Was Lily doing this to him?
He wasn’t sure, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reach Parrish now.
They were on their own against the most dangerous witch in the city.
Forty-Seven
The Witch
Going after Karmen and the others had been so tempting, but the witch had not come here for them.
Instead, she’d sent one of her many pets out to greet them, knowing this one would keep them occupied for a little while. At least, the witch hoped her decoy looked enough like her at a distance to make them all believe they were facing their old friend.
It had taken her all night to find a human who could pass for a twin, but it had been worth it.
The question was whether they’d be reluctant to kill someone they’d once cared about, or if they’d be eager to get revenge.
Either way, the fake witch would be a nice distraction while she captured the fifth and the little girl.
These next few minutes were critical to her plans for the future. One wrong move and the Dark One would be done with her forever.
The witch couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing the Dark One again. Love and adoration welled up inside her, and she was flooded with the confidence that someday, she would return to their home world as a champion, revered by many and feared by all.
She’d longed for that kind of recognition and respect her entire life, and she was so close to it now, she could feel it the way she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face.
With that kind of power, she could change the world. She could make sure that no child ever grew up the way she had, unloved and tossed aside. Treated like a nobody, undeserving even of a name.
With that kind of power, she could have anything she wanted.
She just had to do this one last thing. Infect the fifth and capture the girl.
He’d triggered her trap on top of the building a few blocks away, and soon, her pets would steer him this way. She was sure of it.
She needed to get him away from the buildings, and then he would belong to her. She imagined the look of pride and excitement on the Dark One’s face when she handed him over.
Maybe she’d let her keep the child as a reward.
Parrish wouldn’t like that at all, but once the Dark One had control and was free again, it wouldn’t matter what Parrish wanted. Besides, the witch would keep the little girl safe. She’d make her just as happy as any sister could.
She would protect her in a way Parrish never could.
Something snapped the witch out of her daydream, and she looked up, catching the eyes of a human looking out over the top of the building. She couldn’t see him from here. He was up incredibly high.
But she could feel his eyes on hers.
She smiled. She’d been waiting for this moment her whole life. A chance to finally prove herself and claim her prize.
In her mind, she reached out to the rotters she’d stationed there on the roof. They’d been hiding there for hours, just waiting for the fifth to fall into her trap.
A young girl screamed, and even at this distance, the sound rang out in the relative silence of the dead city.
Don’t hurt them. Just bring them to me.
Excitement hummed through her entire body. She could hardly stand to wait down here, and she wished she’d joined her pets on the rooftop, instead.
But she knew her plan was a good one. Get him to the ground, lure him into the park where more of her special pets were waiting for him. A single bite was all it would take.
She absently ran a hand across her arm, as if checking to make sure her skin was still smooth and beautiful. She’d gotten used to the textured feel of her scarred skin, but today, there wasn’t a mark on her.
She planned to keep it that way.
The witch looked up, impatience stirring in her heart. What was taking them so long? Her pets should have grabbed them both by now and dragged them down here. She’d given them wings for a reason.
But instead of her beloved pets, she saw a cone of air rise high into the sky above the tall building.
She tightened her jaw. The fifth had reacted faster than expected, but it was okay. She had a backup plan to force him down here.
The witch closed her eyes and summoned a pack of dogs she’d stationed inside the building. It was amazing how many humans had died inside some of these buildings. They’d all just been trapped inside their apartments and offices for weeks, rambling around mindlessly until she’d come along to turn them into something new.
These days, she didn’t even need to be near them to turn them into her special pets, the way she’d needed to that first night in D.C. when she’d met the guardians. Over time, she’d taught herself to cast the spell and turn them with nothing but her mind’s powers.
A gift from the Dark One to be able to reach inside these undead humans and create whatever she wanted out of them.
That was real power.
Who cared that she’d had to pay such a high price for it?
She shuddered at the memories and pushed them deeper. She wouldn’t think of that now. She had a job to do, and it was almost done.
She gave the dogs the attack order, but only moments later, she gasped as their bodies flew off the rooftop and crashed onto the pavement below. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see what the fifth had done to the poor creatures. They’d barely even had a chance to serve her.
She was going to have to take matters into her own hands. There was no more time to waste. She couldn’t allow Parrish and the others time to make their
