The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Author:Rachel Vincent
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2016-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

“The baby can’t be coming,” Meshara insisted calmly, staring at her contorting stomach. “It’s too early.”

“That’s not up to you.” Fear plucked at my nerve endings like the strings of a guitar. What was I supposed to do with a demon in labor? Even if she safely delivered her “human shield,” enabling me to exorcise her from my sister’s body, what could possibly come next? My soul would do the poor child no good if there was no one there to take care of it once I was gone.

Minutes after the birth, I would be sitting alone in the middle of the badlands with the bodies of my sister and her baby.

Of all the ways I’d pictured the birth going horribly wrong, this wasn’t one of them.

Panic sharpened my thoughts like the lens of a camera, blurring everything on the periphery so I could focus on the most important part. One thing at a time, Nina. The baby comes first. Even if it would only live for a few minutes.

I twisted in my seat, angling my bound wrists toward the demon. “Cut me loose so I can help you.”

Meshara ignored my order, still ogling her belly in detached fascination. “Is he trying to rip his way out the hard way?” She reached for the lever on the side of the driver’s seat, then pushed the whole chair back to put more space between herself and the steering wheel.

“It’s not like there’s an easy way.” I tore my gaze away from her belly to study her face. “Can’t you feel that?”

She shook her head, and Melanie’s pale hair fell over her right shoulder. “It’s like I’m watching the whole thing from the outside. How long has this been going on?”

“How am I supposed to know?” I sank back into the passenger’s seat, trapping my hands against the upholstery as anger swelled to rival the fear already storming inside me. I wanted Meshara to deliver my niece or nephew screaming in agony the whole time. Then I wanted to fry her from my sister’s body with my left hand while I cradled the baby in my right.

Was that too much to ask?

“You’re supposed to be in a lot of pain right now!”

“No, I’m supposed to be in a brand-new body with no appreciable stomach, perfect vision, and me as the only parasite!” Her eyes were wide and she kept blinking, as if to clear her sight, but I still saw no sign of pain. “With any luck, we’ll be in Pandemonia long before the damn thing pops out.” She slid the seat forward again and slammed her stomach into the wheel to punctuate her dissatisfaction.

Anger bubbled up from deep inside me. “Be careful!”

“Let’s be clear!” Meshara grabbed my chin and squeezed it mercilessly, glaring at me with eyes that held all of the color and expression of Melanie’s yet none of the warmth. “I don’t give a shit about this little uterine leech.” To demonstrate, she punched her stomach with her free hand.

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