“What if he wakes up?”
Sunshine hardened her heart to any mercy she might once have shown. At one time, she would have been horrified at what she intended to do, but now, there was no room for softness.
She would do whatever it took to keep those she loved safe, no matter how terrible.
She looked at Eva and said, “I plan to ensure that never happens.”
31
Paint The Town Red
Raum regained consciousness to the sound of muttering, ominous thudding, and…squelching? Eyes closed, he frowned, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
“Make sure the pieces are tiny… Can’t risk regeneration…”
He was lying on his back, and his body felt…pretty damn good, all things considered. He’d broken through an Empyrean sigil, liquified his insides, and then melted his hands off with a consecrated weapon.
But he was fine besides a faint headache and a bone-deep weariness that made him want to sink into a dreamless sleep for a good twelve hours.
Sunshine.He needed to make sure she was okay. He forced his eyes open.
Above, he saw a rotted ceiling with water stains and exposed pipes. He turned his head, and…his eyes shot wide.
Sunshine was there, moving quickly and muttering to herself. She appeared to have healed—her wings were straight again, and she moved without the sluggishness of pain. But that wasn’t what made him stare in shock.
She wielded Raphael’s sword…and was in the process of cutting him into pieces.
Tiny little pieces.
It was like something out of a slasher movie. Sunshine’s white angel robes were spattered with blood and gore, and Raphael looked like a slab of meat at a butcher, his head, arms, legs, and torso all severed. As Raum watched, Sunshine lifted the sword above her head and brought it down hard, cleaving another chunk of mutilated flesh.
Raum jerked upright, ignoring his pounding head. He couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing, and it took another moment of staring for it to sink in.
“Sunshine?”
She stopped and turned around. Her eyes were wide, a littletoowide, and she offered a slightly crazed smile. “Oh good, you’re awake. Just rest while I finish up here.”
Like hell.Raum climbed to his feet, waited until he was steady, and then placed himself between her and Raphael’s…parts. “What are you doing?” He wanted to shout, but he kept his tone carefully level.
“I have to kill him.” She leaned around him as though impatient to get back to her slaughter. “It’s not safe otherwise. There’s no choice.”
“But…why are you cutting him up?”
“He’ll regenerate. He’s already regenerating. He’s too powerful. I need time to draw the heavenfire sigil. It can take hours to properly incinerate a body, and it’s been a long time since I’ve drawn one, and I—”
“Sunshine.”
“—can’t quite remember how to do it. I need more time. There isn’t enough—”
“Sunshine.” Stepping closer, he gently grasped her wrist. “Drop the sword.”
“I need it! There’s no time—”
Gripping her shoulders, he turned her to face him. “Sunshine, look at me.”
Her face was turned away, gaze fixed on the blade she still hadn’t dropped, so he grasped her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met. She seemed to freeze in place, and finally, he caught a glimpse of the fear in her eyes.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “You’re okay.”
