Page 67 of The Searching Songbird

The ear-piercing retort of the butler's strange weapon echoed off the study walls, and Lily let out a distressed scream as she saw Dawn fall into a heap on the floor, her brains strewn across the rug. The butler shifted the barrel of his weapon so it was aimed at the back of Draven's head.

“Draven, stop!”

The baron lay back across the desk, his bulging eyes staring up at Draven from a red face as Draven continued to squeeze the life-breath out of him. There was a click as the butler pulled a small, metal bit back on his weapon, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he aimed.

Releasing her hold on Fia, Lily launched herself at Draven, throwing her arms around his shoulders as she pulled him away from the baron. They fell into a tangled heap on the floor, leaving the baron gasping for breath on the desk.

“Oh, man, that smarts.”

He let out a chuckle which quickly morphed into a cough as he pushed himself up. Rubbing his neck with one hand, he looked down at the two of them. “That wasn't very nicely done. Attacking your host like some kind of wild animal?” He started to shake his head in dismay but stopped with a wince. “That really isn't pleasant at all.” He turned to look at Dawn and sighed. “And look what you've done to my rug. It's completely ruined now. Most distressing.”

Lily felt Draven tense beneath her, and she tightened her hold on him, even as she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him from doing something crazy again.

“One doll fixed, the other destroyed... honestly, I never really enjoyed playing with that one anyway, no great loss.” He hopped off the desk, and Lily felt herself stiffen as he strolled over toward Fia. “Now, what to do with you...” he murmured, rubbing his chin as he studied the red-haired beauty with critical eyes. She straightened beneath his gaze, rising to her feet, and a fire flickered to life within her eyes that hadn't been there before.

“I really don't have much use for you anymore, now that I'm to be married... it's a shame, really, but I can't risk upsetting the missus, you know.” He shrugged, then reached out and tapped his finger against the black ribbon that remained wrapped around her neck. “Constrict.”

Lily's hand flew up to her mouth as she watched the ribbon begin to tighten, cutting into Fia's neck. “No!”

Her protest was lost, swallowed by the great boom that came from the other side of the desk as the black ribbon burst into shreds. A ring of flames shot out around Fia and the baron, blocking them from view. The force of the blast sent Lily and Draven crashing through the balcony door, with shards of glass tearing mercilessly at their skin.

A ringing sound filled her ears as she lay on the balcony floor, staring blankly up at the sky. It's almost morning. She blinked as a waft of smoke blew across her face, tickling her nose. When did the sun start coming up? I didn't even notice...

“Lily!”

Draven's here? Funny, I don't see him... oh! There he is. Draven's face hovered over her own, coming in and out of focus as she gazed up at him. She felt her lips pull up in a dreamy smile. He really is quite handsome without that beard...

“Lily! Snap out of it! We've got to get down from here before the whole thing goes up in flames!”

Flames... right... there was a fire... Fia made a fire...

“Fia!” Lily sat up as everything came rushing back. “She's in there! We have to get her!”

“We can't! The entire study is about to collapse. We have to go now!”

“But I can't leave her – ” She gasped as Draven picked her up and flung her over his shoulder. “Put me down!” She pounded against his back, but he ignored her as he climbed over the railing. Holding on with one hand, he kept the other on Lily's back as he dangled them both over the ledge.

“This is gonna hurt,” he grunted. Lily couldn't even bring herself to be concerned as the ground rushed up to meet them. What was a little pain in the grand scheme of things, anyway?

It's not like she was the one being burned alive.

Chapter Thirty-four

There really was something beautiful about fire. It was just so... alive.

Fia gazed around at the ring of fire that surrounded her, the brilliant orange and red flames snapping and dancing as they reached up toward the ceiling.

“I made this,” she whispered to herself, testing the feel of the words on her tongue. They felt... powerful. “I made this!” she repeated, louder this time. Laughter, as unfamiliar as it was invigorating, burst out her mouth, and she twirled around in a circle, throwing her head back as she let the sound wash over her. When was the last time she had cause to laugh?

“And they called me mad...”

The sound of the baron's voice, scratchy and low, had an immediate dousing effect on her newfound delight, and she felt herself tense as she looked down at the man. Lying on the floor near the edge of the fire, the entire left side of his body was covered in angry, red burns, giving him a rather gruesome visage. He grinned when she met his eyes, and she shuddered at the expression so at odds with his obvious pain.

“We're going to die, you know,” he stated, much like he might comment on the current weather. “You and me both. Burned to a crisp. If the smoke doesn't choke us first, that is...” As if to illustrate his point, his let out a hacking cough, his body curling in on itself as his shoulders heaved in jerky spasms.

He's right... I am going to die here, devoured by these flames of my own making. She smiled, a small, sad smile that felt bittersweet on her lips. But at least I'll take him with me. Surely, that makes it all worthwhile.

She sank down to her knees and sat back on her legs, folding her hands in her lap as she watched the flames inch closer, their heat licking at her cheeks. I'm ready. She started to close her eyes, when she noticed something strange about the flames. They were turning... green? She blinked. She must be seeing things, but... no. They were turning green. It started at the base of the flames, then spread upward, until the entire ring was glowing in the unnatural color.