Page 136 of Remnants
I lick my suddenly dry lips. Take that moment to feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, my heart galloping wildly. I continue, my voice cold and apathetic, “He was right. I’d have no problem attacking every individual muscle in your body one at a time and drawing out your pain. I could have you healed, like Gordon did for me, giving you relief and hope that it’s over, only to start from the beginning and put you through it all again. You’d deserve nothing less.”
Holt sobs uncontrollably.
It doesn’t make me feel any better.
“Luckily for you, my demons don’t control me. I control them.And you’re not worth bringing back for a long torture.” My gift pierces his skin. He chokes, shrieks. I spread it everywhere, invading his body like webs of disaster until I’ve got it all in my grasp. “Goodbye, Holt.”
His body ruptures in an instant, spraying me with his blood before collapsing in a broken heap.
It’s faster than the deaths I’d given to the innocent victims Gordon brought me. I could have held back, could have drawn it out to imitate my inexperience and let him feel everything that the others had, but for all that I said to him, I’m not one for torture.
I’d rather be done with it and move on.
Reid hasn’t returned.
It could mean he ran into trouble with Royce or Bea if she returned. Or he rushed to look for Tinsley without waiting for backup.
Dusting off my pants while standing, I survey the beach house. There’s no noise, no sign of activity or a fight from here.
“What are we doing with him?” Dane kicks sand at what remains of Holt’s body. It lifts a few inches from the ground.
“I’ll toss him in the sea.” Jackson’s deep blue gaze captures mine as if waiting for my approval first.
Aiden rubs the light scruff on his jaw. “With any luck, Royce won’t find him, or the water will destroy enough of him to makehim useless.”
I nod absently, no longer worried about Holt, zombie or not. “I’m going to check on Reid.” Everything is quiet as we approach the door and my gut twists. Surely, we should hearsomethingif Reid is inside.
The door is still locked when I try turning it. Aiden takes the knob next, metal clicking inside to shift at his silent command. He opens the door and takes the lead, Dane hot on my heels and Kellan behind him.
For a house belonging to a necromancer, it’s creepily bright inside. White shiplap walls, kitschy beach décor, and painted wicker furniture in the sitting room just past the foyer.
Aiden stops, halting the rest of us as he points to Kellan and Dane and the basement. He looks at me and circles his finger. We’ll be checking this floor. Once these floors are cleared, we’ll all head upstairs to Royce. Nodding, I stay on his heels, watching his back and our sides as we move from room to room. There are muffled sounds coming from the basement but there’s nothing on the main floor.
We pause at the entryway to the kitchen, Aiden peering in first before he goes in. Empty.
The larger living area is just as clean and tidy, just as empty, as the rest of the floor. I walk along the wall, inspecting the pictures of sand dollars and starfish. Maybe Royce killed the original owner of this home and didn’t bother updating it to his tastes. I remember what Reid said about a dead wife. Maybe she decorated the home if this belonged to them. A line in the shiplap makes me pause, fingeringthe vertical separation that seems like a misstep in the design.
The wall swings inward, and a hand grabs the front of my shirt, yanking me inside.
I open my mouth to yell, but a hand slaps over it. “Shh!” a voice hisses. “I just want to talk.” Blinking in the dim lighting of the tiny room I’m now in, I find Vera.
And Tinsley.
The latter makes me pause. Vera stands in front of me with her hands raised and empty. “See? No weapons.” She turns her back to me so I can see her shorts and shirt appear clear, then faces me again.
“It’s okay,” Tinsley urges, her hands in a placating gesture. “Hear her out.”
I look her over, searching for any sign of injury. “Are you okay? We heard she”—I indicate Vera— “was torturing you. Reid was freaking out.”
“I’m fine. That was just her cover for us being together so much.”
“Why? What have you been doing here?”
“Raegan? Raegan!” Aiden shouts.
The wall I’d come through is closed again; only the thin line of natural light outlines the panel I must have come through. “We can talk out there. I don’t want them to worry something’s happened to me.”
Vera shakes her head. “What I have to say is just for you. Give me two minutes, and you can go on your merry way.”
