“With my dying breath, Asher. I would die or spend an eternity in agony before I hurt her.”
“Then you’re a better man than I, Pádraig the Defiant.”
Chapter forty-two
To Die, but Only Temporarily
“It requires more courage to suffer than to die.” - Napoleon
Hailey blinked hard as Giselle’s voice faded in to her ears.
“…but you’re not going to find anything helpful in a library, and I already read these magazines the last time you dragged me in here, so how much longer do you want to stay in this pulverized-tree crypt?”
Hailey finally focused on Giselle. She was holdingThe Banshee’s Guide to Handling a Soulin one hand and pointing to the magazine rack with the other.
“What’s the matter with you? Did you just have a vision?”
“I did!” She shot out of her chair. “Oh my God, Giselle, I have to find Fin!”
Hailey swayed shakily, leaned against the table to steady herself, and straightened to leave, but an explosion in the reference section threw her back into her chair.
Matthew, who had been snoring peacefully next to Hailey’s desk, was thrown toward Mysteries, and Hailey scrambled to her feet only to find herself face-to-face with Cobon’s rotten sneer.
Staggering back, she bumped into Giselle, who grabbed her arm and shoved her aside, wedging herself protectively between her and Cobon.
“What’s this?” Cobon laughed. “Do you mean to protect the human? You? A demon abomination?” Cobon tossed his head back and cackled. Then without warning, he backhanded Giselle across the face, sending her careening across theroom until her body slammed limp against the stone wall and crumpled to the floor.
“No!” Hailey screamed, and she lunged toward her roommate.
Cobon grasped her by the hair and jerked her back, flinging her against a bookcase, which he then toppled over on top of her. All six hundred and eighty-seven books, which Hailey had meticulously counted, thundered down, thumping her head and neck and back. She scrambled as fast as she could against the onslaught, but when the heavy oaken shelf crashed down, it smashed her legs above the knee into the cold marble floor.
She couldn’t force air to scream.
Cobon grabbed Giselle up by the neck and held her high.
“My work here could be done,” he said over his shoulder to Hailey. “But I’d much rather stay until you expire completely, my dear, you’re losing blood at a fatal rate, did you know? If you can speak, please tell me why you care about this one—I’m curious—she’s an abomination, which I should happily rid from this wretched planet.”
“No,” Hailey gasped. “Don’t—” Pain stole her breath.
Cobon poised his hand over Giselle’s chest, and then he turned, smiled, and winked.
“Ah, Hailey…” He shook his head, clicking his tongue in disapproval. “Quite a spirit you have. Imagine my disappointment when Asher told me you were reconsidering our little arrangement. No matter, we don’t need Asher, do we? He’s had second thoughts as well and is no doubt right behind me, so I’ll be quick. Embrace your fate, my dear. Your death is only temporary. And I’ll spare this demon. What do you say?” He plunged his hand through Giselle’s chest, and she let out a guttural, agonizing screech.
Hailey’s mind fogged with pain and desperation.Six hundred and eighty-seven. She frantically focused on her consciousness. If she passed out, she’d die—or he’d kill her—he’d kill Giselle for sure—no, she had to stay awake—keep him talking,figure something out. She knew she’d never killed an Envoy, but Cobon didn’t. Maybe she could scare him. But how?
Six hundred and eighty-seven. It kept intruding—rattling in her head—she’d shelved these books, which now buried her—all six hundred and eighty-seven of them. That number. And Tomas was wringing his hands in the polished marbled floor next to her.
Tomas—the ghost trap—the frequency Asher abhorred—690 Hertz—it was too annoyingly close to— Mrs. Spitz is clairvoyant!
In all her frenzied anguish, it made her giggle.
“Six hundred and eighty-seven,” she sputtered, and Giselle nodded, her eyes determined.
The banshee opened her mouth and let out a howl that made Hailey’s ears bleed. The library windows shattered.
Hailey squinted against the noise.
Cobon dropped Giselle and slammed his hands against his ears. He kicked the wailing banshee against another bookcase with such force, it fell over on her, and then he bolted.
