The Liberator

“She is fine,” Rector answers for her.

I kick him. “I wasn’t talking to you, asswipe.” I nod toward Kincaid. “See that sack of shit over there? Your collector buddy? He struck out. So it’s just us three, big boy. And soon it’s just going to be you. Because me and Aspen here? We’re going to take Charlie’s soul and skedaddle.”

I grasp Aspen’s hand and move away from Rector. I’m playing Mr. Tough Guy, but deep down I feel like collapsing. When I saw Rector and Kincaid, and maybe even when I first spotted Patrick, I figured we may not make it out of here. I draw my wings back into myself like it’s nothing, like I’ve done it a million times. It doesn’t hurt the way it did to bring them out, which is something. I notice suddenly that my long-sleeved T-shirt is still intact. I guess the initial burning singed through my clothing.

Aspen sighs next to me. When I glance at her, she’s smiling. We’re both in shock at our success. I want to scoop her up into a hug and laugh but decide to wait until we’ve blown this joint completely.

We’re only a few steps away from Rector when he speaks.

“Did you think it would be so easy?” he asks. A chill races over my skin. “Did you think I would let you both waltz out of here with Charlie’s soul?”

I cross the distance between us. “What else you got, Rector?” I snarl. “Stop screwing around and just bring it, because Aspen and I will take on anything. So let’s see it, champ.”

Rector sits up a little straighter and grins. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth. “As you wish.” Rector fills his lungs. “Come on, my sweet children! Come to me!”

Aspen and I scramble backward, retreating as quickly as we can from what appears before us.

42 A Choice

Demons pour into the room. The whistling sound they make engulfs my senses. There are so many of them, too many to defeat. My mind spins, deciding whether to try and fight regardless.

Beside me, Aspen clutches my arm. I glance at her, at the crease between her green eyes. Understanding passes between us. We won’t make it out of here. I expect to get angry, for that anger to fill every crevice in my head. Instead, I am awash with guilt. I allowed Aspen to come with me on this futile quest.

And I’m the reason she may die tonight.

Demons creep closer as Rector struggles to stand. At last, he’s successful. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure there’s anything to do. Rector has won. He’s wanted to destroy me ever since he learned my name. And now he has me cornered. So it surprises me when he limps toward Aspen like I’m not even in the room.

“My wicked little rose,” he says to Aspen. “Don’t be upset. You brought them here with your screams, after all.”

“Stop calling her that,” I bark.

“No,” Aspen whispers.

I squeeze her hand. It wasn’t her fault. The demons would have come eventually, the scent of our perspiring flesh guiding their noses.

Rector ignores me. “As I was saying when we first met, I have a proposal.”

“Screw your proposal.” I step in between him and Aspen. I may not be able to defeat the demons, but I can kick his ass one more time before they attack us.

“Let him talk.” Aspen’s spine is straight, and her chin is raised. She looks like a goddess.

“Smart girl,” Rector says.

I stare him down for a few more seconds, then move aside. Right now, I just want to make things better for Aspen, so if she wants to hear what he has to say, then I’ll oblige.

“Start talking, old man,” Aspen says.

Rector folds his arms across his chest and grins. “My proposal is simple,” he says to Aspen. “Dante can leave and take Charlie’s soul with him. But you will stay behind.”

My fist connects with Rector’s jaw. He hits the ground.

The demons stir. Their overgrown toenails click against the floor, and they raise their giant heads and hiss. The yellow-and-black scales smeared across their bodies remind me of bumblebees. One near the front flicks out its forked tongue. The demons are waiting for an order to strike, their glassy eyes taking in everything. If Rector weren’t here, I have no doubt they would have already overpowered us.

I step away from Rector and shield Aspen with my body. She shoves me to the side, but I don’t miss the way she grips her injured bicep.

Rector looks up from the ground like he’s not altogether surprised to be there. “Despite that very rude gesture, my offer stands.”

Aspen sobs quietly. I grip her shoulders. “I’ll never let that happen. I told you I’d never walk out on you, and I won’t. Do you understand?”

“This isn’t your choice,” she mutters.

“The hell it isn’t.”

Aspen shrugs my hands off and gulps in air. “What will you do to me?”

She’s talking to Rector, but I don’t want to hear the sound of his voice. “Don’t say a damn word to her.”

He ignores me. It takes everything I have to keep from knocking the rest of his teeth out. “You won’t be harmed,” Rector replies. “But I do think you’d make an excellent collector one day.”

Aspen bolts upright. They glare at each other, and the pair seems to have a silent conversation. After a moment, Aspen breaks off her stare and pushes herself against my chest. I’m thrown off by this. It takes me a moment to respond, but then I wrap my arms around her.

Of course Rector would want Aspen as a collector after seeing how viciously she fights. He’s misinterpreted her strength as hidden sinfulness. But why would he trade Charlie’s soul for a future collector? It doesn’t matter, I decide. I’ll never let him have her.

“Shhhh,” I say near her ear. “Everything is going to be okay.” I lower my voice. “When I give you the signal, I want you to run like you’ve never run before. Don’t stop until you get outside. Find Max and get out of here.”

Aspen steps away from me. Tears streak down her dirty cheeks. “You’re like my brother, Dante. I love you like a brother.” She turns and faces Rector. “I’ll stay.”

“No!” I roar.

Aspen tries to take my hand, but I jerk away from her. “You’re not doing this.”

Rector nears Aspen. I try to block his path, but Aspen goes to him. The collector meets my gaze. “I keep Aspen, body and soul. In exchange, I give you your life and Charlie’s soul. She has made her decision. Now go.”

My stomach heaves. My eyes sting, and suddenly the room is spinning. “I can’t…”

“Go,” Aspen says, echoing Rector. “Return Charlie’s soul.”

I move toward Aspen, but she pushes me away. The stinging in my eyes is now blinding me. “I can’t leave you,” I say, tears dripping down my face. “I can’t.”

“This isn’t your decision to make, Dante.” Aspen’s voice is cold, like she’s already out of reach.

I jab a finger at her. “I won’t let you do this.”

“It’s done.”

“Damn it, I said no! You told me you’d do as I asked down here without question. You promised!” I’m furious, but I don’t care. She has to listen to me. I won’t leave her here.

Aspen closes her eyes. When she looks at me again, there’s only resolve to be seen. She’s not changing her mind. And I can’t make her leave without getting us both killed.

“Aspen…” The word is a plea.

“You set out to make me a better person,” she says, a gentle smile gracing her mouth. “Turns out you’re a damn fine liberator. That, or I always had it in me to change.” She rubs a hand over her eyes. “You tell Sahara… you tell Sahara I did this for her. When she’s older. When she understands. Tell Lincoln he was a good friend. My best friend. And tell Blue… No, don’t tell Blue anything.”