Chapter 3

Cecilia's POV

I snapped my fingers.

The next second, a blinding flash of blood-red light burst from inside Lacey's body.

The God Bone, the one that used to be mine, felt its true owner's call and shuddered violently inside her spine.

Lacey let out a scream that tore through the plaza. She hit the ground hard and writhed in agony. Her back arched up, like something was about to rip its way out of her.

I stood on the steps, watching her face twist in pain, my voice flat and cold. "You borrowed something for a hundred years. Time to pay the interest."

She rolled across the ground, clawing at the stone until her nails split and bled.

"Help me... Grant, help me! Mom, help me!" she screamed.

Grant snapped out of it. Watching the woman he loved suffer like that, his shock turned to fury in an instant. He drew his sword again, the tip aimed straight at my throat.

"Cecilia! Stop this! Have you lost your mind? Are you trying to kill your own sister?"

I looked at the sword that had once protected me from monsters, now pointed at my throat, and felt a flicker of contempt.

"Get lost."

I didn't even lift a finger. A wave of raw magical pressure crashed down on him.

Grant's knees buckled instantly. The force slammed him to the ground, his kneecaps shattering against the stone. He grunted as the sword fell from his hand, unable to even lift his head.

"Who do you think you are, pointing a sword at me?" I looked down at him, sprawled on the ground in disgrace.

That's when my parents and Brandon finally snapped out of their shock. They shoved past the guards and threw themselves at Lacey's side.

Martha wrapped her arms around Lacey's bloodied body, sobbing like her heart was breaking. "My baby! Cecilia, stop this right now! Is killing her the only thing that'll satisfy you?"

Bourne's eyes were red. He barked at me like he still had the right to give orders. "Cecilia! You're a commander now, you have everything you could want. Why are you still going after her over some bone? She's your sister!"

Brandon threw his arms out and stood in front of Lacey. "You want to kill her, you'll have to go through me first! You heartless monster!"

I looked at that whole picture of loving parents and devoted siblings, and I couldn't help clapping.

The sound echoed sharp and ugly across the plaza.

"What a touching little family drama." I walked down the steps toward them.

I looked at Bourne, my voice eerily calm. "A hundred years ago, when I was bleeding out in that vault and begged you to leave me one drop of my own heart's blood, what did you say?"

Bourne's face went white. His lips moved, but nothing came out.

I answered for him. "You said, 'It's for the family. Your sister needs it more.'"

I turned to Martha and Brandon. "And you two said, 'You're strong, you'll survive without the bone. But Lacey won't.'"

"So tell me." I leaned in slightly, my eyes cutting across their faces. "A hundred years ago, I begged you the same way. Did you show me any mercy?"

No one answered. Fear finally crept into their eyes.

I straightened up and stopped looking at them. My right hand shot out, gripping the air.

"That's mine. Time to take it back."

"No!" Lacey let out a scream of pure despair.

As my hand closed into a fist, a blinding flash of blood-red light erupted from Lacey's back. The sound of flesh tearing apart followed right after.

A God Bone, glowing silver, slick with warm blood, ripped straight out of Lacey's spine.

Lacey's eyes rolled back and she went limp, collapsing into the pool of blood like a rag doll.

The bone spun once in the air, then landed steady in my palm. It still carried Lacey's filthy residue on it. I cleansed it with my magic, and the light flared bright, resonating with my bloodline again.

"Lacey! Lacey!" Martha clutched Lacey's unconscious body, wailing.

Without the God Bone to hold her together, Lacey's already frail body started breaking down fast, the life draining out of her by the second.

Bourne and Brandon were in full panic now. They finally understood that the commander standing in front of them wasn't the same foolish girl who used to run herself ragged for one compliment from them.

"Cecilia..." Bourne's knees gave out and he dropped to the ground in front of me.

Brandon followed right after.

The heads that used to be held so high now bowed all the way to the ground. Desperate to save Lacey's life, they started begging, over and over.

"Cecilia, please, Dad's begging you. Give the bone back to her. She's going to die. I'll give you anything you want, even my life, just name it."

"Cecilia, I was wrong. It was all my fault. Please, show some mercy. Please save Lacey."