“That is pretty, but there is no way—” Arkdone began.
“What are your terms?” Williams interrupted, holding his open palm out to still Arkdone’s tongue.
“If our champion wins, you lay down your arms, leave Texas with willing soldiers—and allow anyone who wishes, to stay in peace. You will further agree to never, ever make contact with any of the Winter Clan, ever again.”
“And if our champion wins?” Arkdone’s black eyes glistened.
Meg flinched, swallowed hard, then nearly whispered. “If your champion wins, the ground will split open and swallow us whole.” Her voice was haunted by the gravity of the truth she spoke.
“Poetic, but not at all precise,” Arkdone sneered, all pleasantries shoved violently to the side.
“If your champion defeats ours, we will comply in turn. We’ll lay down our arms against you and your endeavors. You’ll never hear from us again, ever.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“What more do you want?”
Arkdone’s movements were so rapid, Meg barely followed his blurring trail as he darted toward her and leaned down to hiss into her face. “Blood.”
Meg nodded slowly, refusing to let the demon’s eyes bore holes through her soul. “You’ll have your blood. Every last drop of mine, but only mine. After I see all of my family and our allies allowed to leave peacefully, I’ll leave with you—submit myself to your hands. All I ask is that you return my body to my family so they will know not to keep searching for me.”
“With you gone, what would stop them from breaking your bargain and resuming their quest to interfere?”
Meg shrugged, “Record me explaining the terms of this agreement. I’ll make it clear to them they are not to seek revenge else the terms of the agreement are void. They’ll be incensed, but will comply. Too many lives are at stake not to.”
Arkdone exchanged looks with Williams who had stepped forward to stand beside him enjoying the battle of wills.
“That sounds fair,” he cooed in her ear. He slipped his glove off his bloody hand and reached out to stroke Meg’s dark curls as they tumbled recklessly down her back.
“How do I trust you to hold your end of the bargain when you’ve only ever shown me duplicity?”
“Simple,” Meg narrowed her stare, enunciating each word clearly. “I choose myself as champion.”
Arkdone threw his head back, his laughter echoing off inanimate objects strangled by the predawn’s shadowy light. As though nature herself had been gagged and duct-taped, the world hung in abject horror.
Meg barely breathed.
“Funny you should say that, child.” He glanced to Williams. A conspirator’s smile pulled at the corners of his aristocratic mouth. “Funny because we have chosen our champion, too.”
“Have we?” Williams looked up and blinked, genuinely interested in the conversation. His attentions had been diverted by the sensation of Meg’s supple curls wrapping around his fingers.
“We have,” Arkdone smirked in Meg’s face.
“Who have we chosen?”
“Why, me of course.” Arkdone’s humor died instantly. “It only seems fair,” he added. “She can’t use her mind manipulation on me, nor can she order anyone else to aid her in her battle with me,” he grinned demonically, “because that would be against the rules.” He prowled slowly around her, so close she could feel his black tar-like aura assaulting her psychic senses.
“I propose we dispense with the firearms,” he motioned to her guns.
Meg looked around at the faces of the soldiers surrounding her. Their weapons glistened in the starlight.
“And what of those firearms?”
Arkdone nodded, “Of course,” he raised his hands and spun to address the awestruck audience that had formed. “This fight is only between the girl and me. No one is to intervene at all.”
“How exciting,” Williams chirped, “my Meg a contender in her first Retribution Match!” He clapped his hands excitedly. “I’ve been waiting years for this!”
Arkdone glanced over at his clearly demented cohort. “When this is all over, Kenneth, you may need to take a vacation at my hospital for a while. It would do you some good.”
The delight in Williams’ eyes snapped. Instantly the bloody-faced scientist snatched off his joker’s mask and stared at Arkdone with dead eyes. Meg saw his aura swarming with black locust.
“Tread carefully, Donovan,” he spat, barely containing the violent undercurrent behind his words.
Arkdone rolled his eyes. “Just offering.”
He turned his attention back to Meg, “Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Well, in the true spirit of your Retribution Matches, neither of us should have access to any weapons. Isn’t that right, Dr. Williams?”
“Hand-to-hand combat only. Kill or be killed.” Williams repeated the well-known rules robotically.