Storykiller Read Online Free PDF Page B

the couch. She made the mistake of glancing at the stairs. Understanding broke across his ugly face.
    She saw it and opened her mouth to scream for The Scion but only got out the first half before he hit her across the face with a silver serving tray.
     

     
    Tessa spun around as Snow let loose a scream loud enough to practically tear out all the windows in the house.
    “SCIIIIIIIOOOO—“
    But it cut off abruptly, as if Snow had been silenced. Tessa looked into the hallway and heard someone coming up the stairs. Whoever it was, they sounded big. Tessa nodded at the three of them to help one another, and then kicked Micah the keys again before going into the hallway. Tessa gripped the bat with both hands and planted her feet some distance ahead of the door, fully prepared to take his head off if it came to it. Though she definitely hoped it wouldn’t.
    As he reached the top of the stairs, she drew in a breath. He was indeed big. Broad-shouldered and at least six foot four with a face that looked like it had already been hit with a bat today. His dark-blue, bushy beard looked like he had slept face-first in a basket of blueberries. Tessa drew in a breath.
    “So then, that is a literal blue beard we’re talking about,” she said. A flash of rage swallowed up his face and he ran at her. There was no room to swing the bat in the narrow hallway, so Tessa thrust it in front of her and ran toward him as if it was a tiny battering ram and he, a castle gate. She swore that there was a hint of happiness in his eyes as she came at him. A second later, she understood why as he deflected her with seeming ease. She went crashing into the stairs that led to the next level.
    Tessa nailed one of the steps with her chin and her jaw snapped shut with such force she was shocked her teeth didn’t shatter. Rather than turning over to fight, she pushed herself up and ran up the stairs to the third level, hoping he would follow. He did but he was too fast, managing to grab her ankle just as she neared the top of the flight and yanking her back down a few steps. She came down on her jaw again, nearly shattering her teeth a second time. Tessa cursed under her breath and rolled onto her back just as he came at her. She was barely able to get her foot up in time to kick him in the gut, sending him flying down the stairs backwards. He landed with a crash but was back on his feet almost instantly. She groaned and scrambled up the last few stairs. She’d lost her bat on the second level and she looked around frantically for a new weapon.
    At the other end of the hall, a pair of swords hung on the wall, all decorative and shining. Tessa tried to make a run for them but as she launched herself across the long hall, Bluebeard’s hand came up the stairs. Unfortunately, the rest of his body followed. Tessa lurched to a halt and backed up a few paces, looking around desperately. Short of a table with a bright green vase on her left, there was nothing but drywall.
    “I knew this was a good idea,” he said, standing up straight and taking Tessa in, his face both amused and utterly unimpressed.
    “What idea?” Tessa asked, unsure.
    “Grabbing your little pals to flush you out. I mean, look at you. So green. Totally untrained. Word is spreading from Story to Story about you like wildfire.”
    “And the word is?” Tessa asked, gritting her teeth.
    “Well, there are a few, but first and foremost that you’re a girl, and thus The Last of the Scions. And if you’re the last, then killing you will close the border to Story. And I like this world. I like it very much. If I can end you, I can close the dimension border and never have to worry about Story coming to drag me back, kicking and screaming.”
    Tessa blinked, she hadn’t actually expected a villain-esque soliloquy.
    Bluebeard smiled wider and added, “Someone also might have mentioned that you were like a stupid baby lamb, ready for slaughter,” he said, shrugging. Tessa narrowed her eyes