“I said no!” she snapped, moving to shield Damien further.
The creature slid back. “You are fortunate, human, to be protected by such a powerful being.”
“Yeah,” Damien croaked out, clutching Celine’s hand as she reached behind her toward him. “I know.”
“Let’s get down to business,” Celine insisted.
“Why have you summoned me again, Celine Devereaux Buckley?”
“I have an issue. I require your assistance.”
“State your case.”
“My sister, Celeste Devereaux VanWoodsen, has morphed into a creature of the night. I need your help to return her to her original state.”
“How did this come to pass?”
Celine hesitated, weighing her words. “She was in a lifeless state. Her lifelessness forced me to act quickly to revive her. The procedure I used was… impure. It resulted in her altered state.”
“What brought her to her lifeless state?” the creature questioned.
“Marcus Northcott orchestrated her demise to punish me for refusing to join his coven.”
“And you attempted to reverse his punishment?”
“Yes.”
“Are there any other details relevant?”
“She is my sister; I did not want to lose her. I had only just regained her.”
“After your requested absence.”
“Yes,” Celine answered.
“You did not remain human, Celine Devereaux Buckley.”
“I did not. I could not.”
“You chose your fate, Celine Devereaux Buckley. There is always a choice.”
“Can you help me?” Celine pressed.
“No,” the creature stated.
“Please, Celeste does not deserve to pay the price for my folly,” she persisted.
“Celeste made her choices centuries ago. I will not undo what is done.” Celine set her jaw in frustration, contemplating her next move. “Our business is ended, Celine Devereaux Buckley. Goodbye.”
“If I could just interject…” Damien began. Celine spun to face him, wide-eyed, covering his mouth with her hands.
Fire shown in the creature’s eyes, turning them from black to red. Its wings opened wide, flapping in agitation. “SILENCE, HUMAN,” it bellowed. Panic flashed through Damien’s eyes, wide with fear. “You dare to defy me?” it roared.
“No, he does not,” Celine answered.
“I shall speak only to the contemptuous human who dares to challenge me.”
Celine whipped around to face the adjudicator. “You have made your ruling. No one is questioning you. Return to the realm from whence you came. Leave this human alone.”
“Step aside, Celine Devereaux Buckley, this is not your affair.”
“It is my affair,” Celine argued, fire entering her voice, “he is my family, blood or not. If you cross him, you cross me. Make no mistake, I will use every power at my disposal to defend and protect him.”
The creature glanced between Celine and Damien. “You realize the consequences of this choice?”
“I do,” Celine assured the adjudicator.
“And you would still defend him knowing this?”
“To the death,” Celine said, setting her jaw and flashing a fiery stare at the creature.
Want to read more? Find out what happens to Celine, Damien and the rest of the Shadow Slayers in Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul! Click here to read!
