Prologue

Christine

I collapsed, and my head slammed into the marble floor. The fast and potent blow reminded me that I wasn’t the strongest thing in the room. It also reminded me of why I’d come to fear dark and ancient forces.

For a peaceful moment, I watched the sparkling chandelier dance and sway over my head as the glass trembled from the same force that had taken me down. It sounded like thousands of tiny bells, tolling for me.

I heard my mother singing me to sleep. I heard my father belting out a love song in a club. I heard Nate’s soft voice telling me he loved me for the first time.

I love you more. I have loved you for days. I will love you forever.

That was my life, the wonderful parts, flashing before my eyes.

I coughed up blood. It flowed onto the marble floor, and the lights from the trembling chandelier made it glisten like something magical was inside of it.

Cold hands clutched my throat and pulled me to my feet.

“Be quick,” a voice said. “You’ll have to kill her twice.”