I spun around—and got slammed in the chest with a blast of magic.
Pain exploded in my ribs. But still, nothing hurt worse than the gnawing curse inside my stomach.
I gasped, trying to stand.
“I’ve been in this torment for too long,” the witch hissed, stepping into view. Her eyes gleamed with unhinged joy. “You can take my place.”
Hell no.
Then—a tap. Light and cool against my shoulder.
I turned.
Shadow stood behind me—a blotted, shifting mass of dark. Its outstretched hand waited.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, already grabbing the offered limb.
The world twisted again.
Suddenly, I was back in Luke’s massive chamber— standing before a table heaving with food.
I didn’t hesitate. I threw myself onto it, grabbing fistfuls of meat, bread, fruit, whatever I could shove into my mouth. The relief was instant. I moaned through a mouthful, tears springing to my eyes.
When the curse finally quieted in my stomach, I paused mid-bite.
Shadow lingered near Luke’s desk.
A paper floated into the air, drifted toward me, and landed.
“This place is dangerous. When will you learn?”
I scowled. “You didn’t answer my question. How can you behere? And how did you get me back?”
Another paper landed in the mashed potatoes.
“I am the darkness.”
I rolled my eyes, snatching a buttery roll and devouring it. “You ported us here. I didn’t know a blob had power like that.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
With a grunt, I crumbled the paper and chucked it at Shadow. The ball sailed right through its form, which of course prompted it to grab another damn sheet, scribble something, and launch it at my head.
I snatched the paper mid-air.
“You had so many months to say your goodbyes. Are you regretting ignoring it now?”
Of course, Shadow mentionedthat. The one thing guaranteed to piss me off. I was beyond tired of Shadow and Luke both trying to force farewells out of me, like I was supposed to throw in the towel because they said so.
I let the paper fall to the ground.
“My family isn’t fading away. Iwillsee my father again. So saying goodbye is unnecessary. Until I turn to ash and scatter like he did, the Devil and Harvest haven’t won.”
Another paper flitted toward me.
“You can’t escape Hell. How do you plan to stop anything?”
“Why are you even here?” I shouted, arms spread wide. “Is it just to piss me off? Unless you’re planning to help meescape, get lost.”
