Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)(76)

“And so I won’t hurt you.” He pointed toward Agricultural Hall. “But don’t think I’ll be so generous with those people. I don’t care about them, and I can always use more strength. There’s no limit to the power I can take from the blood of the living.”

I believed him. “If I give the pages to you, then you have to promise you’ll leave.”

“Yes.” His tone was dismissive, his attention focused on the approaching blasts.

I grasped at his sleeve. “All the Dead. Take them with you. Promise.”

“Yes, yes.” He shoved his open hand out impatiently. “Give it here.”

I reached into my pocket and slipped out the velvet bag. Was this right? Was this what I was supposed to do? I scrunched my eyes shut and tossed it to him. I heard a slap as he caught it midair. Then came a jubilant cheer.

I opened my eyes.

“Vāde! Go!” he roared, and in one sickening movement, the Dead turned and shambled away. “Checkmate,” he said to me with a gloating grin. “Strategy never was your strength, not even when we used to play chess. You’re too impulsive and too quick to—”

Another boom—a close one—cut him short. I craned my neck and saw smoke billowing from the outermost rows of the corpse army. The Spirit-Hunters were here.

A growl burst from Elijah’s lips. Without another word he bounded off, directly into the center of his retreating Dead army. Clarence’s wretched corpse was the last to leave.

I crumpled to the ground, a useless heap. It had all gone wrong. Everything was wrong.

Another explosion rocked the earth, and I heard the flesh splatter as bodies fell. When I lifted my head, I saw that Clarence had toppled too.

Daniel raced through the haze of smoke, dust, and flies. He staggered to a stop, his attention on Clarence. His face wore shock and revulsion, but he paused only for a moment.

He broke into a sprint. He was going to destroy the Dead—to hurt my brother. I couldn’t let him. There was still a chance for Elijah; I could still save his soul if I tried hard enough.

I hoisted myself to my feet, darkness clouding my vision as blood rushed in my ears. Once steady, I chased after Daniel.

Through sparse trees, barren paths, and empty grounds, I sped. I passed many marching Dead, but they were unconcerned with me. Elijah had kept his word. When I reached the back Exhibition entrance that lead into Fairmount Park, a massive clump of decaying bodies came into view. Row after row were protecting Elijah. Daniel, who was a full hundred feet closer than I was, slowed to a stop. I could see that a flame blazed in his hand. His arm wound back. Then his hand snapped forward and from it sprang the thick coils of copper that held the newly made pulse bomb. Through the air it went, faster than the marching of the Dead.

Whether or not Daniel meant to hit Elijah, I was certain the explosion would reach him.

“Run!” I screamed. I careened past Daniel. I was only twenty feet from the edge of Elijah’s barrier. “Run!”

The pulse bomb clattered to the ground near me, the fuse burning. I sailed forward and grabbed it. Then in one final surge, I left the Dead and my brother. I thrust the bomb with all my might into the nearest trees.

But I was just a few moments too late. The dy***ite detonated with a black boom and a bright light.

It hurled me back. I slapped against the ground like a broken marionette, and pain erupted all over me. A fierce sting scraped at my skin. My bones felt crushed.

Then everything faded. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t hear, I couldn’t see. The world vanished in a hazy void.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

My eyes fluttered open. A shadow formed before me and shifted into Daniel’s face. Tears fell from his eyes, leaving dirty streaks that dripped into his open mouth. His lips moved, but if he spoke, I couldn’t hear the words. I sank back into the painless nothing.

But the pain came back, a knocking in my skull. I lifted my eyelids once more. Daniel’s face again, but close. He must be carrying me, I thought, but I couldn’t sort out why.

His eyes locked on mine. He spoke, but still no words entered my ears. I thought perhaps I should answer him, but the task seemed impossible. I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, the pain was gone. My family’s doctor hovered above, his features basked in a glow of fuzzy warmth.

My tongue felt enormous. I wanted to laugh.

I turned my head, straining to look around. Where was I? My bedroom, perhaps, but then... why was Daniel here? Why was Mama throwing her hands up and bellowing? Why did Daniel let her scream at him so?

And why couldn’t I hear any of it?

The laugh bubbled up. I coughed and choked on it. Mama stopped her wild gestures, an expression of joy flooding her face. She rushed to me. Her blurry figure left trails across my vision.

I gazed at Daniel. His face was twisted with pain, and that wrung my heart with guilt and yearning. His beautiful face. I wished I could make him feel better. I parted my lips to tell him, but the doctor poured a cloying liquid in my open mouth.

Bitter! It was so bitter. I sputtered, swallowed, and a new wave of warmth spread over me.

Laudanum. It must be laudanum. How nice.

I awoke with the sunlight streaming into my bedroom. It hurt my eyes, piercing my skull, and I had to squint to see.

That sun meant late afternoon. But what day? I blinked, and though I successfully cleared the haze from my eyes, my mind remained cloudy.