Read jinn 03 - vestige for Free Online Page B

have been that. All I had to do was say the words that would destroy her and it would all be over: I’m sorry that I ever met you. True or not, she wouldn’t stay. How could she?
    I looked at the picture. I had kept it so long, kept it even when it was foolish to hope. It was everything I wanted and everything I repeatedly failed to hold onto.
    “Don’t you dare walk away from me,” she said. This time her voice wasn’t soft or watery. It was hard and angry. “I’m so tired, Holden. Exhausted, actually, trying to figure out what you want. Just talk to me.”
    I turned around. Light poured from her wounds, but she stood erect, her shoulders squared and fists clenched, ready for a fight. “Do you want to know what I’m really sorry for, Liv ?”
    Her jaw hardened and she shook her head, but said, “Tell me.”
    The corner of my mouth lifted. I knew somewhere deep inside that what I was about to do was wrong. Words once said could never be taken back. No matter what happened they would always be in the back of her mind, taunting her, feeding any doubts. However, it was too late. I couldn’t stop myself. “I wish I never met you.” The words came out cold and measured.
    She didn’t react right away, then she nodded. “What else?” She took a step toward me. “That can’t be all. You can do better than that. Tell me what you really think. Let me have it. I can take it.”
    There were no tears. No expression at all on her battered face or behind her hollow eyes. She seemed to dare me, like she wanted to be hurt.
    “I wish we hadn’t killed the angel. At least she was useful—and could take care of herself. I wish I walked away.” I moved forward as I spoke, flames licking at my skin. “I wish I didn’t have to listen to you whine, and that I wasn’t so bored every time you speak. I wish you were prettier and smarter, so I would find you less tedious.” I searched for the right button, the one that would make her react. I was close enough to touch her now. I leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I wish I chose Juliet.”
    She flinched, but still her head nodded. “Is that all you have?” she said, though her voice broke, betraying her.
    Bingo.
    “You have done nothing, but hold me back since the day I met you. You have been nothing but a curse on my life.”
    She looked up and lifted her trembling hands. I waited for her to slap me—I wanted her to—but she just kept nodding. Then she pushed through the flames and clasped my face in her hands. Her touch was ice cold, her fingers weak and boney. And those blue eyes of hers, haloed in gold, met mine without a trace of anger. “Thank you.” Her voice was quiet and broken. “No matter what happens, know that I always loved you. And always will.”
    Was this goodbye? Was this really how we were going to end?
    Her lips pressed against my face, and then her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed onto the floor. The light grew bolder and brighter around her, and she dimmed further and further from my mind. Every ounce of anger drained out of me. This wasn’t a fight. We weren’t just breaking up. She was dying. I sank to the floor next to her and lifted her limp arm.
    “Quintus,” I shouted with my mouth, mind, and heart, but nothing happened. He didn’t come. Her body was fading. I transported to the door and stepped outside, calling for him again, then went back to her. She was even worse, so faint that she was almost not there at all.
    Seconds later Quintus ran in. “Has she declined further?” he asked, before he saw her. His tan face blanched and he dropped to his knees next to her. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?” he said as he lifted her wrist, but he wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to her.
    Waves of light pumped into her until she took form again, both in my mind and on the ground. Her eyelids fluttered against her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with ragged breath. Quintus picked her up and carried her to the bedroom,