Chapter 13 - The Price of Redemption
With the last fading reserve of his physical strength, Julian wrapped his fingers around the jagged glass neck of the bottle.
He drove the sharp, broken glass upward with everything he had left.
STAB!
The jagged glass buried itself deeply into the soft tissue beneath Valentina’s left collarbone.
Valentina gasped—a sharp, sudden intake of air that sounded like a vacuum. Her grip on his throat instantly loosened. Her bloodshot eyes widened in absolute, disbelieving shock as she looked down at the dark red crimson blooming rapidly across the front of her black silk dress.
Julian shoved her heavy body off him, coughing violently as air rushed back into his starved lungs. He rolled over onto his hands and knees, gasping, his throat burning like fire.
Valentina collapsed onto her back against the damp stone floor. Her hands moved weakly to the wound in her chest, her breathing becoming quick, shallow, and wet.
"Julian..." she whispered, her croaking voice barely audible over the roaring fire that was now creeping down the wooden stairs at the end of the hall. Thick, black smoke began to roll along the stone ceiling above them like a dark, living cloud.
Julian stood up on trembling legs. He did not look back at her eyes. He did not offer comfort, medical assistance, or forgiveness. The doctor in her was dead; the monster in her had bled out.
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He reached down, picked up Lily into his arms, and pulled her head against his chest so she wouldn't see the body on the floor.
"It's over, Lily," Julian choked out, his voice hoarse and raw. "It's over."
