CHAPTER 34

One moment I was standing in the park, electrocuting everything in sight, and the next I found myself stumbling up the stairs to my apartment, having no recollection of how I’d gotten there. The last thing I remembered was the violent jolt of electricity ripping through my body. And then the pain. Pain like I’d never experienced before. It stole my ability to scream.

Then there was nothing.

And now I was home. Safe. For the moment. I wasn’t sure what time it was. Day had long ago turned to night by the dim glow of the 40-watt bulbs in the hallway. I took the stairs slowly, my body refusing my brain’s simplest commands.

Halfway up, I slid down the wall, resting while my heart slammed wildly in my chest. I really needed to cut down on the smokes. And electrocutions, apparently.

After ten minutes I regained my balance, climbing the rest of the flight of stairs to my apartment. When I reached the top step I froze. My apartment door stood open. The hair on the back of my neck rose as electrical current cycled through me.

In a flash my exhaustion vanished, replaced with a hit of adrenaline so strong my hands shook. I crept forward, searching my pockets for my really big gun and not finding it. Damn. I must’ve left it at the park.

At the edge of the doorway I listened for any sign of trouble. Not a peep sounded from inside. Not good. When I’d left this morning Izzy was asleep on the couch and now I wondered if she was dead. Murdered on my watch because I’d failed to protect her. Again.

My heart swelled with fear, thumping loud enough for the wicked witch down the hallway to hear. I took a calming breath, which didn’t help in the least. I had to face whatever was inside. I owed it to Izzy. I kicked the door all the way open, hoping to draw the fire of whoever waited inside.

Nothing happened.

I stepped into the room, keeping my back against the wall. Everywhere I looked lay destruction. The couch, minus my pink-winged fairy, bled yellow stuffing along the floor. Clothes, blankets, and glass bottles were scattered everywhere.

I glanced toward my bedroom. Izzy’s suitcase sat on the floor where I’d left it after my search. But someone had ripped the contents apart. Lacy bits lay strewn around without care.

Amid all the devastation, what bothered me most wasn’t the mindless violence and destruction but what wasn’t there.

Isabella.

My heart pounded even harder as I walked through the mess, stopping just outside the bedroom.

Something warned me not to go in there.

Ignoring my gut, I stepped inside and stifled a shriek. There, partially obscured by my open closet door, hung a pair of wings.