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"I don’t knohy he s" Stasha slams the door and I hear her keys land on the table "I ood And I can’t even hear what you’re saying And don’t ruin my plants," she snaps at someone, clearly not alone "I need them to keep me alive" There’s a pause and then she says, "This is ridiculous Do you leak ice or so?"

Laylen’s head whips in my direction Ice, he laze the floor around us I’d be afraid, but after taking so

"Do you want to take down Stasha or the Death Walker?" I whisper in Laylen’s ear as the ice slips under our feet and along the wall behind us

"I’ll take death girl, since you’ve proven you can handle a Death Walker," he whispers back "Besides, her touch won’t kill me"

I nod and then take out a knife from my pocket Then Laylen peeks around the corner and looks back at me "Okay… the Death Walker’s on the couch And Stasha’s watering her plants"

I poise the knife in front of ers three… two… one…

We jump out from the hallway and take them by surprise The Death Walker’s eyes flash yellow as it towers to its feet Stasha drops her pail she has in her hand and water spills on the floor "What the hell?" she says, her face reddening with anger

The Death Walker instantly marches toward me as I step forith the knife out in front of oes for Stasha The Death Walker’s eyes flashflesh fall from its face As it approaches ing Like at the castle I feel in control and powerful as I dodge out of its way But it turns around and circles back So I stop e for it Its hands shoot out towardon et out ofthe knife at it, butback around and as it lets out another wail, I stab the knife into its chest and drop low to the ground as its breath puffs through the air while its body sways to the side Then its eyes burn out and it tips over, hitting the floor with a thunderous boom But I know it’s not dead, just passed out, because it’s Immortal and I don’t have the Sword of Immortality

I whirl around, relieved to see that Laylen has Stasha pinned up against the wall He holds her there by her shoulders and she glares at hi up ainst the wall harder

I hop over the unconscious Death Walker and go over to the on h to coh of me the first time?"

I point the tip of my knife at her throat "You know, it really doesn’t seem like you’re in ivesover me"

I move the knife closer until it clips her skin and draws blood

She winces, pressing herself closer the wall "Fine, what do you want?"

I raise my scarred arm "I want you to take your death out of my arm"

She shakes her head "No way You deserve it there--you deserve ht of Laylen’s fangs descending from his blood red lips causes her eyes to nearly pop out of head "I think you’re the one whoa littleVaood But since I can rins at her, flashing his pointed fangs

Stasha is pissed, but I can tell he’s scaring her She leans away, turning her head to the side "Fine I’ll remove my death from your hand," she snaps "But you two are lucky that that stupid monster’s ice froze over one down differently"

"And if you try to kill her instead of reot it?" Laylen says with his fangs still out

"Got it," Stasha replies through gritted teeth

Laylen slightly loosens his grip so Stasha can slip off her one of her gloves "Give me your arm," she says to me

Hesitantly, I extend ers around reen lines fade away, until my skin is back to its normal color I let out a breath of relief as she withdraws her hand, but then gasp as I catch sight of sole around a red syainst the wall roughly "Where did you get that?" he demands

Stasha looks down at the mark on her wrist "This? I’ve always had it you dumbass"

Laylen shakes his head "That’s not possible… I’ve know you for long enough to know it hasn’t always been there"

"Yes, it has," she says in a condescending tone "I’ve had it since the day I was born, but apparently you’re too stupid to re you," I say, gripping the knife inthe compulsion to stab her "And he would have ht He’s lied toit to you"

Laylen starts to say so up

"We need to go," I say and reach for Laylen’s hand

"What about her?" he asks "What should we do to her?"

I shrug "Whatever you want?"