The Witch Born to Smoulder (Inferno Book 4), стр. 38

‘Death would be too easy for you,’ said Noah, a deep red stain spreading over his face. ‘Arrest her!’

The police sprang into action, but so did I. Within me, I mustered the power of wind, which I sent out in all directions, throwing the police hard against the walls. Slowly, I walked to Noah, who was splayed out against the wall, his eyes wide.

Flames danced in my hands. I stepped closer so that I could see the bright brown of his eyes. I raised my hands to his face, and the flames licked his skin. He tried to move, to scream, but he was frozen to the spot. I leaned in closer and whispered in his ear. ‘The only place you will ever see me again is in your nightmares.’

Then I turned and ran, the corridor narrowing as I drew closer to the town hall. From behind me, the guards collapsed onto the ground, crying out in pain. In front of me, guards began yelling, issuing instructions. There was only one word that was unmistakable: witch!

I stopped when I reached the entrance to the main room underneath the town hall. The place was crawling with cops dressed from head to toe in black uniforms. The crackling in the air was palpable – they sensed me – they craved my death.

Violet!

I scanned the room, but she was nowhere to be seen. From a distance, I heard a chant. It was faint, but the words were undeniable.

WITCH! WITCH! KILL THE WITCH!

My blood felt as though it caught alight. Violet’s trial was over. Her fate had been decided. The people of Melas were thirsting for her death; a woman who wouldn’t harm a soul.

I stepped into the room and cleared my throat, and all eyes turned towards me.

‘Did someone say “witch”?’ I scanned the men, the weapons and the stairwell that led up into the town hall – and outside to where they would be holding Violet.

Within seconds, every gun was pointed in my direction.

I strode forward, commotion breaking out all around me.

‘Eva, Eva, Eva,’ said Max, stepping out from the shadows. ‘So good of you to save us the trouble of hunting you down.’

Max’s eyes shone as if he were burning up with a fever. In that moment, I remembered all the times he’d intruded into my life, bullied me, harassed me.

‘You think you’re hunting me?’ I said before bursting into laughter.

The smile slipped from Max’s face.

‘You think I’m the same weak little Eva, do you, Max?’ I took a step towards him.

‘Arrest her!’ said Max, his gaze darting to the closest police officers.

Within seconds, four men were running towards me.

I shrugged before surrounding myself with a circle of fire. The policemen ran into the flames, then screamed as they rolled on the ground, their clothes aflame. All around me, all hell broke loose.

I stepped through the fire, towards the stairs.

‘And where do you think you’re going?’ said Max, raising his gun.

I fired a fireball at his gun, setting his hand alight. The room filled with the stench of burning skin. I kept walking, making it a few metres before another burly man charged at me. My wind blasted him and all of his cronies against the wall, clearing a path for me. As I reached the stairs, I heard another arrive at the entrance. I swung around to see Noah fire a gun at me.

A strong blast of my wind stopped the bullet and sent it back to where it had come from, narrowly missing Noah, whom I’d pinned against the wall.

‘Is that the best you’ve got?’ I shook my head as I walked up the circular stairwell that led to a manhole in the ceiling.

‘Bye-bye,’ I said, then pushed open the manhole, stepped through and started a fire that sat above the manhole, should someone manage to open it.

I stood and found myself directly under the glass apex of the dome. It was the same room where I’d been tested for witchcraft what felt like a lifetime ago. I gazed around the room, but it was empty. Outside, the chanting grew louder, more frenzied.

I strode towards the entrance that faced the town square where Violet would be held – where Orpheus would no doubt be waiting for me to show up.

The guards at the exit to the town square were looking towards what was taking place outside. They didn’t see me slip past them and hide in the shadows of the building. My heart stopped as I took in the scene before me.

There, standing on a platform, a rope around her neck, was Violet. Her tiny body shook, but her face was calm; she was ready to face her death. Orpheus stood beside her. They were alone on the platform. The crowd was going berserk, calling for her death.

Bile rose in my throat, and flames began dancing on my body.

I stepped out of the shadows and screamed, ‘Violet!’

Violet and Orpheus turned towards me.

‘Eva! Go!’ yelled Violet.

The crowd became silent before turning towards me, a murmur breaking out. I walked forward, blasting the police officers who ran at me with wind, pushing them to the ground. The crowd parted and I strode towards the platform.

‘Eva – I’ve been waiting for you,’ boomed Orpheus.

I stopped and created two fireballs, one in each hand.

‘Release her!’ I yelled, my voice like a monster’s, my hair rising from my scalp.

Orpheus glanced at the fireballs and then at Violet.

‘If you hand yourself in, I will release Violet.’

‘Don’t do it, Eva,’ yelled Violet, before being slapped across the face by Orpheus. She tried to touch her face, but her hands were tied.

‘If you hurt her again, I will kill you,’ I said, sending a fireball flying just past Orpheus’s head, making the crowd scream and Orpheus duck.

‘Do we have a deal?’ asked Orpheus, pushing Violet forward so that she stood on the edge of the platform. One shove, and she would fall forward and her neck would break. Could I make