AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"She looked no older than fourteen, and was terrified. They had her gagged." He took a long breath. "The priest overseeing the ordeal dragged the edge of the clavum along the side of her face, and she didn't die, Dahlia. Not until I put the stake in her and turned her to dust."
Realizing what he was saying, she pressed her hands over her mouth. "Oh, Thane!"
"Either we put the stake in the demon's heart, or the priests put it in ours. Weakness is a path for the Devil to enter our holy community." He turned the silver spike one more time. "We never tell. Not even our own families. Who wants to admit he's done that? I knew it was wrong even then, but I didn't have a choice."
She reached over, but couldn't quite make herself touch him. "I know. It's not your fault."
"It is," he said. "My younger brother, Stuart? He refused. I always laughed at him for being weak. I called him a pussy to his face, but he was the one who said no. They staked him, Dahlia. My mom was said to be possessed because she wouldn't allow my father to abuse her, and my brother stood up for his morals and was put down as being weak. If I’d had said something to him, you know? Prepared him, or gotten him out?"
"Then they would've just killed you," she reminded him.
He nodded, but kept going. "Dahlia, when the priest slid the clavum - which is supposed to be symbolic of the nails from the Crucifixion - against her skin,she didn't die.It was only when itpierced her bodythat she dissolved. I've never been stabbed by one of these, but what would it do to me?"
"Probably what any wound would."
He shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe it'd short-circuit the ability to use the Words?"
"Oh fuck." The reality of what he was saying hit her hard. "What if it did?"
"The entire Inquisition would be no more powerful than normal humans. We just need to see if we can arm the eidolon with them, because I know where we can get a whole lot more."
That was exactly what they needed. If the priests couldn't stop them with a single Word, the undead had the advantage. There were more priests, but the eidolon didn't suffer wounds like a mortal. They could ignore it, knowing their bodies would return in the next life. All they needed was a way to even the field, and Thane was holding it right in his hand.
It wouldn't be hard to prove an eidolon could use it. If she was wrong, she was dead. If she was right, every inquisitor in the world would be after her soon enough. Her eyes flicked from the heavy spike to Thane, then back. No matter what she did, Thane was in so deep, he'd suffer the fate of the people he was trying to protect. He deserved to know how much she appreciated it. She could only think of one way.
"Ok," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'll marry you, Thane, but Cain performs the ceremony before the twins of the Sun and the Moon."
"Really?" Her change in subject surprised him. "When?"
"Tomorrow."
Then she leaned forward and grabbed the spike, clenching her eyes against the pain she expected to follow. Electricity shot up her arm, zinging through her elbow. And stopped. It felt no different than touching a live wire, but not one strong enough to hurt. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Thane was staring. "You're a fucking crazy bitch, Dahlia, but I'll keep ya."
Slowly, like a cold engine, she began to laugh. "I'm not dead." Another round broke out as she tried to wrap her mind around what had just happened. "Oh shit, Thane, I'm not dead, and I cantouch it!"
Releasing the spike in to her hand, he cupped her face, grinning like a child. "Since I don't have time to get you something nice, how about a set of clavum for our wedding?"
"Sounds great. Now we just need a priest to see if your theory works."
He nodded. "And I know just where to find them."
ChapterNine
DAHLIA
Aloud thumping came from the other room. It sounded like knocking. Dahlia gave Thane a confused look, then gestured for him to stay. From the living room, the buzz of voices made it clear there was a group outside. Slowly, she cracked open the door.
Roarke stood there with his arms crossed, looking smug. "You asked for better organization. Hope you're dressed, valkyrie." Then he pushed in.
Behind him, nearly a dozen other eidolon waited, including Nikki. Without an explanation, they made their way inside. A few smiled at her, others glared, but their faces looked serious. At the back was Cain. When her eyes hit him, he shrugged.
Roarke tapped her arm. "Give this to your boyfriend. He burns me again, I'll burn him back." In his fingers was a wide leather cuff. It matched Roarke's casual goth-punk attire.
Leaning against the entrance to the bedroom, Thane chuckled. "Boyfriend, huh? You think a succubus knows that term?"
"Valkyrie," Roarke corrected. "Least get that much right, priest."
