Page 224 of Savage Throne
“Ghosts.” I came back over with Soaring Precious. “My mother and sister. Your parents. Chanel and Romeo.”
Moni’s voice screeched. “My mom? My dad?”
“Yes. Right next to you.”
She glanced to the side. “I love you, Mom. . .Dad too. . .”
“It might just be the poison.”
“I don’t care.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I just wanted them to know.”
Sadness filled my heart.
Her bottom lip quivered. “Maybe, they are here.”
I turned my attention back to my father and raised Soaring Precious in the air.
A tear slid down his cheek as he looked up at me. “You see your mother and sister?”
“They’re next to you.”
“What did they say?” He coughed. The sound was wet and painful.
“Mom isn’t mad that I’m doing this. Yan says she will deal with you later.”
“Then. . .I’ll see them?”
“I think so. . .”
Blood bubbled at the corner of his mouth. His gaze flicked up to the sky. “Thank God. How merciful He is. I do not deserve His love, yet He blesses me. . .”
My vision blurred but I did my best to not cry.
My father put his view on me. “I lost my way.”
The fighting stopped in the stands.
All watched us.
My father continued. “Somewhere. . .the path unwound into darkness.”
I kept the sword steady and began to lower it toward him.
He put his view on Moni. “That happens to heroes in stories, doesn’t it? The second act, or maybe the third act. I’m not sure. . .”
Whispers carried off in the stands.
A few people loudly sobbed.
More crows appeared around us and landed.
“But now I wonder if. . .this may not bemyhero’s journey.” He moved his gaze to me. “Instead. . .am I the villain of this story?”
The words hit me like a blow but I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t.
I stood over him and let the tip of Soaring Precious blade get close to his throat.
