Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(78)

Morgan clutched at the hand around her neck, frantic when her air was cut off. She lashed out, her blows falling squarely on the Dark girl. Dawn ignored them.

“Stop!” Summer cried from across the room.

“You have no power over me now!” Dawn snarled at her. Her attention returned to Morgan. “Where is it?”

“My … my room!” Morgan gasped.

Dawn released her. Morgan dropped, crying out at the pain as she landed in a heap. The Dark girl stumbled back and shook her head. She glanced around, as if uncertain where she was.

Summer was on her feet, held back by Alexa.

“Dawn! What have you done?” she shouted. “You can’t let the Darkness take you!”

“Shut up, Summer!” Dawn retorted. “You have no idea how horrible my life is right now. What choice do I have?”

“It’ll destroy you!”

“It’s your fault I did this. Both of you!” Dawn strode towards the guys.

“Dawn –“ Noah started, frowning.

“Don’t start, Noah. She’s just angry.”

“But she said the –“

“Noah.” Dawn touched her brother’s cheek. “Trust your big sister, okay?”

Noah didn’t respond. Dawn moved away.

Morgan glanced at Summer, who was holding her cheek. It was red, as if Alexa had slapped her. Morgan straightened with some difficulty, her leg thrumming with pain.

“We need to get out of here,” Dawn said. She lifted a pair of handcuffs that Morgan had burnt through. She considered them.

“She melts them or starts things on fire,” Jason complained.

“Not like Tanya,” Alexa agreed. “We can’t leave them here.”

“You made a mess with Tanya,” Dawn said. “And with Summer. In either case, we can’t leave bodies or Beck will be able to read their memories, if he survives.”

Noah’s breath caught loud enough for Morgan to hear. She looked at Dawn’s brother, whose face was white. The other teens weren’t surprised.

“How do you snuff a fire?” Alexa asked, walking to Morgan. “Water?”

“It’s a thought,” Dawn said pensively. “She can burn through wood and melt metal.”

“Dawn, I can’t believe you’re considering this!” Noah said, recovering. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Oh, I’m just playing, Noah,” she said with a big smile. “I wanted to scare them a little.”

Noah didn’t look convinced.

“She’s not joking,” Summer voiced. “She and Alexa tried twice to get rid of me and once to take out Beck. It’s petty jealousy. They got rid of Tanya and now, she wants to hurt Morgan, because Beck’s in love with her.”

Beck’s in love with her.

Morgan’s world froze. She couldn’t believe the words.

She couldn’t believe she’d killed someone who loved her.

“Beck is not in love with her!” Dawn snarled. “He’s attracted to any girl who breathes, but it’s not love. Not like it was with him and me!”

“Then you shouldn’t worry about hiding the bodies,” Morgan said. “It’s the cowardly way out. You lack conviction, Dawn.”

“Conviction,” Dawn tensed.

“Yep,” Morgan said and stood unsteadily. “You have these idiots doing your dirty work. How many tries did it take for them to grab me? Three? If you were serious about killing me, you’d just do it yourself.”

The fog formed again but Dawn shook it off.

“You suffocate it,” she said abruptly. “That’s what you do to fire.”

Fear stirred in Morgan. Dawn was right; Morgan was claustrophobic. Fire needed air and space to exist. Elevators were too small for Morgan.

“Alexa, where do you put someone where there’s no air, metal or wood? Someplace they can’t escape from?” Dawn asked innocently.

“Dawn, I can’t let you do this,” Noah said, stepping forward. “It’s crazy.”

“You think I’m crazy?”

“No, I think this is crazy. It’s gone on long enough. Morgan needs to go to a hospital, and that storm isn’t getting any better.”

Dawn stared at Morgan. She was quiet for a moment, before a cold smile crossed her features. It disappeared as she turned to look at her brother.

“You’re right, Noah,” she said quietly. “It’s gone on long enough. Do you want to get the truck ready, so we can all go back to campus?”

Noah studied her. He hesitated then nodded. She tossed him the keys. He went to the door, lingering for a moment, then left.

“Jason, follow him and tie him up,” Dawn said to the largest of the Dark teens remaining. “Don’t hurt him. He’s my brother. Just keep him from interfering.”

Jason nodded and left. Morgan willed Noah to run.

“Tomb,” Dawn said suddenly.

Alexa shifted uneasily. “Are you serious, Dawn?”

Morgan’s heart was in her ears. She couldn’t imagine a worse death.

“Very,” Dawn said. “You’re right, Morgan. I lacked conviction before. This time, I’ll do it right. Troy, grab Morgan. Alexa, get Summer.”