The witch’s lips twisted into something that vaguely resembled a smile, and Baer’s fingers tightened on the shotgun. “We’ve been down this road so many times before.”
“And we’ve beaten you each time.”
The witch’s smile grew wider, revealing pointed teeth like that of a piranha. Her eyes glowed red, and the pestilents around her shifted restlessly. “You’ve never met something like me. I am Ardette, queen of all beasts on this planet. If I wanted, I could send every animal on this land mass to attack you. My army of men would never have to broach your pathetic barrier.” Lifting one hand, she slowly stroked the horse’s long white neck, but the animal didn’t react to her touch. It was under her spell.
“But the killing…this war…it has gone on for so very long. Countless losses on both sides. I’ve lost my family to my dying world. Two sweet daughters and a husband who loved me,” she continued. Putting her hand in her lap, she locked eyes with Baer. “This is all new for you, but the Circle has lost much, I’m sure. You’ve all died countless times. Were there lifetimes where you loved? Or maybe even had families of your own?”
“Any families we might have will be killed if you win. If your planet survives, ours dies. That’s not a solution. Your people need to find another way to save yourselves.”
Ardette gave a little shrug of her slim shoulders. “Unfortunate, but we thought it was a cost we were willing to pay to save our people.”
“You’re not paying the cost. We are!” Baer shouted.
The witch made a small dismissive motion with her hand as if she couldn’t be bothered with such details. “We all know who will win this war. The Circle will be defeated. Those so-called goddesses will be crushed into dust. But it doesn’t have to be so bloody. Such a waste.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Baer snapped. There was something about her cool tone that was crawling over his skin like a thousand millipedes.
“We could continue as we have. I’ll send animals and you will kill them. Slaughter hundreds upon hundreds of poor innocent creatures just like you have with the rats and the snakes. Eventually, they will get through your defenses and you’ll be picked off one by one.” She stopped and licked her lips. “Or one of you can walk away now.”
“What the fuck…” Clay started.
“The Circle can’t stop us if you’re incomplete. Just slip away in the night when they’re all asleep.” Her glowing eyes moved from Baer to Clay. “Escape with someone you care for. Protect their life. Live away from here. A long, full life. We won’t hunt you. Can you imagine it? A long, safe life with the one you love.”
Baer hated himself because for one full heartbeat, he considered it. He could load Wiley up in his Jeep with Ruby and Queenie around three in the morning after everyone was asleep. By sunrise, they could be hundreds of miles away. By sunset, several states away. Wiley would be safe. He’d have so many nights of holding him, laughing with him, and protecting him.
But no matter how much he wanted to keep Wiley safe, he knew he’d never leave his brothers. Even if he got fifty years with Wiley, what kind of a life would it be? The Earth would still be dying, and he would have abandoned his brothers.
“Fuck off, Ardette. No one here will take your offer,” Baer snarled.
“Bring your worst. I promise, you won’t survive this,” Clay added.
An ugly laugh trickled up Ardette’s throat, and the other pestilents joined in. Baer’s fingers twitched on the trigger guard, fear urging him to just put a slug in her head right now. Except he wasn’t sure if that would release all the coyotes waiting just a few yards away. He and Clay didn’t have enough ammo to take care of them, and there was no way they could outrun the coyotes to the safety of the house.
“Oh, don’t worry! I will, and the Circle will be destroyed yet again. I will see your precious home burned to ashes before the end of this. You will be nothing!” She stopped and laughed again. “But I thought I’d be kind this one time. Give you a chance now that you’ve gotten a taste of what you face. It’s too late to run now.”
Pressing her heel into the horse’s flank, she turned the dull-eyed creature and headed down the road the way she came. Without hesitation, the coyotes and the pestilents all did the same. There was no attack, but they didn’t need to. Ardette had made it very clear that she had the advantage in this fight.
“We’re fucked,” Baer breathed the moment the army was a dwindling black spec on the horizon.