The Devil Wears a Signature Ring

t once befo

etonation in Isla's chest

speak. Coul

ing in his hand glinted beneath the chandelier, identical to Luca's, i

st

she wh

crowd murmured like a sea of silk and secrets, rising with interes

step back.

ut the shadows were thick and unfamiliar.

k a step

bol

than the show floor-crumbling plaster, faded bloodstains on the

care. She h

like skin. She tried to ri

e hell

ner and ran stra

grabbed her wrist and yank

go," she p

We're no

ng. Where

vering the exi

er bend-and ran st

time, he w

s face nearly broug

s Mo

iv

thirties. Golden brown skin. Same storm-gre

than u

s fam

boy whispering a lullaby. A marble hallway. A woman crying into

mbled b

ou're

d calmly. "I'm yo

lade from her hai

r voice thin. "I n

" Elias said gently.

ked you

he ring before Luca. Because society want

re ly

rib? The one shaped like a crescent?

s one she'd asked every doctor

you want

you were before the fire. Before the or

ed into

ed forward,

didn't dra

out a ph

tanding in front of

rl was

boy-

d on the back in a

lian. 19

ees ga

sed agains

before she could

possible," s

it

hear the song. The l

e singing it

he could breathe again. "Why

side her. "Becaus

y for

kind of bearer

ant to be

e moment you entered this world. Th

ed at hi

rer. She wore it to her fina

abric at her chest,

e ring?" she asked.

to protect what's l

mean.

top until you accept your

e theater h

stood restored. Lights glowed in the windows. Music drifte

as a

alley behind the building

leaving,"

You're not thi

t man was

l could

cus. In flashes, yes

then, silent as death. His ja

him," s

nod

nd

dang

my bro

sn't make

one to

cked in Luca'

hat," he sa

wh

e enemy. I've k

ept me in

at to pro

From the tru

voice low and full of

"Well, it's too lat

ing at her ring. "Y

stood alone in the dressing

nted i

ted it

the fabric tightened, clinging

ssors and tried

ades s

flection watched her

hurled the mirror

dn't

d, it

epped

himmered-an

tion stepp

wasn'

photograph. The one who

mo

d out h

ed toward

the mirror's surface, eve