Iseult twisted her head from left to right and back again.“Pretty belongs to me.Not you.You will pay.”Another piercing cry rippled from her throat, repeating three times before she fell silent, a gloating smile curving her bright-pink lips.“My men come.”
“Lights on,” Betrys said in a firm voice from the main room.Sly and Joe were retrieving Ricci.She had to believe that.They would rescue her son.
Bluebird lifted his head from his cushion in the corner and let out an enquiring honk.
“Do you hear me, Bee-trice?”Iseult singsonged.“I have your son.I’m sure he’ll taste delicious.”She crawled along the floor and shot out into the larger room, stalking Betrys.
“Bitch,” Betrys spat, fear at her employer’s presence eclipsed by fury.She glared at Iseult.“Ricci has nothing to do with this.He’s a child.An innocent.”Her gaze speared to Leo.He placed a finger to his lips and reached for his com-circle.
“I see you, Pretty.Leave communicator and come join us out here,” Iseult ordered.“Yes, good.Good.You stay while I deal with my traitorous assistant.”
“How are you going to deal with me, Iseult?”Betrys’s voice cracked toward the end, negating her feisty attitude.She wiped her sweaty palms on her robe and lifted her chin to scowl at her employer.Ex-employer.She was finished working for Iseult.“Kill me in the same way you murdered all those men?”
“Pretty lives.”Iseult flicked open her communicator.“Spiderus Mansion.”
Hell, the last thing they needed was for Iseult to learn Ricci had disappeared, or even worse, if Iseult ordered security tightened at the mansion.
Without even considering the consequences, Betrys darted forward and knocked the com-circle from Iseult’s hand.It clattered onto the tiles and skidded across the floor.Iseult jumped after it and came to a screeching halt, her attention on the jar containing her offspring.She croaked and seemed to shrink, her limbs rounding into her oval Spiderus abdomen.
“Mine?Mine!”she roared.
She whirled to face them, her torso expanding, her legs lifting and stomping on the tiles.Tap, tap, tap.Tap, tap, tap.“What you do?Mine.Mine.Mine.”
“They were killing Leo.”Betrys steeled herself, trying not to let Iseult’s anguish get to her.“We cut them out.”
Iseult whirled on Betrys.“I will kill your son.I’ll suck out his essence and cut him into pieces then put him in a jar and keep him on display.”
A guttural roar rushed Betrys’s throat, and she whipped the knife Caspar had given her from her pocket.She flew at Iseult, brandishing the knife, with blood pounding in her ears.“You are not hurting my son!”Rage drove her, obscured her vision.
Hack.Slash.Repeat.
Hack.Slash.Repeat.
She struck repeatedly at one of Iseult’s legs and the limb dropped to the floor.Iseult roared and jumped so high her head thumped the ceiling.It must’ve dazed her because she stumbled on landing.
Hack.Slash.Hack.Slash.Slash.Slash.
Iseult leaped at her, knocking her off balance, and her knife went airborne.Betrys hollered, fury rushing up her throat.Something shifted under her skin, and she staggered.Pain—so much pain—slammed her senses.Betrys forced the agony back, groped for her knife.
The blade sliced her palm, and relief soared in her.Her fingers curled around the hilt with a sense of triumph.Chest heaving, Betrys rolled to her feet, her gaze on Iseult, as she circled ready to attack again.
“Bring it, Spiderus,” she growled in a voice that wasn’t hers.
“Saber,” Leo hollered.“We need you now.”
Iseult shrieked and jumped at Betrys.Splotches of purple life force sprayed over the floor.Betrys darted to the side and Leo sprang at Iseult, knocking the Spiderus off balance.The three of them slid on the purple goop and crashed against the wall, sending entertainment vids flying.
“I kill your son and give his corpse to my men.”Iseult hissed and waved her leg stump, spraying more purple into the air.“Then put in jar.”
Kill.Kill.Kill.Betrys hurtled against Iseult, heedless of her own safety.They came together in another angry collision, and the jar containing Iseult’s offspring soared through the air.It crashed onto the tiles, exploding on contact.Shards of glass flew, and the vinegar and contents spewed across the floor.
“Holy fuck.”Felix gaped at the scene from the doorway.
Bluebird squawked and swooped on the Spiderus egg sac.Two determined pecks later, and Iseult’s offspring were gone.
“What the hell?”Saber said.“Did Bluebird just eat that thing?”
“Yeah.”Leo pumped his fist in the air.“Go, Bluebird.”
