Abra lets out a scream from below, one that signals she’s caught a glimpse of what’s going on above.
That’s when everything spirals out of control.
I allow myself one glimpse below as Nox uses Abra’s distracted attention to land a blow across her neck. She shrieks as his nails make contact, but it’s short-lived. Moments later, the wound heals itself, much faster than it should for the fae.
It’s then I remember the Old Magic’s story.
That when Abra, then known as Mother, was infused with magic from the Rip, her power wasn’t simply potions.
It was healing.
It is healing.
Oh no.
I go to call down to Nox in warning, but I catch myself. It’s too late for that, and judging by the surprise in Nox’s eyes, he’s realized the problem already.
I’m still scampering after Piper across the topmost rafter when the queen sends a dagger hurtling across the room. It delves into Nox’s shoulder, casting him to the floor, writhing in pain.
Poisoned. The dagger must be poisoned.
The scream that flows from my mouth is something primal. I’m going to kill her, but she’s already ascending the beams of the warehouse, ready to cut Piper off before she can get down.
Amazingly enough, Piper is scrappier than she looks. I’m quickly reminded of her fae heritage when she jumps across to a neighboring beam, catching herself. It’s not a graceful movement, like a vampire or a fae, but she manages the jump, which is more than a human could likely do.
Abra’s face lights with fury, but before she can launch herself after Piper, I get to the queen, slamming my fist into the rafter below our feet. It trembles enough to throw Abra off her balance, allowing Piper time to slip down from the rafters and out of sight.
“You stupid little child,” Abra hisses. Steam from the vats below causes her slick moonlight hair to curl in wet whips against her scalp as she regains her balance at the other end of the topmost rafter. “You should have stayed out of our way.”
Our.
My blood chills as I look into Abra’s eyes and find something altogether familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
“Am I speaking to Abra or Cindy right now?” I ask, fighting to keep my voice nonchalant, though I’m rather successful. Using the nickname I gave the parasite helps ground me, strange as that is.
“We’re one and the same,” Abra says, which is a dead giveaway.
“So the parasite then,” I say.
She lunges.
There’s no sidestepping her on these metal bars, so I jump, grabbing at the rafters on the vaulted ceiling and swinging myself to land on the other side of Abra as she swipes at nothing but thin air.
My feet pummel the metal beams, denting them with the imprint of my boots and causing the rafter itself to moan.
I spin on my heel and find Abra charging, another poisoned dagger in hand. Its jagged tip glints in the glow of the liquid sunlight, giving the illusion that the knife itself is molten.
She swings for my head, and I duck, the whizz of the knife singing just above my hair.
The swing leaves Abra unsteady, so I take advantage of the moment and shove into her, hoping to send her toppling over the edge. She strikes faster than I’m expecting, bringing the knife down across my cheek.
Poison singes my flesh, burning away at my skin. I ignore the pain, struggling against Abra to shove her over the edge.
I’m on top of her now, pressing her back against the rafter. Unfortunately, that leaves me with nothing to hold on to but her.
A crazed look overtakes her face once she realizes this. She rolls to the side, thinking to topple me off, but something snags at my back and rips me to my feet.
Nox.
“Steady,” he says from behind as he pulls me into his chest. His lips graze the tip of my ear as he whispers, “Let’s finish this.”
I nod and he lets go of me, launching himself between the adjacent rafters until he lands on the other side of Abra, who’s back on her feet.
Abra turns to the side, monitoring both of us as Nox and I advance.
“I see you found one another,” she says. For the first time, I recognize the strange timbre to her voice, like two sentiences have been melded into one. “Though there must be discontent between the two of you if you felt the need to come after me. Happy couples don’t seek revenge, not when they’re finally free to live out their happy, quiet lives. Tell me, Nox. Do you find the little servant girl less enticing now that you have the entire world at your feet?”
Nox growls, and Abra just laughs. “That’s what I thought. I always knew being contained in that dungeon for years hampered your social skills. No wonder you wanted a girl so plain, if she was the first female to grace your presence.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” A cruel smile forms on Nox’s lips. “I saw you at your best, and I still didn’t want you. How disgusting does that make you, if even the sheltered boy couldn’t desire you?”
My mind does a double take. It takes me a moment to realize he’s speaking to the parasite, not to Abra, though I’m not entirely sure there’s a difference anymore.
Nox charges, but Abra is ready, maneuvering his attack and going airborne for a moment, until she’s behind him.
She stabs at him with her dagger, and I yelp, but he’s ready for it. He spins, intercepting the dagger by grabbing its hilt.
Nox faces down Abra, the female who ruined his life, both of their expressions strained as they struggle for control of the blade.
