of both arms . Mouth opening , fangs showing , she lapped at the wave of blood that drenched her as it arced from his still standing body .
His head hit the floor and , propelled by jetting blood , it rolled slowly across the floorboards . His eyes blinked .
Mine !
From their divergent viewpoints , Richard and Mercy watched the black cloud of particles swarm through the gape in his unobstructed neck and aim at Mercy . It reached her face and flew through her eyes , her mouth , her nose and her ears-
Mercy screamed and tore at her face .
Richard jerked upright in Mercy ’ s bedchamber . His hands flew to his neck . Oxygen ; the means to communicate – if not continue living , leaked through his open mouth . Blue human eyes , deep as all seven seas combined , or so he ’ d been told , drowned in panic .
Die in glamour , die for real . Mercy hadn ’ t , petulance pointed out . He wasn ’ t Mercy !! And that was his problem .
“ It won ’ t end if I don ’ t allow it to .” He pushed his new mantra through his lips , almost believing it may save him .
Almost .
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