Haunt (Regenerate #5)

Chapter 24

By the time I wake again, I'm lying on a couch instead of dangling from the ceiling.

I sit up too fast. My vision goes fuzzy for a second before clearing.

I'm still in Anthony's house, though now it looks more like a scene from a slasher movie. There's blood everywhere. My blood, I guess.

It takes me a minute to notice Anthony there, sitting on the floor with his knees tucked into his chest.

"It's not your fault," I say. The words come out hoarse.

Anthony snaps around to look at me. A moment later he's on his feet and making his way to my side.

"Can I get you anything?" he asks.

"Water?" I figure it's better to give him a task than let him keep agonizing over something that wasn't his fault.

He returns a second later with a glass. "It was Intrigue, wasn't it?"

I take the water from him. "Yeah. I think he's peeved that you burned down his warehouse."

"This is my fault." Anthony begins pacing .

"It is not," I say.

Anthony pauses pacing, back turned to me. "I can't do this."

"Can't do what? We can deal with Intrigue together."

He shakes his head. "No. This. Us. The attachment. I'm not going to let Intrigue or anyone else use you to get to me."

It takes me a minute to process what he's saying. "Are you breaking up with me because Intrigue slit my throat?"

He gestures to the puddle of blood in his foyer. "Do you know what it was like coming home to find that? To find you like that?"

"You're reacting exactly like he wanted you to," I say. "Look, I'm fine. Or I will be in a couple hours."

"Cole told me," he says. "About how it's dangerous for you to get too close to mortals."

I scowl. "Well he shouldn't have. I think you're being ridiculous."

He doesn't say anything.

"You're going to realize you're being ridiculous too eventually," I say. "Better hope it's sooner rather than later. I'm not going to wait around for you."

"I wouldn't expect you to," he says. "You should get some rest. You'll heal up faster that way."

"Sure. Whatever." I close my eyes if for no other reason than to get rid of him.

I don't rest though. I start thinking of how I'm going to take down Intrigue. I'm not sure where I'll even find him.

But I have a few ideas on where to get started.

The End

To be continued in The Inventor, a Mantis short story. Coming soon.