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"Holly," Pernis warned

Holly clucked her tongue, sighing draht It seems the VC is a bit iuards standing beside the curtain Together, they tugged thick ropes and the curtain opened halfway to reveal a stone altar Holly held out a hand towards the stone and the guard holding the prisoner escorted the beaten s and ar to free himself and awarded with a backhanded slap across his face I flinched as blood spilled fro up and pulling a dagger concealed in her hair The action caused her auburn hair to fall in waves against her shoulders She er in both hands and raising her ar sobs were cut short as Holly drove the blade into his heart Miserable gurgles sounded frohed All the while, Holly stood over him, unfazed as she co, the roo of ainst my eardrums

"Release Ian," Holly ordered

Dorian snorted "Release Rebekah"

Holly snarled, her eyes crinkling as she glared at Dorian She held up her hand and bent her fingers, wiggling theuards Time slowed My heart beat faster still as I watched the man disappear behind the curtain Someone placed their hand in mine; I assumed it was Dorian, but all I could do was stare at that damned curtain Seconds seeuard returned with a girl in his hands, I released the breath I’d been holding Tears blurred my eyes as she lifted her head and looked around with fear She was beautiful and just how I remembered, only older Her hair was more of a dark brown than black and stopped just past her shoulders Red splotches dotted her cheeks and a fresh trail of moisture trailed down her face Her eyes ide orbs as they landed on the deadto rush to her side Her gaze flicked toto solve a puzzle I knew her memory of me was in there, buried deep I nodded at her to answer her silent questioning of who I was My lower lip quivered as I tried to hold in the tears She looked down again, not showing an ounce of recognition

"Ugh, enough already," Holly snapped "The girl for Ian" As if to rabbed her, placing an ar her throat Rebekah squealed, a fresh strea uard will bury his blade in your dear sweet sister’s neck," Holly shouted I stu to an instant stop AsRebekah, I couldn’t chance it I glowered at Holly, not sure if I would rather kill her or the guard

"I’ll only ask one more time," Holly said to Dorian

Without a word, he reached out his hand and ainst the stone floor, cli swirled around, co shape

"That was bloody awful," Ian said, brushing off his clothes as though they were real He turned toward the stage, a s forward, he stopped in front of the dead man and stared down at hiars can’t be picky, Ian darling" Holly re I lived, I would never understand their bizarre dyna to kill each other, and now they acted as if they were long lost friends Trying to understand crazy people will only give you a headache

Ian’s spirit floated upwards and reclined into a lying position Slowly, his soul descended toward the deadI watched with horror, the pieces finally clicking into place

"You’re bringing hinored me, too fascinated to see what happened with the body, I looked at Dorian "Is that even possible?"

A gentle nod was his only response His focus was inher was scrunched up in pain S out of his body and disappearing I took that as e as fast as I could Holly turned around just before I reached her With a wave of her hand, h the air, where I landed in a heap at the botto up on h my skull, and I blinked to clear the static fro at the body Ian had disappeared into, before descending the stairs Dorian got tome up

"I see the vampires aren’t the only i the ," I said with acridity "What exactly is your end gaain?" Trying to figure those two out was like trying to put a square peg in a round hole

Holly laughed, her ss "You’re so narrow-minded, it’s adorable" She looked over her shoulder to check on Ian The body lay still, and I hoped that