“Come back from that, tough guy.” Ben moved back, bloody and now spattered with blackened vampire remains. He smiled as he brushed the pieces of Sarah’s old boyfriend off of him. “One down…”

  ***

  Sarah opened the basement door and drew her sword. She stared at Ben, preoccupied with picking black pieces off of his blood-stained t-shirt.

  “What did you do?” Sarah felt anger rush through her as she stared at him. He’d put her baby’s life in danger. He’d caused her to bond with a demon. He was everything she hated about herself, everything that made her reckless. She levelled the sword at him as he looked up at her. “Tell me what you did.”

  He put on the innocent look she’d seen from him before. “I didn’t do anything.”

  She frowned, seeing the vampire remains on the ground and seriously doubting the truth of Ben’s statement. “Don’t play innocent. I told you what would happen.”

  “It wasn’t me, he tried to kill me. I only tried to protect you.”

  She swung the sword and he moved back quickly, his arm catching the blade.

  “He was a psycho, Sarah. He was killing women. Leaving their bodies in the woods.”

  She blinked, realising she recognised the scent of the remains. “Ray.”

  He shrugged, the ghost of a sly smile drifting over his face and disappearing again. “He tried to kill me.”

  “And you tried to kill me,” Sarah said, swinging her blade again, and missing when her stomach heaved. She had to cut off her enhanced senses. The smell of remains was mingling with the thick, treacly scent of black magic and it was making her feel sick to her stomach.

  “I never wanted to hurt you, Sarah,” he said, sounding earnest. “I just wanted you all to myself. Is that so much to ask?”

  She bit back the urge to vomit. “I wish I’d never met you.”

  ***

  Dev grabbed onto the edge of the kitchen unit. He could feel himself slipping backwards as if he was on an icy slope. His legs were dangling in the Darklands. He couldn’t be sure he’d land back on a branch so he held on for dear life with his right hand and moved to get his left onto the corner of the unit, just above the knuckles of his right hand. “Shit,” he hissed as his head started to spin. His mind was being thoroughly messed with. He closed his eyes and pulled, knowing he only had this one chance. He had to make it, he just had to. He rolled slightly and pulled, dragging more of his torso into the kitchen. He swung his legs, trying to help get them through. He slid back more, pulled by an unseen force. “Shit, shit, shit…” His grip was slipping. He tried to bend his arms and pull himself up. It was useless. He was stuck.

  Something tightened around his wrist as he fought to hold on. He looked up as Dredd’s hands tightened around his wrists and pulled. He tumbled into the room, gasping from his expended efforts. He got to his feet shakily and looked at his old friend. “Tha…”

  Dredd drew a tight smile and smashed his fist into Dev’s face. “That’s for sleeping with my girlfriend.”

  Dev rubbed at his jaw. He frowned at Dredd. Something was different and it wasn’t just the fact that he was naked. “What the…”

  “I’m going to have to kill you,” Dredd told him, like it was no big deal.

  Dev supposed it wasn’t much of a big deal to a monster who killed people regularly to survive. His hand slipped into his pocket. His fingers touched the razor and his heart started to thump harder in his chest. “Come on, man. Don’t do this. You don’t need to do this.”

  Dredd smiled, and Dev wondered what the hell it was that seemed so different about him. He noticed the sunlight streaming through the window onto the table and realised it was probably just that it was daylight. Vampires had an aversion to being out in the sun. Dev swallowed as his old friend came at him. He pulled the razor from his pocket. He suffered punches that he knew were breaking bones. The pain was there, but it was muted somehow, as if he could block it out while it was happening. He was backed into a corner within seconds, and he knew it was now or never. With a flick of his finger, he opened the knife. It took a few minutes to find the perfect moment to slash at Dredd. His thick fingers were around Dev’s neck, closing tighter as Dev took his shot. The blade sliced into the flesh covering Dredd’s throat. He slashed it quickly across his throat and dropped it. The anger bled out of Dredd’s eyes as he let go, touching his open wound and stumbling backwards in shock.

  Dev gasped in big gulping breaths. He watched his old friend fall to the ground and something started to click in his head. Dredd’s hands had felt warm. His face hadn’t seemed so pale. He stared at Dredd as the blood pooled out from his wound. His eyes were empty. Blood was still pouring out of him. Had he been human, somehow? Had he found a way back from what he’d done?

  “Oh fuck,” Dev cursed hoarsely, falling to his knees and trying to stop the blood from flowing. It was too late and he knew it. “Fuck!” He backed away with Dredd’s blood on his hands, bringing his knees up under his chin as he stared at his old friend’s dead body.

  ***

  Sarah put the sword down and told Ben what he wanted to hear. “I ruined your life.”

  Surprise hit his dark eyes. “No. You made it better.”

  She shook her head. “You died because of me. It’s my fault you’re like this.”

  “It’s… It’s okay. I got to meet you and that made it worth all of this,” he said, a calculating expression on his face. “I knew we’d end up together even if I had to make it happen.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “You had to make it happen?”

  “I know I had competition. That human boy. The vampire. The demon,” he said, his eyes lighting up suddenly. “That’s who’s in your basement!”

  Sarah held her breath. Dev hadn’t been home. Ben couldn’t have gotten to him. The vampire remains were a different story and one she could deal with. “Yes,” she confirmed. “It’s him.”

  Ben glanced towards the basement door. “I’ll take care of him later. We should…”

  Sarah picked up the sword and swung it while he was distracted. “Goodbye, Ben.” She closed her eyes as the blade connected with his neck. “I hope you can rest in peace.”

  The thump of his body dropping to the ground broke something inside her. She opened her eyes to blurry vision. Tears rolled as she threw her sword to the ground. Checking her senses, she found the scent of vampire remains gone, along with the traces of black magic. It didn’t make sense. She sniffled as she moved towards the kitchen, where she’d seen the black gunky remains at the doorway before. The floor was clean by the door, but the kitchen was a different story. She saw Dev curled up, his back to the door, staring at a body on the ground, blood spattered over his jeans. She rushed over to him, dropping to her knees in the bloody puddle beside him.

  “Dev! Dev, are you okay?” She hugged him to her, and he seemed to snap out of his trance to hold her back tightly.

  “Sarah. Thank God you’re okay.”

  “What happened?”

  “I…” He swallowed. “I killed Ray,” he whispered.

  “It’s okay,” she told him, her voice shaky. “You’re okay. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Her gaze finally focussed on the body on the ground, the one Dev had been staring at. It didn’t make sense. Not at first. But the black magic she’d smelt had to be linked to some kind of resurrection spell. He’d been a vampire and Ben had killed him. She knew that. The rest? It would be reported to the Council. They could deal with the details. She moved back from Dev slightly to call her mother. It was time to face the music.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sarah opened the door to her mother, expecting other trackers to be with her, or at least Gwen or Sophie. She’d come alone. It made her tense. She knew she couldn’t hide anything anymore. Everything would come out and her mother would have to tell the Council. Sarah sighed as she closed the door behind her. She’d covered Ben’s body with a sheet. Dev had found his head and moved it next to the body. Sarah couldn’t handle seeing it. She’d covered Ray too. The bloodied sheet was like something out of a horror movie. It was enough to put her off that habit for the foreseeable future. She rubbed her arms as she got ready to explain. Tears stung her eyes and her mum wrapped her arms around her. “Oh, Sarah,” she said, with a sigh.

  A few tears managed to get out before she pulled herself together.

  “Mum, this is Dev,” Sarah started, catching the confused look in her mother’s eyes. “What?”

  Dev had his arms crossed and he was looking at the ground. He’d killed his best friend. Even though Ray had tried to kill him first, even though he’d told Dev he was going to kill him, Sarah knew it was still destroying him that he’d actually killed Ray.

  “We’ve met,” her mother said, looking Sarah over. “I need to check your memories.”

  Sarah sighed and stood still as her mother did a quick gaze. Her face was set in concern as she moved back and walked over to Dev. “You too,” she warned him.

  He looked up. Sarah watched his blue eyes glaze over. He focussed on her and smiled wanly when her mother was done checking him over.

  “It was likely linked to this attack,” her mother said. “You’re both missing some memories. So I’ll bring you up to speed. Adrian took Sarah. Shaun brought her back. And your father and I know you two are expecting. The tracker wedding ceremony can take place in a couple of weeks. That’s when Gwen’s free to perform the ceremony.”

  Dev’s smile warmed up a little and Sarah took his hand.

  “You’re taking this a lot better than I expected,” Sarah told her.

  Her mother smiled wryly. “It’s not what I expected, but you never did do anything predictable. Now talk me through what happened here.”

  Sarah took a breath and Dev squeezed her hand. They would get through this. No matter how hard it was, they would make it through.

  ***

  Dev listened to everything through Sarah’s version, noting the moments where she hesitated. Ray becoming a vampire was one of those moments. She didn’t understand his return to a human state but her mother took it all in before she sat down and got out a notebook.

  “This is the official report. A vampire from the closed down brothel came back home, obsessed with Sarah. He brought a friend. They attacked you both and you took them out.”

  Dev glanced at Sarah and she blinked twice. “What?”

  “Sarah, the demon bond is almost broken. There’s no need to bring it up. I honestly don’t know what the punishment would be but I can see you’ve been punished for what you did more than enough already.”

  Sarah got up and hugged her mother. Dev bit at his lip. He knew there was something else that still needed dealt with and Sarah wouldn’t be able to say it.

  “There’s one last minor problem,” he said, glancing as Sarah.

  She nodded.

  “The demon. He possessed a human. He’s locked up in the basement, but you see the problem.”

  Her mother sighed. “When did this happen?”

  “Just the other day,” Dev said. “We think. It must have been part of the memories we had removed.”

  “I assume you two already did some part of the bonding ceremony?”

  Sarah blushed and Dev just nodded; she didn’t need to know which part.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about. It’ll be safer to have him stay locked up until after the ceremony. I can exorcise him afterwards. For obvious reasons, he’ll need to stay here. Dev, you’ll need to look after the key and keep the human fed. I’ll set him free when this is all over.” She pursed her lips. “I’ll see if I can get the ceremony moved up.”

  Sarah breathed a massive sigh of relief. “Thanks, Mum.”

  She smiled tightly. “I’ll have the clean up taken care of today. Sarah, I’ll speak to you soon. You can take the week off to get over this.”

  Sarah took his hand and they followed her mother to the door.

  “Both of you need to go to the hospital and get checked out. Tell them you were in a minor car accident.”

  “Yes, Mum.” Sarah said it with a mock salute, mimicking her brother’s usual response to orders from her.

  Dev winced when he tried to smile. “Yeah, I might have a broken rib or two.”

  At least if Dredd had only been human it wasn’t likely to be much worse than that.

  Her mum opened the door and Dev stared outside, his mouth falling open. The woods had changed, the trees blackened with neon-coloured bugs running over them. The night sky was shot through with smoggy green clouds. He blinked but the picture didn’t change. He glanced at Sarah and she stared back at him, eyes wide. He cursed inwardly. He wasn’t hallucinating.

  “You can see that too?”

  Sarah’s mum turned to them. “Change of plans. It’s starting. Come with me.”

  Dev watched her walk out into the altered landscape. Sarah looked at him. She picked up her sword and sheathed it, determination etched into her features.

  “Looks like that apocalypse we ordered has arrived.”

  The Gallows return in

  Reality Ruptured

  Read on for the first chapter

  Reality Ruptured

  Chapter One

  Teri let her attention drift as Suze casually muttered insulting comments about the girls on the edge of the dance floor. She sank her fourth mudslide and gazed across the room. The pounding beat of the music drowned out her friend’s voice. Haven was packed, and she couldn’t help wishing she was there with someone else. A guy, maybe, or at least someone she could dance with. She sighed, resting her chin on her fist as her gaze drifted across the dance floor. This night off had been a long time coming, but she knew the Court and the Council were taking the opportunity to check over her work. She was risking being fired taking the night off like this. Somehow she couldn’t seem to make herself care.

  It was warm and dark in this corner of the club, the pulsing music and the chocolate cocktails a heady mix that both relaxed and energised her. She’d needed this. She got up, making a drinking motion with her hand as Suze glanced at her. The blonde witch raised an eyebrow and shook her head.

  Teri shrugged and headed to the bar. She was warmed by the bodies she wound a path through to get to her destination. Sighing blissfully, she ordered up another two mudslides and rested her elbows on the bar as she waited. Her wandering gaze fell on a guy with brown hair at the other end of the bar. His dark eyes drank her in and a slow smile spread over his face. He was definitely attractive, if not exactly her usual type.

  She felt her skin flush as her drinks were placed in front of her. The bartender blocked her admirer from sight. She glanced his way as the girl moved onto another customer. He was gone. It was probably just as well. After everything that had happened with Roman, she was hardly in any state to start seeing anyone. A one night stand would even be pushing it.

  She brought her drinks back to the table.

  Suze drew her a disapproving look, but thankfully kept her mouth shut.

  Teri took a drink and shivered.

  “Too much ice,” she complained, folding her arms.

  “So…” Suze had a sly smile on her face. “How’s Liam?”

  Teri blinked. She had to remind herself that Suze didn’t know Roman’s little brother had gone through a mental breakdown after linking with another fairy. He’d been in the Darklands atoning ever since, but it wasn’t as if Suze knew that. As far as Suze knew, Liam was just a friend she lived with and someone she didn’t really buy as ‘just a friend’. She knew nothing about Roman.

  “He’s gone,” Teri said, with a shrug. “Visiting family for a while.”

  “Too bad,” Suze said. “He seemed… cute.”

  Teri tried and failed to smother a snort of laughter. “Sorry.”

  Suze pursed her lips as she swirled the wine in her glass. She took a sip, the first Teri had seen her take in an hour. Then she put the glass down and leaned back in her seat. “It’s happening this time.”

  Ominous, Teri thought. “What’s happening?”

  She glanced back towards the bar, but the guy who’d eyed her up was gone. Relief and disappointment filled her in equal measure. She looked back at Suze.

  “You seem distracted,” Suze told her.

  “There’s a draft getting in from somewhere,” Teri said, glad she wasn’t drunk enough to admit her real reason for distraction and wondering why it was suddenly so cold in the packed club. A window has to be open somewhere, she thought.

  “There’s no draft,” Suze said.

  Teri shook her head. “Like you’d notice if there was.”

  The girl never stepped foot outside without neck to toe coverage. Her lavender velvet dress was insanely old fashioned, yet she somehow got away with the look. Teri suspected it was a combination of her perfect figure and her fuck-you attitude. No-one messed with Suze. She took another gulp of her drink.

  “What were we talking about?”

  “The prophecy,” Suze reminded her.

  “Oh, right,” Teri said. “That.”

  It was the last thing she wanted to think about. Day in, day out, she logged prophecies and tried not to worry that they might all come true at once.

  “That.” Suze nodded, her sky blue eyes intense as she stared at her friend. “It’s happening this time. I heard Wolf-bait is being sent to look after the Seelie princess.”

  Teri blinked and tried to keep her surprise to herself. “Shaun’s involvement doesn’t mean the prophecy is coming true.”

  Suze’s stare was steady as she pulled on another sly smile. “The Unseelie prince might have something to say about that. You know the tracker wouldn’t be getting sent to her unless that guy had made a move, right?”

  How the hell does she know so much? Teri shrugged and took another drink. “I’m sure when it happens you’ll be the first to know, or at least the third.”

  Suze narrowed her eyes. “You know I’m the black witch now?”

 

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