And he did. I didn’t see or feel much of anything underneath the cloak, but I know Sebastian did. He lost his skin, and I pressed against the coolness of his bones and his essence lit up underneath the cloak. Mesmerized, I watched as his essence moved around my body and the darkness formed underneath my skin, chasing around the glow. It was oddly beautiful, almost like they were kissing each other. Maybe they were because they needed each other. Maybe that made them thankful toward one another. My insides tingled and warmed with their connections. I wondered if Sebastian felt it too?
For the first time, I found acceptance in the darkness. If it could give over its control to me, I could accept the past, the present, and the future of it.
“Sebastian!” One of his sisters sounded relieved. When the cloak was removed, and he placed my feet on the ground, I saw that it wasn’t his sister, but his mom.
His siblings were no longer bound by the bracelets now that I was free, and by the expressions on their faces, I could tell that they were happy to see Sebastian. I stood slightly behind him, using the height and width of him to hide from their gazes. Sebastian had to materialize some clothes on himself again, but mine had been protected inside the cloak.
“He did it.” Maureen smiled, then whipped her dark eyes on me. “She back to normal?”
“Of course she is,” August said with a shrug. “Look at the way she’s gripping his arm for dear life. If she was still the crazy thing earlier, she’d be running from him.”
I hadn’t realized I was clutching his arm like a lifeline. I stopped immediately. “I’m sor—”
“We can’t wait any longer,” Melanie yelled. She was bent down next to the Grim Reaper as he faded in and out. She had tears in her eyes. What was happening to him?
Maureen ran at the vortex, a sword in each hand as she sent a powerful wave of her orange essence at it. The storm swallowed it up whole without a hint of danger. “How do we stop it?” she hissed.
I studied the layers of magic around the whirlwind. I knew its energies as well as its weaknesses. I had been the one to create it after all. They couldn’t stop it at this point. It was too big.
I moved beside Sebastian. Shoulders straight, I glanced at the ones I had stolen power from against their will, knowing I was about to ask to do it again. This time with permission.
“You can’t stop it,” I told them the truth. “But I can.” So many eyes were watching me. “But, in order to do so, I’m going to have to hurt you again.”
Thirty-Three
Sebastian
Isabella was stiff and full of nervous energy as she gazed at everyone, but her eyes were slanted and full of determination. Instead of worrying about all the wrongs she had done while under Harvest’s control, she stepped up and offered help in the form of pain, knowing the reaction might be harsh.
“I know given how much control Julius has had over me, you have no reason to trust that I’m telling the truth or that this isn’t some sort of trick, but this isn’t something I can do alone.” She glanced over at me and took my hand. “There’s no way I can direct that much power alone or inside me for very long, the vortex was killing me. Sebastian will have to take over when I have enough, then everything I’ve taken from you all—”
Isabella abruptly stopped when she saw that Maureen was heading toward her. Eyes narrowed at her, she held her arm out to Isabella and I smiled while Maureen looked the other way. “We don’t have the option to sit here and listen. Our father is slipping away right along with the world, it’s us that follows if we don’t do anything.”
“Ah, fuck,” August groaned. “Let’s get on with the touch of death, shall we?”
“Can someone knock me out before she touches me so that I don’t have to go through that excruciating pain again?” Joy asked, and Barron snorted. It was Mom who came up behind her and slipped her hand over her forehead, putting her to sleep like she asked. Joy’s eyes closed, her body leaning forward with Payne there to catch her. He lifted her in his arms and cradled her to his chest as he carried her to Isabella.
“Such a baby,” I heard him mutter.
“Can you use mine?” Mom asked Isabella.
Isabella nodded. “More like, we’re going to need it.”
“Maybe when this is over, we can find me some of that touch of death.” Prudence piped in. Soon everyone was lined up in front of Isabella oddly enthusiastic. Or maybe it was the thought of our last moments being sad that kept the perk in the air because Prudence never made jokes or took the time to talk. “Would come in handy,” she even added.
“Sebastian,” I turned to Isabella as she said my name. “I need you to take it all away from me when it’s time.” She was referring to their power.
“How will I know when it’s time?” I asked her.
“You’ll know.” She smiled. “When my body at its limit, I trust that you will stop it.”
“Izzie…”
“This is going to work,” she whispered with a positive smile. “I didn’t meet you just to lose you in the end.”
“This isn’t the end.” Maureen nodded, sounding more determined. “Hear that, Dad?”
“I hear ya,” Dad whispered his response.
