in. They immediately start toward the kitchen doors. Thank God Xavier and I are on the same wavelength. He pauses for one fleeting second, staring at me with a smile on his face before speeding toward the kitchen.
The song ends.
The crowd cheers. “Thank you, everyone,” I say. “And good night.” The pianist gives me a shocked look as I run past him and head backstage. I assume there has to be some hallway back here that’ll lead around the building so I can get to the kitchen without pushing through the crowd. I’m wrong.
The building is old and small, and all that’s behind the stage is a single-stall bathroom and two dressing rooms.
“Crap,” I mutter.
There’s an exit door at the end of the hallway leading into the alley behind the building. I’m about to pull my purse off my shoulder and dig out my phone to call Xavier when the demon comes rushing toward me.
“Took you long enough.”
I throw out my hand, telekinetically shoving it backward. It slams against the wall with a sickening thud, but the impact doesn’t seem to hurt it. The demon laughs. Its sadistic chuckle echoes off the walls.
Then I’m hit with a sudden wave of dizziness. I stumble back several steps, catching myself against the wall.
“Nice try,” I say through gritted teeth, forcing myself upright. I conjure another ball of energy and throw it at the demon. It hits square in the chest. The demon flies backward. And I’m hit with another wave of dizziness.
This time, I lose my balance. Right before I hit the floor, Xavier catches me. I have no idea how he got here so fast, but I’m not going to question a good thing.
“It’s over there,” I say, shaking my head.
“Are you all right?” Xavier rushes out.
“Yeah.” Though I feel like I just chugged way too many drinks. “The demon is manipulating the energy somehow. The spike in EMF is making me dizzy.”
“Where?” Xavier asks.
“To your left. Three feet.”
He gets me to my feet and speeds away, swinging his arms out in front of him. I take a slow, deep breath and release some of the energy swirling around me. Instantly, I feel better.