Isolis's eyes cut toward me, and he gives me a dark grin that makes my skin prickle from head to toe.
"Is that a fact?" he asks while turning back to Gage. "Do you always use live bait for your traps, or was I a special condition?"
Gage lets out a sardonic huff of a laugh, and then he shakes his head, his mask still covering his identity.
"You're not special in any way. Let's talk about the sacrificial rituals you've been performing on the girls you've slaughtered and left for dead, leaving a few breaths in their lungs. That's not very discreet or humane of you, both of which are required by your kind in order to keep peace. Now, tell me why you've been performing the rituals."
Isolis just laughs - a deep, throaty, genuine laugh of amusement. Though I can't see Gage's face, I'm sure he's not too thrilled by the reaction.
"Something funny, Isolis? I don't think you quite realize how severe the consequences you're facing are. Tell me what these rituals were intended to do, and you won't die by fire. Deny me, and I'll make sure you feel the same pain those girls did before you left them gasping for their last breaths."
Isolis's laughter tapers off as his eyes grow darker with intent, his night stalker blues burning a glowing hue. A small, secretive smirk plays on his lips as he pulls his hands behind his back.
"Boy, you have no idea what's coming. There's more power at play than you can even fathom. Just be warned, the Somage don't have a lot of friends. Your faces may be hidden, your scents may be covered, but your voices remain the same. We'll find you, and it won't be pretty when we do. Remember this moment when I'm ripping your heart out through your throat."
If ever there was a scarier threat, I've never heard it. Gage seems cool, unaffected, as though he's heard this all too many times. I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree in the middle of a windstorm.
"I'm standing on the outside of this circle right now, while you're facing your last few breaths. Don't think you scare me. You're low on the food chain compared to what I've dealt with. Just another snake in the grass waiting to get his head chopped off - that's all you are to me," Gage murmurs, his tone equally as terrifying.
With all the time we've spent together this past month, I've almost forgotten the dark roots he bears. That's something I should remember before getting too close.
Isolis turns to face me, and my stomach slaps my throat when he gives me a devious wink, warning me something big is about to happen.
"Maybe you'd be right... if I hadn't been expecting a trap," he says, and as soon as those words release, the woods thunder with a sudden attack.
I scream as lycans and night stalkers crash through the trees. At least ten have joined our party, and they're out for blood. We set a trap alright - our own fucking trap.
The time for holding back is over. With this many, I'll have to reveal my power.
Gage starts whirling blue orbs of energy while using his telekinesis to shove them away. If they touch him, his fight is over. They'll use their subduing power to restrain him, hold him... kill him.
The other members of his masked brigade fight off as many as they can, but one screams out as he's brought down. His mask is ripped free by a night stalker who relishes the terror he's stricken before devouring him, forcing me to cut my eyes away.
I screech as one nears the circle, but while I'm busy hesitating, he has time to rip a stone up and free the other five. Now we're all the more outnumbered, and I have no choice.
Before I can release the first bit of magic, death's grip is at my throat.
"Pretty girl, you've been a bad, bad girl," Isolis murmurs with malice lighting up in his eyes. "Mortal dolls such as yourself should never agree to help those weaker than me."
I can't see the fight raging on. I don't know who's hurt, dead, or dying. All I can see are the glowing blue eyes in front of me, dulling down to a deep brown color. Golden flecks sprinkle along the rims of his chocolates, and his strong, chiseled jaw clenches as he breathes me in.
He's a beast, seeming even taller than he did the first time he held my life in his hands. I can still feel my power inside me, stirring. Gage was right, he has no clue I'm a witch, so he doesn't know he has to fight against me.
I hear a strangled release, and I know it's Gage. He's hurt, and I can't see how bad. It's now or never.
Just as Isolis starts to go for the kill, I put my hands on his arms that are holding my shoulders. Forcing enough volts out to kill a herd of elephants, I shock the fuck out of him and send him flying backwards.
The look on his face is pretty frigging priceless as the high fills me. My father's power is toxic, inebriating. I shouldn't have used it, but desperate times call for incredibly stupid measures.
Isolis stands as several more men surround me, their attention drawn to the mortal witch whose blood they're now desperate to taste.
With a devilishly wry grin, I pull the power forth, my silver orbs circling my hands as I step toward them without fear.
"Holy... shit," one of them releases in disbelief.
Little Red Riding Hood has a dark little secret. Oops.
My silver orbs glow brighter, swelling to be much larger as they continue to swirl around my hands. With one gloriously cathartic release, I sling them forth. The two orbs split, turning into four and striking a lycan and three night stalkers in the chest.