The Liberator (A Dante Walker Novel) (Entangled Teen)

  Rector’s smile widens. He reaches for her gloves.

  Aspen becomes enraged.

  She bites at his shoulder and growls. But Rector manages to peel them from her hands as Kincaid restrains her. I’m surprised Aspen doesn’t do more damage, but then I notice her injured arm again and wonder just how bad it is.

  “Don’t take them,” Aspen pleads. “Please give them back.”

  My heart twists, and my mind threatens to click off. I try again to lift the shelf, but the blackness comes on stronger. I have to get out from under here. I have to end Rector.

  “Hold still,” Rector orders me without turning away from Aspen. “And you, my wicked little rose, have been a very bad girl.” He holds her palms up to examine them closer. “Seems someone thought you shouldn’t be such a wild thing. Can’t say I disagree.” Rector nods to Kincaid, and the younger collector falls to the ground, bringing Aspen with him.

  Rector pulls back his leg and slams it into Aspen’s side.

  She screams.

  41

  The Summoning

  The sound of Aspen crying breaks what’s left inside of me. “I’m going to slaughter you, Rector,” I roar. “I’m going to break you in two.”

  “Strong words for a liberator taken down by a shelf,” he responds before throwing his fist into Aspen’s stomach.

  Aspen writhes against Kincaid, and her screams rattle my head. Kincaid wraps his arms and legs around her body tighter, locking her in place.

  Rector hits her again. And again.

  Visions of the night Rector did the same thing to Charlie dance through my memory. And though I love Charlie, seeing him do this to Aspen doesn’t hurt any less. She is my friend, the sister I never had.

  She is a piece of me.

  And each time Rector makes her cry out, my spirit is crushed a little more.

  Soon there’s nothing left but darkness crouched within my chest. It floods every part of my body, and raw rage provides me a burst of adrenaline. I shove against the shelf with everything I have, and it moves—a little at first, and then more.

  This gets Rector’s attention. “I was not going to kill her, you know. She just needed to be tamed a bit.” Rector brushes off his black slacks and runs a hand over his shaved head. “Are you trying to get a little breathing room down there?” He chuckles, and the sound raises the hairs on my arms. “Dante, do you know how sweet it felt to collect your girlfriend’s soul? I could almost taste her inside me.”

  My rage burns brighter.

  The pain in my legs and hips is forgotten.

  “What I really cannot wait for is the girl herself.” Rector sucks on his bottom lip. “She is so deliciously innocent. I dream about the moment our soldiers bring her in. Once we have her here, I’ll make her mine, you know. I’ll make her my princess.”

  My hands curl into fists and red fills my vision.

  Kill him—kill him—kill him.

  “I can’t wait until the first moment our lips touch,” he continues. “Until I lay her down in my bed and show her what it means to be a demon’s bride.”

  I can’t take it a moment longer.

  I use every bit of strength I have left and shove the shelf as hard I can.

  It isn’t enough.

  Rector kicks me in the ribs, and I bite down to keep from screaming. My energy is gone. Aspen is pinned to the floor. And Rector is standing over me like a tornado, as if every movement makes him stronger.

  I close my eyes and listen to my heart whomp-whomp in my ears. The sound of my pulse seems to beat her name.

  Charlie.

  Charlie.

  Charlie.

  The darkness ebbs away as I picture her face in my mind, her bright, eager eyes and the swell of her pink lips. The way she looked the first night we were truly together, and the zooming noise she made while spoon-feeding me tomato soup. The sight of her in that sexy ballerina-inspired dress, and the way she fought against Blue to come with me here, blood staining her chest. She is my reason for breathing, the only reason I would trek back into hell.

  Since the first day I met her—her cheeks reddening like strawberries—I knew she was different. Her laugh made me want to smile again, and her touch had me questioning everything. She’s the girl who fed her lunch to raccoons, who dug Skittles out of her pocket. She was unfashionable and socially awkward and easily the biggest nerd I’d ever met. And I fell madly in love with her. Even now, as every minute passes, my entire being aches for her more. To watch the way she radiates kindness. To see her smile. To kiss her.

  A burning smell fills my nose.

  I don’t recognize the scent at first, but when I do, my eyes snap open. Rector looks the same, so I know it isn’t him.

  It’s me.

  Like a crash of lightning, something Kraven said strikes my very core: “You have to call on the purity inside of you.”

  But nothing inside of me is pure.

  Nothing except my love for Charlie Cooper.

  Pain rips through my body. I twist side to side in agony, and my back arches off the ground. My muscles tear apart, and my teeth grind together so tightly I’m sure there’s nothing left of them but dust. Something pops in my chest, and then I’m splitting open. My skin is tearing apart, and I’m going to die. I’m going to die because I don’t know how to control this, and instead it’s controlling me.

  Everything stops.

  The pain ceases, and the ringing in my head quiets. I’m standing upright. Rector is backed against the wall, horror shadowing his face. Kincaid has released Aspen, and the two of them cower near the floor. Everyone stares at me, eyes wide and mouths open.

  Instinctually, I flex my back and feel a weight shift behind me. It’s the same way I move my arm, a simple command from my mind. But this isn’t an arm. Or a leg. Or even an open hand.

  It’s a wing.

  I curl the right one around my body so that I can see it, and I gasp. It isn’t waxy like Rector’s was, and it isn’t sterile white like Kraven’s. Instead, it’s something in between. An ocean of black feathers covers my wing, so dark they’re almost blue. I pull the left one in front and inspect it. They are the same. When I understand what this means, that I have accomplished the impossible, an incredible, unbridled power rushes through my veins.

  My glare finds Rector.

  My wings crash open.

  And a growl rips through my throat.

  Rector closes his eyes, and his face tightens with concentration. I know he’s trying to summon his own wings, but I’m not going to let him. I race forward and whip my left wing across my body. Then I swing it out and throw Rector ten feet from where he stands. He lands on his side and rolls three times. When he tries to lift himself back up. he stumbles and grunts in pain. I relish the sound.

  In the blink of an eye, I’m on him. I use my wings to lift him upright, then circle my feathered appendages around his body, restraining him in a circle of black. His arms fly out, searching for something. But there’s only me. Pow!

  I pound my clenched fist into his gut and his rib cage and the line of his jaw. From the sound of it, Aspen is tearing Kincaid a new one outside our boxing ring. I take a step back and thrust my wings against Rector’s chest. When I yank them open, he flies through the air and slams into a soul shelf. The shelf teeters back and forth but doesn’t fall.

  Without hesitation, I charge toward him again. I hold Charlie’s face in my mind as I kick him one, twice, three times in the side. Then I think about the things he did to Aspen and lose myself to fury. My fists crash into his face so many times that my knuckles begin to slip against his flesh. I shake the blood off my hands, thankful that we’re immortal, that the cuff around his ankle means the torture is never ending.

  Rector lies on the ground in a heap. I glance over to where Aspen is landing another kick on Kincaid’s knee. He falls but quickly regains his composure. I’ll hand it to him, he’s persistent.

  “Hey, Aspen,” I say, nodding toward Rector. “Want to get
some payback for earlier?”

  Aspen moves away from Kincaid and toward me. Kincaid wipes the sweaty blond hair from his forehead and narrows his beady eyes. His face looks like it belongs on a wanted poster.

  Aspen studies my wings warily. “I didn’t know you could…”

  “Yeah,” I say, “Me, either. Not really.”

  She gets closer, and Kincaid makes a movement like he’s going to tackle her from behind. I wag my finger at him. “Calm down, anus. You and I are going to play next.”

  Kincaid raises his hands like he wants none of that.

  I reach out to Aspen, who flinches. Our eyes connect. “It’s okay. I’m still me,” I whisper. Then I take her face in my hands. “Are you okay?”

  Her gaze travels over my wings and then down to the floor where Rector groans. She nods.

  I wave my hand toward him. “My gift to you.”

  Aspen’s mouth tightens into a thin line. She looks one last time at my wings before turning her attention to Rector. I, on the other hand, spin around and stroll toward Kincaid.

  “Want to dance?” I ask. Kincaid shakes his head. “Too bad.”

  I hit Kincaid exactly six times and wing-slap him once before he drops like a bag of stones. His eyes roll back in his head. He’s not dead, of course, but he won’t be causing us any more problems.

  Aspen is down in Rector’s face, whispering something to him. He clenches his jaw, but the ashen color on his face gives him away. I couldn’t be more proud of Aspen if she grew testicles.

  I nudge Kincaid with my foot and confirm he’s down for the count. Satisfied with my handy work, I head toward Rector and Aspen. Aspen sees me coming and straightens. Rector spits blood onto the floor. He swishes his tongue around his mouth before spitting out a tooth.

  “That’s unsightly,” I say. “People have no manners these days.”

  Aspen wraps her arms around her waist and winces.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” I ask, my tone softening.

  “She is fine,” Rector answers for her.

  I kick him. “I wasn’t talking to you, asswipe.” I nod toward Kincaid. “See that sack of shit over there? Your collector buddy? He struck out. So it’s just us three, big boy. And soon it’s just going to be you. Because me and Aspen here? We’re going to take Charlie’s soul and skedaddle.”

  I grasp Aspen’s hand and move away from Rector. I’m playing Mr. Tough Guy, but deep down I feel like collapsing. When I saw Rector and Kincaid, and maybe even when I first spotted Patrick, I figured we may not make it out of here. I draw my wings back into myself like it’s nothing, like I’ve done it a million times. It doesn’t hurt the way it did to bring them out, which is something. I notice suddenly that my long-sleeved T-shirt is still intact. I guess the initial burning singed through my clothing.

  Aspen sighs next to me. When I glance at her, she’s smiling. We’re both in shock at our success. I want to scoop her up into a hug and laugh but decide to wait until we’ve blown this joint completely.

  We’re only a few steps away from Rector when he speaks.

  “Did you think it would be so easy?” he asks. A chill races over my skin. “Did you think I would let you both waltz out of here with Charlie’s soul?”

  I cross the distance between us. “What else you got, Rector?” I snarl. “Stop screwing around and just bring it, because Aspen and I will take on anything. So let’s see it, champ.”

  Rector sits up a little straighter and grins. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth. “As you wish.” Rector fills his lungs. “Come on, my sweet children! Come to me!”

  Aspen and I scramble backward, retreating as quickly as we can from what appears before us.

  42

  A Choice

  Demons pour into the room. The whistling sound they make engulfs my senses. There are so many of them, too many to defeat. My mind spins, deciding whether to try and fight regardless.

  Beside me, Aspen clutches my arm. I glance at her, at the crease between her green eyes. Understanding passes between us. We won’t make it out of here. I expect to get angry, for that anger to fill every crevice in my head. Instead, I am awash with guilt. I allowed Aspen to come with me on this futile quest.

  And I’m the reason she may die tonight.

  Demons creep closer as Rector struggles to stand. At last, he’s successful. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure there’s anything to do. Rector has won. He’s wanted to destroy me ever since he learned my name. And now he has me cornered. So it surprises me when he limps toward Aspen like I’m not even in the room.

  “My wicked little rose,” he says to Aspen. “Don’t be upset. You brought them here with your screams, after all.”

  “Stop calling her that,” I bark.

  “No,” Aspen whispers.

  I squeeze her hand. It wasn’t her fault. The demons would have come eventually, the scent of our perspiring flesh guiding their noses.

  Rector ignores me. “As I was saying when we first met, I have a proposal.”

  “Screw your proposal.” I step in between him and Aspen. I may not be able to defeat the demons, but I can kick his ass one more time before they attack us.

  “Let him talk.” Aspen’s spine is straight, and her chin is raised. She looks like a goddess.

  “Smart girl,” Rector says.

  I stare him down for a few more seconds, then move aside. Right now, I just want to make things better for Aspen, so if she wants to hear what he has to say, then I’ll oblige.

  “Start talking, old man,” Aspen says.

  Rector folds his arms across his chest and grins. “My proposal is simple,” he says to Aspen. “Dante can leave and take Charlie’s soul with him. But you will stay behind.”

  My fist connects with Rector’s jaw. He hits the ground.

  The demons stir. Their overgrown toenails click against the floor, and they raise their giant heads and hiss. The yellow-and-black scales smeared across their bodies remind me of bumblebees. One near the front flicks out its forked tongue. The demons are waiting for an order to strike, their glassy eyes taking in everything. If Rector weren’t here, I have no doubt they would have already overpowered us.

  I step away from Rector and shield Aspen with my body. She shoves me to the side, but I don’t miss the way she grips her injured bicep.

  Rector looks up from the ground like he’s not altogether surprised to be there. “Despite that very rude gesture, my offer stands.”

  Aspen sobs quietly. I grip her shoulders. “I’ll never let that happen. I told you I’d never walk out on you, and I won’t. Do you understand?”

  “This isn’t your choice,” she mutters.

  “The hell it isn’t.”

  Aspen shrugs my hands off and gulps in air. “What will you do to me?”

  She’s talking to Rector, but I don’t want to hear the sound of his voice. “Don’t say a damn word to her.”

  He ignores me. It takes everything I have to keep from knocking the rest of his teeth out. “You won’t be harmed,” Rector replies. “But I do think you’d make an excellent collector one day.”

  Aspen bolts upright. They glare at each other, and the pair seems to have a silent conversation. After a moment, Aspen breaks off her stare and pushes herself against my chest. I’m thrown off by this. It takes me a moment to respond, but then I wrap my arms around her.

  Of course Rector would want Aspen as a collector after seeing how viciously she fights. He’s misinterpreted her strength as hidden sinfulness. But why would he trade Charlie’s soul for a future collector? It doesn’t matter, I decide. I’ll never let him have her.

  “Shhhh,” I say near her ear. “Everything is going to be okay.” I lower my voice. “When I give you the signal, I want you to run like you’ve never run before. Don’t stop until you get outside. Find Max and get out of here.”

  Aspen steps away from me. Tears streak down her dirty cheeks. “You’re like my brother, Dante. I love you like a brother.” She
turns and faces Rector. “I’ll stay.”

  “No!” I roar.

  Aspen tries to take my hand, but I jerk away from her. “You’re not doing this.”

  Rector nears Aspen. I try to block his path, but Aspen goes to him. The collector meets my gaze. “I keep Aspen, body and soul. In exchange, I give you your life and Charlie’s soul. She has made her decision. Now go.”

  My stomach heaves. My eyes sting, and suddenly the room is spinning. “I can’t…”

  “Go,” Aspen says, echoing Rector. “Return Charlie’s soul.”

  I move toward Aspen, but she pushes me away. The stinging in my eyes is now blinding me. “I can’t leave you,” I say, tears dripping down my face. “I can’t.”

  “This isn’t your decision to make, Dante.” Aspen’s voice is cold, like she’s already out of reach.

  I jab a finger at her. “I won’t let you do this.”

  “It’s done.”

  “Damn it, I said no! You told me you’d do as I asked down here without question. You promised!” I’m furious, but I don’t care. She has to listen to me. I won’t leave her here.

  Aspen closes her eyes. When she looks at me again, there’s only resolve to be seen. She’s not changing her mind. And I can’t make her leave without getting us both killed.

  “Aspen…” The word is a plea.

  “You set out to make me a better person,” she says, a gentle smile gracing her mouth. “Turns out you’re a damn fine liberator. That, or I always had it in me to change.” She rubs a hand over her eyes. “You tell Sahara…you tell Sahara I did this for her. When she’s older. When she understands. Tell Lincoln he was a good friend. My best friend. And tell Blue… No, don’t tell Blue anything.”

  I nearly choke as I say, “How am I supposed to do this? How am I supposed to just leave you?”

  “Valery said I was important. They all said I was important. This is why—my life for her soul,” she says. “I’m staying for Sahara. And for Lincoln and Blue and everyone else who deserves a chance at a peaceful world. Now leave, Dante.”

  “Aspen, please—”

  “Leave!” she screams.

  A ball of ice forms between my shoulder blades. Aspen’s face is red, and her hands are clenched. I turn away. I’m still not sure I can do this, but I’ll take the opportunity while I have it to get Charlie’s soul.