Endless

Forgiveness | Aleria

Bombs rained down on London, coming closer with every passing second. I needed their fire—desperately—but they weren't coming fast enough. The Reaper sprinted right behind me, his draw battering at my defenses while I frantically searched for fire. There wasn't any available while people waited out the bombings. Only the fire exploding from the bombs themselves would save me now.

If the bombs didn't blast me to smithereens first.

Damn the Reaper for finding me in my WAF uniform, and damn society for still expecting us to wear heels with skirts. I kicked my shoes off while I ran, relieved when doing so let me pick up speed.

I darted across the street to a few buildings that had survived the previous bombings. I needed to hide. The first bomber flew over just as I sprinted into an alley. A few steps later, I heard the Reaper's victorious laugh. He grabbed hold of my arm and slammed me into a wall.

This was it. I was as good as dead.

His draw pushed against my defenses. No. I ripped my left hand from his grasp and sucker punched him. He staggered back a step, but before I could escape, a bomb dropped nearby. The blast flattened us both. I landed on top of him. I had a brief glimpse of the Reaper's horrified expression before pain blanked out my vision. My scream mingled with his as tons of brick and mortar drove a metal shaft through our torsos. I couldn't think, couldn't breathe from the anguish. My hands gripped at the front of the monster's shirt as if I sought certainty that he was trapped beneath me.

The bombs thundering down roused me from my stupor. Yes! Fire! Finally, I had my chance to rid the world of this menace. I reached out through the only hole in the debris trapping us. It was excruciating to move, but this was more important than my comfort. Once I killed the Reaper, Luc's death would be avenged and my past actions could finally be redeemed.

The Reaper's breath stalled and I glanced at him. Surely the shaft hadn't killed him? No, but for the first time in my life, I saw his eyes. They were green and dull with pain and fear. I swallowed, but kept drawing in the inferno around us.

As soon as I released the blast, he'd be obliterated and I'd be free.

Except... his eyes.

He threw back his head in an attempt at a pained gasp.

"What are you waiting for?" he demanded. Shudders wracked through his body, shooting pain through me.

I held my breath and squeezed my eyes closed, waiting for the worst of my pain to fade. The fire continued to build in my soul. Its heat comforted me. Soon, it would free me. But when I opened my eyes again, it was his gaze I found first. His breaths were choppy. Sweat beaded his brow. He tried so hard not to look scared, but his eyes were glazed with fear.

Finally I was ready. I had enough fire and energy going to move a building. I only had to take a deep breath and kill the man I'd most wanted to see dead.

I inhaled, preparing to blast out energy. He shut his eyes and slowly turned his face away. It undid me. This wasn't the way to do this.

No. If I got him while he was defenseless, I'd be no better than the griffons were when they preyed on phoenixes. I'd get him later, when we could have a fair fight.

When I could beat the stuffing out of him myself first. That sounded good, much better than cold-blooded murder.

He blinked his eyes open. His brows knitted together as if he was confused at still being alive.

"Why am I still here?" His voice cracked with pain.

"Because unlike you," I said, "I'm more than a mindless killer."