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I gripped the sword I hadn’t realized I was holding and sprinted toward her

The woman saw me A flash of hope replaced the panic on her face She veered towardharder The deed The woasped as the blade sank into the soft flesh of her belly It sliced through her organs as easily as it had done to the man I’d killed moments before I yanked out leaistered astonishment, then betrayal as her own blood coated her hands She moaned and fell to her knees She toppled over sideways One soft sigh, one final gush of blood, and her heart stopped forever

The de yellow fangs "That one was mine"

"You were too slow Our leader rewards the quick" I sneered at its hideous face "Go chase some old lady with a walker That would be ed at me My sword burst into flame Demon flesh sizzled as the creature’s clawed hand touched fire It shrieked and jumped back

"Go!" I shouted "Before I kill you as unfit to serve"

It spat at s unfurled and lifted it into the air After a last growl in my direction, it flew off toward the harbor A moment later, smoke sed its form

I stepped over the wo else to kill So in my ar It grew and changed its shape The mark became the face of the Destroyer

"Well done, shapeshifter," it said The face grinned, and the burning inside h its eyes "Finally thou hast embraced thy destiny"

10

WHEN I CAME BACK TO MYSELF, I LAY ON THE KITCHEN floor Again Inches frolove reached for ht pink dead ht I could muster Shit, shit, shit

I sat up, as achy and stiff as if I’d really just fought a battle I rubbed the elbow I li Destroyer’s face, as it had in one The mark looked like it always did--a small red burn scar that puckered the flesh ofwere stirring there So sleep The presenceI barely kne to describe Like a superheated itch, but deep inside where no scratching could relieve it

I sat on the floor, inhaling deeply and rubbingto subside I focused on the soothing strokes, on radually it decreased The itch dulled and sank deeper I rubbed and rubbed, er than a pinprick When the feeling stilled enough that I could ignore it, I climbed back into my chair

The Book of Utter Darkness lay open on the table An illustration now stretched across both pages It was a detailed, hand-painted scene fro vision There I stood, spattered with blood, the wo atthe scene Above, a flying demon disappeared into the s into the sky and running along the tops of both pages On my forearm, as vivid and detailed as a tattoo, leered the Destroyer

A single word for across a marquee: DESTINY