Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"You damned bastard! She's my daughter!"

In an instant of blank surprise, Daniel eased his hold on Patricia and she slipped downward. His eyes met Grainger's from across the distance.

Grainger fired. The gunshot rent the silence.

Daniel looked down at the red stain that was spreading on his white shirt, covering his chest. He gave a loud growl, leaned down, grabbing Patricia by her hair, and began dragging her toward the cliff edge.

Grainger fired again. Lyon watched Daniel flinch and stagger. Grainger had got him in the middle of the back. And yet he was still standing, still walking.

Patricia was screaming.

"Daniel! Don't!" It was Deborah, running, her skirts held up in her hands. "No, Daniel! It's over. You must stop now. You must come to me. I am your mother, I will protect you. Please, Daniel."

Daniel turned at the edge of the cliff. Blood covered his chest, droplets falling to the ground.

"Mother?"

Grainger fired again. The shot slammed into Daniel's throat, and his head jerked back.

Still Daniel stood, bewildered, like a lost child, blood spurting from his throat, staring helplessly at Deborah. "Mother?" It was a whisper, a soft, bewildered whisper.

"Daniel!"

Patricia struggled and Lyon saw Daniel look down at her. Then he released her. She rolled over onto her stomach, burying her face against the ground.

"You damnable bastard!" The final shot hit Daniel in the belly. He weaved where he stood, then fell slowly to his knees. There was no sound from him when he rolled over the cliff to the rocks below.

"Daniel!"

Lyon's last sight of Daniel was a vision of red. Blood, so much blood, spurting everywhere, onto Patricia, soaking into the earth. He whispered, very quietly, "But where is Diana?"

He didn't follow Grainger and Lucien as they ran to the cliff and peered over the edge. He couldn't move.

"Lyon!"

It was her voice, haunting him. He'd failed her miserably. If only

"Lyon! I'm here!"

He turned slowly, unable to make his body react, unable to think. Diana was jumping off Salvation's back. She was a filthy mess, but it didn't matter. She was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.

She hurled herself against him, nearly toppling the both of them. "I saw it all," she sobbed against his neck. "Oh, God, he washelpless."

"He said he'd killed you." He flung the gun away from him and tightened his grip on her until she squeaked.

"No, he trapped me in our cave. I found another way out."

"I never would have found you," Lyon said, "never, until it was too late. God, Diana."

Neither of them was aware of the pandemonium that surrounded them.

Epilogue

No sweet without sweat.

—LATIN PROVERB

Ashton Hall, Yorkshire