Jack was silent. They all looked at him in trepidation. His gun lay on his lap and he picked it up slowly. They all flinched.
“Get out,” he said quietly.
All four jumped to their feet.
“Jack,” Stephen said, sighing as though he was disappointed in him, “we came to you first because as her Gwithiaz you could make sure it happened quickly and painlessly. Kiera doesn't want Bersaba killing innocent people, and drawing strength from her own powers to do so. They have a bond that can't be broken. They are from the same coven. What if Kiera follows the same path as Bersaba? They would be unstoppable.”
Jack looked at him with eyes like steel, “You said that you came to me first?”
“We have other options for jobs such as this,” Stephen said quietly, “we would prefer you to do it but…”
He left the threat hanging in the air.
Jack rose to his feet and in a swift movement put his gun against Stephen's forehead, “I will kill anyone you send for her. Do you understand?”
Stephen nodded quickly. Jack lowered the gun and they all hurried out. The front door closed and he turned to see Kiera standing in the hallway. Her face was pale.
“It will be okay,” he promised her. She nodded.
Then he led her upstairs. They fell into bed exhausted and he enveloped her protectively in his arms. This was what they needed, to be close to each other, to hold each other as they each faced the losses they had endured and thought about what dangers lay ahead. It had been a horrific day. It was difficult to process and they had an awful feeling that it was only the beginning.
Epilogue
Kitto opened his eyes. His head was pounding. It was dark and, for a moment, he lay still and tried to gather his thoughts. Memories of Bersaba's betrayal flooded back to him; she had set the Creature on Jack, he had tried to save Jack. He frowned. He had died. He pushed himself up to a seated position. This was most peculiar. How many times could one man die and come back to life?
He was still in the cave. It was in darkness apart from one pathway of light that shone in from the entrance. Bathed in the moon's glow he saw the Creature lying dead and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Jack and Kiera were alive. He needed to find them. He spotted Jack's staff on the ground and felt a sense of panic. Something bad must have happened. He picked it up. Jack would never have left his staff behind.
His mind was suddenly invaded by another memory. He was being dragged forcibly from the darkness. He had opened his eyes and seen Bersaba leaning over him, she was chanting and sprinkling something over his face. Then he'd slipped back to the darkness.
Bersaba had done this. She had brought him back to life. But why?
He pulled himself to his feet and then doubled over in pain.
What has she done to me?
It felt as though his insides were twisting together. He staggered forwards and emerged into the night. He cried out in agony and fell. He spotted a puddle along the side of the cliff and dragged himself along the ground towards it. His mouth was parched.
He drank the water greedily but it offered him no relief from his pain.
She has brought me back to life just to torture and kill me, he thought grimly.
Then he caught sight of his reflection in the puddle. He was covered in dry blood, his own blood he supposed. His hair was a mess and his skin looked ashen but it was his eyes that made his blood turn cold and his heart plummet. For an instant they flashed an unmistakable bright red.
She hadn't brought him back to kill him. She had done something much worse.
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Nature of the Witch Page 26