I took a few steps forward, but I still could not see him. I saw Klyn on the ground, grasping his arm. The blade was still deep in his arm. I kept walking; Merc was following me still. I thought of Liam, Sean, Michan, and Ethan. I had never been bound or connected to anyone as I was with them now. They were part ofme.
A small break in the clouds allowed a glimmer of light through. And by some wild act of God knows what, the sliver of light from the stars shined brightly and made a path to Lochlaan and Octavia. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes, my perfect vision had returned. The stars had aligned, and I was about to do something that would have an enormous impact on all ofDreyle.
“All you have to do is take me to the castle, River. Just get me inside. That is all I need. No one gets hurt,” hedrawled.
I began walking forward again. As the light from the stars guided my path, I quickly raised my bow, aimed for his throat that was just over Octavia’s shoulder, and released thearrow.
“No one gets hurt…but you,” Isaid.
The arrow pierced his throat, and he fell to the ground gasping. I dropped my bow and took off in a sprint towardsLochlaan.
“Merc! Come on!” I yelled over myshoulder.
I slid on the ground next to where my father had fallen. He was trying to pull at the arrow, but Derwin’s poison-tipped arrow was already doing its damage. We had very little time. I pulled one of Lochlaan’s shaking hands away from the arrow’s shaft. Merc stood next tous.
“Merc, take that wrist. We will pierce his veins and send him to hell with all of the demons he made us take,” I quickly said and looked up athim.
“The curse…the curse will be removed…for me?” heasked.
“For us. Come on, Merc. We do not have much time. We have to do it while he is still alive. Lochlaan told your father and Derwin to put the Curse of Demons on you. Lochlaan was the one who ordered it on us.” Lochlaan gasped and looked at him. His neck was already turning gray. “Merc!” I yelled and raised Lochlaan’s wrist to mymouth.
Merc knelt down, grasped the other wrist, and brought it to his mouth. At the same time, we sunk our teeth into Lochlaan’s veins. Both of our bodies jolted, and I felt as though I was getting sick to my stomach as my body purged the demons. My body was expelling hundreds of years’ worth of sins from other people. I managed to glance at Merc; he was purging the sins aswell.
My father’s body shook violently, and when I felt as though my stomach and soul had been emptied, Lochlaan’s body stopped shaking and became still. Deathly still. Merc dropped Lochlaan’s wrist and leaned back on his elbows. I sat back and took hold of Octavia’s offered hand and I pulled herclose.
Phoebe came running out of Derwin’s and wrapped her arms around Merc. She planted kisses all over his face and smoothed his hair. Derwin came outside and set his bow down against the side of hishouse.
“Thankfully, you boys did not wreck the place,” he lightlyjabbed.
I smiled and looked at Merc. In my peripheral vision, Eve was making her way towards Klyn, and the boys were coming down from thetrees.
“Stay here, River. I am going to go see Klyn,” Octavia said as she kissed mycheek.
I was not going to argue because my body felt exhausted at the moment. I could not help but notice that Merc’s hands did not seem as dark to me anymore. Would the lifting of the curse begin reversing the effects of the sins on Merc? As I opened my mouth to ask Derwin, Evescreamed.
Merc’s father had come from out of nowhere and grabbed Eve. Klyn tried to scramble to his feet, but I was on my feet quicker and ran to Octavia. With her hand safely in mine, I pulled her to stand behindme.
“Let her go, Lucian. She has nothing to do with this,” Derwinyelled.
“She was Lochlaan’s!” Lucian pointed the rather large knife at Klyn while Eve cried hysterically. “You took her! You talked her into helping you escape!” Lucian turned to face me as he waved the knife around. “You killed all of them!” Lucian erratically moved and turned to face Klyn again. “Her blood is on your hands!” he yelled, and then he slit Eve’s throat from ear to ear, severing her head. Lucian held Eve’s head by her hair and took off, disappearing into thefog.
“No!” Klyn yelled and tried to hobble towards Eve as her body fell to theground.
Klyn’s knees hit the ground just as Sean and Liam got to him. They helped him limp towards Eve’s headless body as Octavia and I walked to Klyn’s side. Eve’s limbs were still shaking uncontrollably as blood spilled out of the neck. Her hands tried grabbing at the ground for a few moments until she stopped movingaltogether.
“Octavia, do not look,” I urged and guided her head down on myshoulder.
“I did her no good,” Klyn mumbled. “She just wanted to go home. Wester Lea…that is where she wasfrom.”
Klyn had Sean help him out of his shirt, and he draped it over Eve’s now still body. He knelt beside Eve and took hold of herhand.
“May you rest in peace, my sweet girl. May whoever was waiting for your return, find peace.” Klyn kissed the back of her hand and then removed her redbracelet.
Liam and Sean helped Klyn stand and headed slowly towards Derwin’s. Derwin had summoned Sean and Liam to bring Klyn inside so he could take care of his arm. Merc, Ethan, and Michan took up the task of walking around to each Carpe Noctem body and ensuring they weredead.
I went inside with Octavia and Phoebe, and we stayed by Klyn’s side as Derwin stitched himup.
“Are you alright, my Queen?” I asked and kissed herhands.
Octavia pressed her lips against mine, and with trembling lips, kissedme.
“I love you, River. Thank you for helping me save Klyn,” Octaviawhispered.
“I love you too,” I said as I pressed my forehead against hers. I shut my eyes and smiled. “I am free now,” Isighed.
“Free?” Octavia questioned. “I do not recall releasing you from your gentleman duties,” she quietlyteased.
“That is a good thing because I was hoping that you would decide that you never wanted to relieve me of my gentleman duties,” I whispered right before I kissedher.
I still was having a hard time believing that the Curse of Demons had been lifted, but I truly felt different. I wondered what it was like not to have nightmares. Tonight, with Octavia in my arms, I would findout.
