High Witch (High Witch Book 1) by Mona Hanna Page B

responded to him hungrily. The hand which held her tightened on her back; his other hand still held the knife. Brayden couldn’t breathe. The tension became unbearable. He began to take huge breaths, then Julius pulled away from the kiss abruptly and pulled Nadia back by the hair.
    He plunged the knife into her stomach, deep, twisting it. Brayden gasped. Nadia stumbled backwards, eyes wide open, blood gurgling out of her mouth. Julius pulled out the blade. She fell back on the ground, her hand over her wound, staring straight up. Julius knelt beside her. He sighed.
    “I didn’t want to do it,” he said, “but I had to. It’s time for me to move on. I did love you, Nadia, I did. You were perfect, once. But it’s my new time now. Rest, my dear.”
    Nadia spluttered once more, staring at him in horror, then her eyes rolled back into her head. She became silent, still. Brayden stared at her in shock. Julius lowered Nadia’s eyelids, then stood and took a huge breath. He dropped the knife, then turned back to the machine. He strode towards Ariel.
    Brayden knew Ariel couldn’t have seen what just happened from her position lying down, but she would have heard it. She would know Nadia was dead. It was about to start.
    It was about to end.

    ***
    “It’s time.”
    The words rang out in the air as if Julius had shouted them. He stood by the contraption, looking at Ariel. She stared straight up. Everyone was perfectly still. Even the wind had died down. There wasn’t a single sound. Brayden stood there in a panic.
    Why couldn’t Ariel just kill Julius now? Nadia couldn’t protect him anymore. There would be no one to hurt him or his mother, if Julius was gone. Brayden’s heart beat rapidly. Maybe this was it! Maybe this was the answer!
    “Ariel!” he cried. “Kill him! Now’s your chance!”
    Julius laughed. “I’m protected, boy. There’s magic in the metal which binds her. She can’t use her magic on me, not while I have this.”
    He reached into his pocket, and produced a shimmering silver stone. He put it away again, and Brayden stared at him. Then realization hit. That’s what the flash of light was about — something about the metal strips which held Ariel prevented her from using her magic on Julius, while he had the silver stone. It was all over.
    He shut his eyes, and thought his last thoughts.
    It was all so soon. He was so young. To die, now, right when he’d found his love — right when his life gained so much more meaning, was unbearable. And there was so much he wanted to do — he wanted to grow old, he wanted to have children, he wanted a life . He would have nothing, now. It was all over. And who would care for his mother, in her old age? Who would support her? He was leaving behind an unfinished mess, and he had so much he wanted to learn, to prove, to find out. So much he wanted to be. He wanted to grow. He wanted to live.
    And Ariel. She would be turned. No one could go through the pain she was about to suffer and not stop it. He didn’t blame her — he didn’t hate her. That’s why he said he forgave her. She wouldn’t care, once she was turned, but in that moment when she killed him, he wanted her to know he wasn’t angry with her. She was everything to him. The thought of Julius having her...if only he could be stopped! If only he could be killed! But it was too late.
    Brayden heard a grinding sound, and his eyes flew open. Julius was turning a wheel at the back of the machine. The ropes and pulleys began to move, making the blades turn. Julius kept winding, then let go of the wheel. The machine continued to work, making a thundering sound, the workings rumbling, the blades screeching. They spun rapidly, their jagged edges a blur. Ariel began to cry, squirming beneath them.
    Julius walked to the side of the machine and put his hand on the large lever. He grasped hold of it, then pulled it down, very slightly. The roof lowered a little towards Ariel. The spinning blades became a