“After you killed Miles, you lost your hold on sanity. When it came to your prey, you didn’t care about guilt or innocence. You gave in to the darkness. You drank from anyone, everyone, leaving shells behind. You became the true monster that everyone fears, and you had to be put down.”
Simone’s blonde hair was covered by dirt.
“And without you…” Jamison’s voice roughened. “I think she was ready to die, too.”
She’d smiled at him, in that last moment. Or had she smiled because it was her last moment?
Jamison pushed a hand through his hair. “Some people aren’t made for the darkness.”
Ben glared at Jamison. “This isn’t happening to Simone.”
The shifter’s face hardened. “Then you’d better change your future, vamp. Because if you go dark, so does she.”
Ben leapt toward the shifter. He grabbed Jamison’s shoulders. “Take me to her! Not this twisted future. I want the real Simone, now!”
The wind began to howl.
The humans vanished. The cemetery vanished.
“It doesn’t work like that.” Jamison’s voice was quiet, almost sympathetic.
Ben didn’t want his sympathy. He wanted Simone. “Screw how it works. You know where she is. Take me to her.”
“Earn…her…” Jamison broke from Ben’s hold and dropped to the ground. The shifter’s bones began to snap. “Save her…earn her…” Fur spread along his arms and legs.
“Do not turn panther on me!” Ben reached out for him, but the panther’s claws sliced along his arm. “I need Simone!”
The panther opened his mouth and roared.
The snow fell again. No, not snow—feathers. Feathers from an angel’s wings. She was losing more wings for him even then. Trying to teach him some kind of lesson? Trying to save his life?
But she was losing her own life in the process.
Ben tilted back his head and stared up at the sky. “I want her! Give her back to me, and I’ll do anything!”
The howling of the wind grew louder.
“I can—I can change!” Ben yelled as loudly as he could. “Just…don’t let her die! Don’t let her wind up like—” Me. “Please, save her,” he whispered. “Please.”
And everything went dark.
Welcome to the darkness.
Chapter Nine
The alley reeked of garbage and death.
“Pl-please, buddy,” Miles Gavin begged. “Just let me go, just let me—”
Ben’s fangs flashed.
Then he stopped as understanding hit him—hard. What the f**k? I’m back here?
Ben shook his head as Miles trembled in his grasp. This was…this was the moment when the demon had appeared. Ben glanced toward the mouth of the alley, expecting to see William Marley’s form.
But the demon wasn’t there.
“I-I’ve got a son.” Miles spoke quickly, feverishly, as he said, “He’s only seven, and I’m all he’s got. His mother’s dead. Please, mister, please!”
Ben freed the man. “Go to the police. Tell them that your brother has been killing women.”
“Wh-what?”
Sirens screamed in the distance. At least the cops were right on time. Where’s William? “Screw that plan. You don’t have to find the cops because they’re coming to you. Stay here and wait for them. Tell them you didn’t kill the women. Your brother did.”
“A-Alex?”
“Your brother is a f**king psycho, so don’t let him near your boy ever, got it?”
Miles pressed back against the dirty wall. Fear twisted his face as he stared at Ben.
The wail of the sirens was even louder.
“Forget you saw me,” Ben ordered.
Miles lifted a trembling hand to this throat. Blood dripped down his collar. “What are you?”
“A monster.” But he would be something different. For her.
Ben spun away from the human and raced into the night.
***
Ben burst into his cabin, dragging the Christmas tree with him. It had been the last tree on the lot, and Ben knew it looked like a piece of shit, but it was better than nothing.
Be here, be here. “Simone!” He’d spared Miles. Did that mean she would come to him?
His gaze flew around the cabin.
The place was dark. Cold. Empty.
She could come, though. I just…I have to get everything ready for her. He hauled the tree inside. Set it up. Ben set it up three times because the damn thing kept falling over. He lit the fire. And realized…
I don’t have any ornaments. Not even a string of lights. And he also didn’t have a present for Simone.
Wait…yes, I do! His gaze shot to the small chest in the corner. He hurried toward the chest. Opened it. Saw the little black box nestled inside.
He did have a present. One that he’d held onto for years. Ben shoved the box into his pocket. “Simone! I’m going to be different! I’m going to be what you need!” His bellow just seemed to drift back to him.
He paced toward the tree. “William? Jamison?”
No answer.
It wasn’t midnight yet. A quick check of the nearby clock confirmed that. It wasn’t Christmas. He still had time. Jamison had said…Simone didn’t completely lose her wings until Christmas.
There was still time.
Ben hurried back to the door. He yanked it open and stared outside. It was so cold out there. His footprints had already been covered by the newly falling snow. It was a terrible night for Christmas. A horrible night to lose an angel and—
A deadly night for a human to be out.
He stepped out into the snow.
Help. Goosebumps rose on Ben’s flesh, but they weren’t from the cold. “Simone?” He could have sworn that he’d heard her voice just then, whispering in his ear.
His breath seemed to ice before him. It was colder than hell out there.
Help.
Ben found himself walking forward. Then running. His feet seemed to fly over the thick snow.
He hadn’t hurt Miles in that alley, but Miles hadn’t been the only one there that night.
I forgot the kid.
Ben ran as fast as he could. He left the cabin behind, left the door open, and moments later, he found himself on a snow-covered road. Twisting trees lined both sides of that old path.
A familiar path. Simone had been here with him. She’d looked down the snow-filled road and pointed. This way will take you out of Desolate.
He’d known desolation for ten years. She was the only hope he had. Ben took that path because he was ready for the desolation to end.