Chapter 45: Marco's Last Stand

Sonia picked Arabella up, holding her to her chest. She glanced at Isaac and Marco, still grappling each other in the center of the room.

"Promise me," Sonia said. "Promise me that when this inevitably gets out of control, you will run."

"I can't promise that," said Lavinia sadly. "Now go."

Sonia nodded and stood up. She darted out the archway and her footsteps disappeared down the hall. Lavinia stayed where she was, still gripping the fireplace poker. Neither Isaac nor Marco was looking at her. Quickly, she pulled herself towards the fire pit.

Lavinia ripped the ribbon from her neck and pulled off Isaac's ring. She pressed it on to the tip of the poker, twisting it until it stuck fast. She thrust it into the middle of the flames.

"Come on, come on" she watched the ring start to change color, starting to change shape around the poker. The fire was superheated, enchanted from the spattering of Rosie's blood. She looked back to the ongoing fight. Marco had pressed Isaa