Template:Featured Articles/25-2018
 Topaz wasn't paying attention to what anyone was saying. She still hadn't taken her eyes off the spot where she had watched the zombie - her mother - burn, not even after Wanda had covered it. It was Taboo's sobbing which finally pulled her out of her reverie, and she turned her head almost mechanically, fixing her gaze on him. She had been prepared to let Amanda kill him - it had even been part of the plan, before that of course had gone straight to hell. And there was part of her that was still screaming to let Amanda do whatever she wanted. He didn't deserve to live. This was all his fault. But... Topaz shrugged Amanda's hand off her shoulder, finally turning and walking slowly to the huddled form on the ground. Adam had done a number on him. It might have been kinder to put him out of his misery. She knelt down, one knee resting on the blood soaked ground, the other coming to her chest. "You know what," she said, locking eyes with him and speaking just loud enough for everyone to hear. "No one's going to kill you. Not today. Because that's what you want, isn't it?" She looked over her shoulder at Wanda's jacket, knowing what was under it, then back at Taboo. "You'd rather be dead than live without her. And why should you get what you want? Why should you be allowed to have peace when the rest of us have to live with the consequences of what you did? Why should you get away so easily? You don't deserve that. You can wake up every morning and remember the pain you put your wife through, just because you were too selfish to let her go. You can close your eyes every night and listen to her screaming echo in your head for the rest of your life, however long or short that may be. I'll tell you what, though." She paused, reaching into Taboo's jacket pocket and extracting his cell phone. Somehow, it had survived. She pressed a button to bring the lock screen to life, holding it up so Taboo could see the picture of Clea and Stephen. "If you ever go near these two again, you won't have to worry about Amanda Sefton, and you won't have to worry about Adam Destine, because I will kill you." A spark of magic ran through the phone, frying the electronic pieces; there was noticeable pop as smoke started curling out of it. "No one threatens my kids. "So here's the deal. Next time - if you're stupid enough to make there be a next time - this stays between you and me. No Winding Way, no Destines, no blackmailing me with people from the mansion. Just you and me, Dad. And then you can see what I've learned. Or, you can be smart, and never try to contact me again. Your choice. But I'm ready to end this whenever you are." She stood, dropping the phone and crushing it under her foot for good measure. She held Taboo's gaze for a moment longer as she searched his eyes, trying to find some sign of the man she had once happily called her father. Had any of it been real, she wondered. Had he ever really loved her? Had Alice? Had anyone? The distant sound of police sirens broke the heavy silence, and Topaz turned away from Taboo at last, making her way back to Amanda, Wanda, and Billy. Time to go home. |
