Eric stood next to her with a similar expression. “My God, Ivy! You made another one.”

I scowled at him. “Don’t judge me! A life is a life. I may not have your sense of right and wrong. And I’m glad I don’t. They told me, Eric.” I glared at him with hatred. “I know. I know what you did to my sister. I know you killed her.” My brow pinched tightly, as I spit words at him, “If you didn’t save me from Jake, I’d kill you now. Prophecy or not.”

Eric’s shock intensified. He didn’t look away, apologize, or try to explain. He simply stared at me, unable to speak. Maybe it did look like I could make an evil army. They had every right to be afraid of me. But the reason he should have truly feared me was because he stole her from me. Apryl died in vain—because he was hunting her when he really wanted me.

Eric’s face pinched. He didn’t respond the way I thought he would, “I didn’t save you from Jake. You were alone when I found you. No one was there that night. It was just you, half dead in the dark.” His words shocked me. All this time, I thought he saved me. And the reality that I didn’t owe him anything left my anger unchecked, boiling inside of me.

My body started to shake with rage. “It wasn’t you?” I repeated. The disdain in my voice was so thick, no one moved.

He shook his head, amber eyes narrow. “I found you. I took you home. I trained you. I wasn’t the one who stopped the attack.”

Something inside of me broke, and shattered into a million sharp fragments. Anger made every muscle in my body shake, as my eyes creased into little slits. I wanted to attack, but something held me back. I had to know. “Why’d you kill her?” I hissed.

His body was tense, poised for attack. His muscles flexed as his fingers clenched slowly around his weapon. He was fighting every instinct he had. He wanted to attack. If I gave him a reason, we’d fight to the death. Eric’s voice was callous, “I was tracking her, and trying to confirm who she was. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“You told me that the best part of being a Martis was getting to live a life that wasn’t lived in vain,” I spit the words at him. “You stole that from her! She wasn’t even a part of this! She was a tourist. And you slaughtered her like she was the anti-Christ.”

He tried to explain. “If you were blue. If you were a pure Martis… ”

“I’m not,” I snapped. “I’m not blue. I’m not like you. I’ll never be like you!” I stood, and Collin moved behind me. “I don’t kill innocent people. You do!”

“Ivy, you don’t understand.” He sounded reasonable, like I should see his point. “You saw what happens in your visions. If one life could prevent it… ”

“NO! That’s the point. It’s a damn prophecy! Nobody’s life can prevent it. It’s going to happen no matter what! It doesn’t matter what we do—or who you kill. It’s coming.” My eyes cut into him, as I shook with rage. “You stole the one thing from me that mattered most. I thought she died for no reason. Just some random accident. You let me think it. You watched me crash and burn for over a year, trying to get a grip on her dying for no reason!” Tears streamed down my face. “You are the reason. I hate you! If I ever have the chance to repay the pain you caused me—the innocent life you took—I will.”

I felt my eyes rimming moments before. I knew they would pool violet and that I wouldn’t be able to control myself. A distant thought echoed through the back of mind, reminding me that I needed Eric to help with the prophecy. I wished I didn’t, but I knew he had to be there. I grabbed Collin, wrapping my arms around him, focusing on the ruby ring. His voice called out, “No!” as soon as he realized what I was planning to do. But it was too late. I’d already decided. I couldn’t stand in front of Eric without killing him. And I couldn’t leave Collin behind. I only had one choice—to attempt to efanotate both Collin and myself.

I focused all my rage into the stone, and felt the surge of heat lick through me. We were instantly engulfed in burning black mist. Shannon and Eric disappeared from sight. I could see nothing, but I could feel Collin searing along with me. Suddenly, we lurched forward, stumbling on the carpet inside the church, gasping for air as the heat dissipated. I transported both of us. Collin and I gasped for air, doubled over. When I looked over at him to make sure I didn’t weaken him further, his eyes were wide.

“Ivy!” She was shocked to see me appear in front of her.

“Al. I’m sorry.” Brushing the tears from my eyes, I forced my heart to regain a normal thumping. “I had to see you. Something’s wrong.” Collin settled into a chair looking leery. Al seemed uneasy that he was there, but didn’t throw him out. I don’t know how insane it was to bring him with me, but leaving him with Eric wasn’t an option.

It took me a moment to sense that something wasn’t right. She had a pile of tissues next to her rocker, scattered across the side table. Her face was blank, but her eyes. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Al looked at Collin, dabbing her nose. “So this is what you’ve been after?” She tilted her head toward me. He looked at her, but did not respond.

I couldn’t wait anymore, “Al. What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

Her voice was somber. A sad smile spread across her face. “They found out what you are, Ivy. They know. The Valefar know. It’s going to get bad now.”

“What do you mean?”

She slowed, reaching for me. “Dear girl. I wish I could have stopped it.” She rubbed my hand between hers, and it seemed like time stopped. “But by the time I saw the vision, it was too late. When they found out what you are, they searched for you. I suppose some of them found you, and dragged you away. But, the ones that went to your home… they were looking for something they needed. Something you took. When you wouldn’t bring it out to them… ” her voice trailed off. Her grip on my hand tightened.

My stomach dropped, as my throat tightened. “What? What did they do?” My voice was so faint, I wasn’t sure I spoke.

“I’m sorry, Ivy. Everything is gone. They destroyed your home, and everyone in it. Ivy, the Valefar killed your mother.” It took a minute for me to process what she said. Surely I hadn’t heard her right.

“No. That can’t be true. It can’t be.” I backed away from her. Pity was strewn across her face. Suddenly, my legs gave out from under me, as my chest was crushed by an unseen force. I dropped to the floor, barely able to hold my head up. Collin kneeled down and threaded his arm around me, propping me up. I saw nothing. Felt nothing. Voices continued around me, but their words were meaningless. I was utterly alone. After suffering for a year, not knowing what happened to her daughter, my mom was dead. I was alone. Only one questions hung in my mind. It leaked out in a whisper, “How?”

Al leaned forward and put her old hand on my shoulder. “The Valefar couldn’t enter, because of the wards. I think they meant to drive you out. They used fire, trapping your mom inside, trying to force her to turn you over. But, you weren’t there.”

I nodded. Stale air swirled around me. I felt strange. I’d lost everything. My family. My home. They were all gone. And at this point my only friends were a demon kissed boy, and a nun. A hysterical sob bubbled out of me, as I leaned into Collin. His arms wrapped around me. He asked Al, “What did you see? Are they going to call him?”

Al replied, “Yes, they are. They need two puzzle parts that they don’t have. One is the prophecy—the painting. You know what the other piece is. Where is the key?” She looked at Collin, waiting for him to answer. She obviously expected him to know what she was talking about.

He said, “We don’t have it. No one knows where it is.”

The conversation caught my attention. The thing that they assumed was in my house, the thing that wasn’t there. It didn’t burn. “They want the painting? What for?”

“It shows some things in detail,” Al said. “Some things that were forgotten, and rightfully so. If they had the key and the painting, they could summon Kreturus.” There was fear in her aged voice.

Collin answered my question before it was asked, “He is the most powerful demon there ever was. He created the Valefar. But he’s imprisoned. No one can summon him—well, if they do, he can’t come.”

“But once they have the prophecy and the key,” Sister Al added.

“He can come. Here. And that would be—really bad.” Collin pulled me to him. The bond changed, but I could still sense things. I knew he cared about me. And it felt like he was afraid he’d lose me.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, and looked up into his eyes. I wanted to reassure him. He was the only thing I had now. The only thing I cared about. “I won’t leave you. I promise.”

His lips pulled into a soft sad smile, as his dark hair fell over his eyes. He kissed the top of my head. “I know you won’t.”

Al watched me interact with Collin, but she said nothing. I finally looked at her and admitted what I’d done. “I changed him, Al. I didn’t mean to, but he’s not all Valefar anymore. I can tell you know each other, and I suspect that the reason you know each other isn’t good. But he saved me, Al. The Valefar did attack me. He pretended to bind me, but he didn’t. When we escaped, Eric,” I choked on his name, feeling enraged at the thought of him, “attacked us. Al, I’m sorry. I just wanted to save him.”

“Don’t be silly child. A life is a life—no matter what. And although you turned him purple, he’s not like you. He doesn’t have your power and ability. He is part Martis because you are, but the amount of angel blood he received from you wasn’t what did this—it was because he was given a piece of your soul.” She paused for a moment. “I just hope that your trust is well placed.” She stared at Collin.

“It is. I know it is. Al, he is the only person—besides you—who doesn’t want to use me or kill me.” I said.

Her eyes flicked to Collin as I spoke. Her expression was rigid. “Is that so? Collin. You don’t want anything from her?”

His voice was a whisper, “No.” He kissed the top of my head.

I smiled weakly at him. It felt safe and normal. I scooted away from him, realizing I was covered in dirt and sweat. “I need to take this off.” I turned to Al as I indicated my shirt. “Any chance you have a sweater or something I could borrow?”

The old woman rose, and went to the closet. She disappeared behind a door in search of a shirt. I lifted the sweatshirt over my head, revealing the black tank underneath. The tank top was soaked through with sweat, but I had nothing else. Apryl’s necklace clung to the flesh at the hollow of my throat. I picked it up, wiping away the grime and sweat that accumulated under it. Collin stared at me, his eyes fixated on the pendant hanging around my neck. One hand lifted a curl and tucked it behind my ear. The other hand picked up the pendant. He held it for a moment, before releasing it.