Chapter 46 FACE TO FACE
CHAPTER 046: FACE TO FACE
Marvin's transformation stops midway.
Kieran and Luna freeze, caught between attack and retreat.
"No no no," Marvin says, his form rippling back to human. "Let's not ruin the moment with violence."
His voice is calm and disappointed.
Luna snarls, her silver wolf form is almost about to form.
"I wouldn't," Marvin says. He pulls out a small device from his pocket. "One button and the corrupted wolves at the pack kill everyone left alive. Including your precious Alpha Magnus."
Luna hesitates.
"Good dog," Marvin says.
Kieran's growl is low and deadly but he dare not to move an inch.
Marvin looks at me, still broken on the floor, and smiles.
"You destroyed my weapon and now my months of work gone. I'm impressed."
"Good," I rasp. "Stay impressed while I kill you."
He laughs, mockingly. "You can't kill me. You can barely move."
He's right and I hate him for being right.
He's not what I expected, he's not imposing or massive or obviously monstrous. Average height, lean build, dark hair that needs cutting. He looks almost normal, except for his eyes.
They're completely dark and empty, it's not angry or cruel or even cold look but empty like looking into a void.
"Let her go," Kieran says. His voice comes out more growl than words.
"Or what? You'll attack me? Please do attack me. I'm curious if wolf blood tastes different when it comes from broken ribs."
Luna move inches forward hesitantly.
Marvin waves the device. "Ah ah. Remember what happens if you make me press this button."
Kieran and Luna both stop, suddenly.
Marvin starts circling me slowly, examining me like I'm something interesting he found on the ground.
"Do you want to know how this started?" he asks conversationally. "How I became what I am?"
"Not really," I mutter.
He ignores me. "There was a girl, she's beautiful, strong, everything a she-wolf should be. I loved her." His voice goes distant. "I gave her everything. My time, my devotion, my heart. Do you know what she did?"
I didn't answer.
"She mocked me, betrayed me. She said I was weak and pathetic and not worthy of pack blood." He crouches beside me. "So I tried to take what she wouldn't give. I thought maybe if I just showed her how much I wanted her she'd understand."
My stomach turns.
"The pack exiled me for that. They called me monster, rapist and filth." His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "So I became what they named me. Why fight it? If I'm going to be called monster I might as well earn the title."
"You're sick," Luna says, her wolf form glowing with rage.
"I'm honest. That's different." He stands, continuing his circle. "I spent ten years learning forbidden magic. Harvesting power from anyone foolish enough to trust me. Every she-wolf I killed made me stronger. Their essence fed me and made me into something beyond what I was."
"A killer," I say.
"An artist. Each death was a masterpiece. Each scream is a symphony of pain." He gestures to the destroyed weapon. "That was going to be my greatest art piece. A tool to cleanse this world of supernatural filth, starting with the packs that rejected me."
"Except I destroyed it."
"Yes you did." He sounds almost proud. "Which brings me to you and your sister. The prophecy twins. Born to end a great evil."
"That's you," Kieran says flatly.
"Is it? Or is the evil the supernatural world itself? The packs, the courts, the covens, all of them breeding violence and corruption?" Marvin shakes his head. "I was trying to save humanity. You're defending the monsters."
"You are the monster," I say.
"Maybe. But I'm an honest one." He crouches again, closer this time. "I've been watching you both since you were children. Did you know that? I had spies everywhere. I know every school you attended, every friend you made, every tear you cried."
The thought crawls on my skin.
"I waited for you to grow strong enough. To become worthy my opponents because I don't want to fight toddlers." His hand traces the air near my face without touching me. "Because killing you won't just make me powerful. It'll make me a god."
"You're not a god," I force out. "You're just a sad, broken man who can't handle rejection."
His expression doesn't change but his hand moves fast.
The backhand snaps my head to the side. I shriek in pain and my blood fills my mouth.
"Don't presume to understand me," he says quietly.
Kieran lunges but Marvin raises the device.
"I'm warning you stupid he-wolf. One more step and I press this button."
Kieran stops, every muscle in his body vibrating with the need to attack.
Marvin pulls out his phone with his free hand and swipes through it. "Want to see what your friends are going through right now?"
He holds the screen toward me and show me the video.
The video makes my heart stop.
It's the pack center, the buildings are burning. There were bodies on the ground and in the middle of it all are Alaric, Cassian, Zev, Morgana and Sofia fighting desperately against a wave of corrupted creatures.
Alaric's movements are slowing because there are many enemies.
Cassian's flames are flickering and dying.
Zev is on his knees and blood streaming from a head wound.
Morgana and Sofia are facing each other back to back and surrounded by creatures.
They're losing.
"Your friends are brave," Marvin says. "But bravery doesn't stop claws, or teeth, or dark magic."
"Stop it," I whisper. "Please."
"I can. One word from me and the creatures retreat." He tilts his head. "But what do I get in return?"
My throat closes up.
"Come with me willingly. Let me take you somewhere private. And I'll stop the attack. Let them all live."
"Why?"
"Because killing you fast is boring. Killing you slowly while your sister watches is much more satisfying."
Luna makes a sound between a whine and a growl.
"If I come with you," I say slowly, "you let everyone go? The pack, my friends, Luna?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe you."
"Smart girl! But you don't have much choice do you?" He shows me the screen again.
Cassian just went down. He's not moving.
"Deal," I say before I can stop myself.
Marvin's smile widens. "Excellent choice."
He pulls something from his jacket. A syringe filled with dark liquid.
"What is that?" Kieran demands.
"Insurance. I can't have her using magic to escape but now can I?" Marvin grabs my arm roughly.
I try to pull away but I'm too weak.
The needle slides in.
Liquid fire floods my veins.
"Sleep now," Marvin says softly. "When you wake the fun begins."
I try to fight it. I try to stay conscious, to reach for my magic, anything but the drug is too strong.
My vision blurs. Luna's wolf form rushes toward me but Marvin holds up the device.
"Stay back or they all die."
Luna stops.
Kieran is screaming my name but it sounds distant, muffled.
The last thing I hear before darkness takes me is Marvin's voice.
"Luna's going to be so upset when she finds you gone. Good. Let her feel what I felt. Let her know what it's like to lose someone you love."
I wake up with me being tied up with chains.
My head is pounding, and my ribs is still broken, and when I try to move my wrists don't budge.
I'm in a dark chamber, it's smaller than the weapon room. There is stone walls, no windows, and one door and sitting in a chair directly in front of me is Marvin.
"Good morning sunshine," he says pleasantly.
I pull at the chains. They're covered in runes that burn against my skin.
"Anti-magic restraints," he explains. "It hurts when you try to use power doesn't it?"
"Where are the others?"
"Which others? Your wolf boyfriend and sister? They're probably still in the mines, screaming themselves hoarse trying to find you. Or did you mean your other friends? Last I checked they were still fighting for their lives."
"You said you'd stop the attack."
"I lied." He stands, walking closer. "It's shocking, right? I know." He said, not bothered. “A serial killer who doesn't keep his promises. Who would have thought?"
Rage burns through the fear. "I'm going to kill you."
"Eventually maybe. But first we're going to play a game." He pulls out a knife from behind his back. "I'm going to ask you questions. Every time you lie, or refuse to answer, I'm going to hurt you. Ready?"
"Go to hell."
He drives the knife into my thigh.
I scream.
"Wrong answer," he says, pulling the blade free. "Let's try again. Where did your mother hide the third piece of the prophecy?"
"What third piece?"
He stabs my other thigh.
I'm sobbing now, can't help it.
"The prophecy has three parts. Everyone knows the first two. But there's a third part that your mother hid before she died. Where is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The knife hovers over my hand. "Last chance to tell the truth."
"I am telling the truth."
He drives the blade through my palm, pinning my hand to the chair.
My vision whites out with pain.
"We're going to be here a while aren't we?" Marvin sighs. "Good. I cleared my schedule."
The door bursts open.
Marvin spins toward it, knife ready.
A figure stands in the doorway, backlit so I can't see their face.
"Step away from my daughter."
That voice.
I know that voice.
The figure steps into the light.
It's our mother.
She's alive and she's here and she's looking at Marvin like she's going to tear him apart with her bare hands.
"Hello son," she says coldly. "Did you miss me?”