“Sierra,” Enzo called out, his voice strained with fear. “You can do this!”

With a final surge of power, I pushed past my limits, forcing the demon to release its grip on Anna. A guttural, otherworldly scream pierced the air as the darkness was expelled from her body and vanished into oblivion.

Exhausted, I collapsed to my knees, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. The victory was taking a heavy toll on my body, but the sight of Anna’s chest rising and falling with steady breaths made it all worth it.

“Anna?” I croaked out, barely able to speak. Tears streamed down her face as life returned to her once vacant eyes.

“Sierra...thank you,” she whispered before closing her eyes again. Enzo’s face showed panic, but I assured him she was just sleeping.

Riley glanced around nervously before speaking up. “We should head to my home to let my parents know that Ravenswood is safe again.”

What we really heard was that he wanted to make sure they were still alive. I glanced at Helene and nodded.

“Yeah, you should go,” Heath said quietly.

“Son.” The gurgled whisper brought our attention sharply to his mother. His eyes rounded and his mouth dropped, reflecting the shock we all felt.

“She’s still alive,” Tor whispered, sinking beside his friend.

I glanced at Enzo and there was agony in his eyes. Tears gathered in my own and I reached for his hand. We had no idea if his parents were alive or dead, though I doubted either he or Anna would want to see them in any case.

“Barely.” Heath’ eyes fixed on me. “I think you all should get somewhere safe. I’ll stay for … the time being.” His voice shook. “I’ll be along shortly.”

“We’re not leaving you here alone,” Torin said, and I agreed.

“Enzo, you should take Anna somewhere safe and let us know where to meet you.”

He wavered and Tor went to his side. “I’ll help you,” he said, lifting Anna, “then I’ll come back for Heath and Sierra.”

“But…”

“Go,” I said. “We’ll be all right for now. Carlo’s gone and the majority of his followers are dead. I doubt the rest are sticking around.”

“What about Daniel? He might still be out here.”

Hot fury washed through me. “If he’s still alive, he’s bound to be wounded from Riley’s spell. We can handle him.”

“But—”

“Go!” I added a little extra compulsion, and they went.

Helene moaned again and Heath raised tormented eyes to me. “What do I do?” he whispered.

I had no idea. The woman had put him—and me—through hell. She’d been pure evil for years. But she had jumped in front of a killing spell to save his life. I thought of my own mother, Merline. All the years she’d loved her drugs and her loser boyfriends more than her own children. But once she’d been free of their influence, she tried to be a good mother.

Was it the same for Helene? She’d made some bad choices, been under some bad influences. But did she really, deep down, love her son?

I brought forth my Reaper’s scythe and looked at him.

He nodded.

As I moved closer, her fingers closed on my wrist.

“Not yet,” she whispered. “I need…” her voice trailed off as a horrible wet sound came from her lungs.

“There isn’t much time,” I said softly.

“Heath … Daniel …” she drew in a rasping breath. “Lies.”

“What lies?” he asked.

“Safe.”

He looked at me, helplessly. I didn’t know what to say.

“Yes, we’re safe,” he said.

“No,” she moaned, and he held her hand.

“It’s all right. We’ll be all right. Sierra can help you.”

“My safe,” she breathed.

“You are safe.”

Her eyes rolled in her head, then focused on me. “Safe,” she coughed. “Revenge.”

Then she was gone.

“Mom?” He tried to move her, and I shook my head.

“She’s gone,” I whispered. Motioning toward June, I said, “But there may still be time to save her soul if you want me to.”

I left the choice up to him, unsure if it was the right thing to do. I was a Reaper, I was supposed to help the dead move on, but with all she’d done, and all she’d put him through, I felt he had a right to decide.

Several long moments passed as his face went through a myriad of expressions from rage to grief.

Finally, he said, “Do it.”

I reached my hand toward her chest then hesitated. “Maybe you should look away.”

He breathed in shakily and turned his head as I thrust my hand inside. It took several moments to extract her spirit from the Dark One’s hold. I wasn’t even sure if I could, the control it had had over her in life had been so strong. In the end, I sent it to hell where it belonged and lifted out the small whisp of what had been good in Helene Warner. I nudged Heath then, believing he should at least see this much of her.

She smiled at him, and his eyes went wide. “Remember what I told you, son. Revenge is the key to my safe.”

And then she was gone.

My confusion was reflected in Heath’s eyes, then it cleared.