found us. It’d only taken one sound from our neighbor for Dad to turn on him.
Hands shaking, I covered my ears and hummed, trying to drown out the cries for help that still echoed in my ears. How hadn’t I known then what I knew now? I couldn’t help anyone. Not even myself.
Unable to take the idleness, I stood and paced the confines of my room. The movement didn’t exorcise the restless energy boiling inside of me or the agitation. The space was too small to do that. So, I left my room and went downstairs, drifting from room to room, looking for something to soothe me. But there was nothing. It wasn’t until every door and drawer in the kitchen gaped open that I realized more than my precious bottles were missing. So were the knives and the forks.
The fucking forks.
I slammed every single door hard, and Emily came racing downstairs, barely awake.
“What’s wrong?” I asked with fake concern before she could utter the question. “Can’t sleep?”
“Hannah, you’re not even trying.”
I wished I had some kind of mental power that could squish her head.
“Trying what? To sleep? Been there, done that. Trying to mind my own business and be as amiable as possible in this hell we call real life? Also tried that. Apparently, I wasn’t minding my own business well enough and, for some reason, you decided you could mind it better. How’s that working for you?”
Her gaze shifted behind me for the briefest of moments that I almost didn’t notice.
“I’m going back to bed. Goodnight, Hannah.”
“Enjoy your sleep,” I said, slamming another door angrily.
I turned to glare out the kitchen window. As I’d guessed, Merdon stood in the shadows of our backyard. I flipped him off and pulled the shade.
By dawn, the odd bouts of sweats were more infrequent, and I felt less queasy. My stomach hurt like a bitch, though; and I couldn’t stop thinking about finding something to drink. Throwing on my jacket, I went to the one place I hadn’t had the time to try yesterday before I got sick.
James called for me to enter after the first knock. He was still in his long underwear and white t-shirt and just reaching his chair when I let myself in.
My gaze flicked to the cabinet, and my mind raced with scenarios as I focused on him once more.
“Morning, Hannah,” he said sleepily.
“I’m sorry I woke you,” I said. “Would you have any spare coffee you’d be willing to share? We’re out, and I’ve had a rough night.”
James exhaled slowly, really studying me. Then, without a word, he hoisted himself out of the chair and went straight to the liquor cabinet.
“We both know you’re not here for coffee, sweetheart.”
My mouth watered shamelessly as he took a glass and poured a bare fingerful of brandy into it.
“Here. Drink this. It’ll help take the edge off. I warned Emily that cutting it out completely might be rough on you.”
He held out the glass. I didn’t immediately take it. I was too angry that Emily had been here and worse, talked to James and Mary about me.
“Did she talk to you before or after she had Merdon sneak into my room and steal my things?”
“Honey, they removed the alcohol so you wouldn’t be tempted. They’re trying to help.”
“Before or after?” I repeated angrily.
“Before. She wanted to make sure we knew what she was doing and supported her so we wouldn’t undermine any progress you made.”
They were all in on it.
I wished I could take the glass and throw it at him, but I couldn’t. I needed that meager drink too badly. Angrily swiping it from his grasp, I gulped the liquid and slammed the cup back on the cabinet.
“He didn’t just take my bottles. The way they are infringing on my rights wouldn’t stand in the old world. How can you support what they’re doing?”
“It’s not the old world anymore,” he said gently.
“No kidding. I barely noticed.”
“And Mary and I care about you too much to continue excusing what we’ve been watching happen over these past few weeks.”
“Then don’t watch.”
I left the house in a righteous rage, and almost face-planted right into Merdon’s chest.
“Psychopath. Get a new hobby.”
He caught me by the back of my neck and pulled me close. I’d been close to my share of fey, thanks to drinking games. But usually, when they were almost nose to nose with me, there was a healthy dose of desire in their eyes. The hard glint in Merdon’s eyes