The Part Two finale of our queer dark switchblade-and-sorcery novel, Those Who Create and Destroy, is here.
Chapter 47, “Helena,” reveals new hope for a once-doomed friendship; the Nihilites’ under-city lair; Cyrano’s long-delayed choice; and Hunter’s dreadful secret power.
Download the full Part One free for e-reader to start back at the beginning.
CHAPTER
FORTY-SEVEN
“Helena”
story by Mabel Harper & Emrys Webb
written by Emrys Webb
VIEW CONTENT WARNING
Rory stirred awake from his nap, popped his neck, switched the track on his MP3 player from “Waiting, Thinking, Giving Up” by Balance and Composure to “I Just Want to Be Pure.” Glanced over from his spot curled up in the armchair at Max, who lay silently in her bed—whether awake or asleep, he could no longer tell.
Jules had paid a visit to the Enclave last night after the incident, spirited a cold-iron-reinforced straitjacket out of the psych ward in Medicinal Magic (“Flashed my Martial Magus seal to the admin on duty. Luckily for me, she didn’t ask questions”). Max had lain here ever since, bound up in the restraint like a mummy.
Her face was still recognizably hers, but so badly marred it made Rory’s skin crawl every time he looked at it. Her flesh was sallow and shot through with inky veins, her eye sockets two large, ghoulish gashes of fathomless black. Several times throughout the day, Rory had caught himself wondering, with a shiver, if she might not still be conscious somewhere—just not here. Trapped on the other side.
He sighed, stretched, popped out his earbuds.
Perked up at the distant sound of Jules’s key in the lock.
Several seconds later, soft footsteps approached in the hall.
FORM AND VOID 