Page 162 of The Never List
Iknowthat move.
I’ve spent countless hours perfecting that move—
“Erin?” Shock barrels through me as the Fader stiffens, a blade in one hand as her entire body goes rigid.
My stomach plummets, panic slicing through my veins as my brain puts two facts together.
I’m fighting the leader of the Faders.
And it’s mysister.
Devastation threatens to knock my feet out from under me, but I manage to stay standing.
“Rylee!” Kal roars my name, drawing my attention behind me.
He’s there, soaring toward me, along with Pierce and Axl and Jax. Their eyes are rage-laced and focused on the Fader who is holding a blade near me.
Everything slows down, the moments happening in a rapid succession of heartbeats.
Pierce aims his insurmountable power at the Fader, those emerald ribbons of energy in the shapes of spears.
Kal’s flight, his hands outstretched, ready to rip the Fader’s head from her body.
Axl’s water, swirling in a vortex that will drown her in seconds.
And Jax, letting loose the two knives in his hands—
“No!” I leap in front of Erin, the word ripping out of me, and the intent behind it yanks their powers back to me so fast it steals the breath from my lungs.
Jax’s blades sink into my shoulders.
“Rylee!” Jax screams, but Kal falls from his flight, slamming to the ground right in front of him.
Axl stumbles without the rush of water in his control, his feet kicking out from under him as the water washes beneath him.
And Pierce is gripping his chest as if he might topple over any second.
I crumple to the ground, their powers snapping inside me so quickly, so violently, I can barely feel the blades in my flesh.
A warm hand catches my head before it cracks against the marble stair.
My vision blurs, fading in and out as I reach a weak, trembling hand up to the Fader looking down at me. “Erin?” I whisper, my heart slowing.
I’m drowning in the power,theirpower.
Emotions and thoughts.
Oceans and skies.
It’s so much.
Painfully, too much.
The Fader shifts, using her free hand to untuck her mask from the neck of her uniform.
“Hey, sis,” she says, her eyes apologetic as they dart to something behind me. “Forgive me,” she pleads, jerking her mask back down. She gently lays my head on the floor and runs—
“Butterfly.” Jax’s voice is broken and raw as he reaches me.“Why?”
