The heat flared inside of me, erupting like a volcano, and streamed into every inch of my body. I held back nothing. I exploded, blasting everything I could and letting all the pain and fear and anger shake the atoms of the room.
Connor flew back away from me, landing in a crouch. “You whore,” he growled. “How dare?—”
Desperately I shoved out with my magic. I had no control. I didn’t know what I was doing, I had no idea what I was feeling, what I was gripping with my raw magic, what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to get Connor awayfrom me. I pushed. His feet slid backwards on the floorboards. His eyes flashed.
I took a breath; my throat felt raw, powerless. Only a croak came out. A wave of exhaustion crashed into me. I was already burned out. I had barely anything left.
Connor straightened up, glaring at me. “You are a fool,” he spat out. “You have no idea what you’re?—”
“Chosen!” The shout came from outside, in the hallway.
Donovan?
“Violet, let me in!” Donovan roared.
My house shook uncontrollably; floorboards groaning, walls cracking. She was too scared. And I was too tired to stand any longer. I sank to the ground, soothing her with my hands.It’s okay, Violet. It’s okay.
Connor stomped back towards me in only two steps, yanking me back up by my hair. I tried to scream but nothing came out. My throat was on fire; my legs refused to obey me. I had no strength left. Connor wrapped his arm around my neck and held me up.
Donovan’s voice in the hallway turned grim. “I will apologize for this later, Violet.”
Bang.
The door exploded. My house flinched, and I felt her whimper.
Donovan strode in—an avenging angel, Lucifer fallen from heaven, sword drawn, murder in his eyes. “Let her go.”
Connor laughed. “You changed your mind, brother? I thought you wouldn’t care. You wish to keep her after all? You were always so adamant that you would not be a slave to fate.”
“Let her go, Connor,” Donovan growled, stalking closer, his knuckles white on the sword. “This is between you and me.”
“No. She is already tied to you now, brother. In fact, it isa pleasant surprise. I don’t need to kill both of you to get you out of my way. I only need to kill one, and?—”
I turned my head and sank my teeth into his bicep, biting as hard as I could.
Connor screamed and shook me off. I fell to the floor and rolled away, hugging the floorboards. I tried to comfort my terrified House.See, Violet?I silently begged her.There’s two of them.
Magic pulsed through the room as the brothers clashed, and a sound like a clap of thunder almost deafened me. Donovan roared, padding forwards on powerful legs, delivering crushing blows, thrusting, blocking, turning to miss the sword strikes by mere inches. Connor glided back and forth like he was boneless and lashed out in lightning-fast strikes.
Watch them. I patted the floor gently. I could barely see what was happening myself, my vision was blurring in and out.See how different they are? It’s like watching a python and a panther doing battle.
Violet House shook, groaning softly. I understood her. She didn’t know which one was the bad guy; it wasn’t obvious to her. One of them had held me by the throat, but she wasn’t sure if it was just an aggressive cuddle or not. And the other one had blown up her door.
Swords clashed again; the strike sent both stumbling back. Both blades were cracked down to the hilt, destroyed. Donovan tossed his aside carelessly, his face stony. Connor snarled and threw his broken sword hard against the wall. It caught the edge of the window; a pane of glass shattered.
Donovan wouldn’t do that, Violet. He only broke your door so he could get in.
They fought hand-to-hand now; I wished my eyes could follow. Violent smacks, thuds, punches. Donovan’s lip was cut, a smear of blood across his cheek.
I swallowed. It felt like I was trying to choke down a hot coal. “You can do it, Violet,” I whispered. “I trust you.”
I felt her shiver underneath me. Just then, Connor let out a terrible snarl, his words vibrating with dark magic—a curse left his lips. A flash of green light flared in the dark room. Donovan stumbled back, a ragged line of scarlet ripped across his chest.
I screamed. “Donovan!”
Connor flexed both arms. Daggers appeared in his palms, pitch-black, glinting malevolently, and he stomped towards his brother.
Violet shivered and moved. The floorboards rose up before the evil twin like a wave, and he slid backwards down the incline. His mouth twisted; he bounded upwards, daggers raised for the killing blow.
