out of the door?
“No, I’m not okay with it. Especially since the new you is so great and stuff.” Winnie snotted, finally looking like her mother.
“We don’t have a choice, apparently,” Geoff muttered. “It’s you or us.”
“And you chose me.” A better mother wouldn’t have sounded so sarcastic.
“No,” Winnie cried out. “It’s not like that. The thing is, if you won’t participate in the ceremony, then they’ll still kill you and either Geoff or I will take your place.”
What kind of sick bastards would threaten my kids?
The kind who thought my family betrayed them.
Technically true. The witches in my line smacked down the Orgh’kks, rendered them powerless, then hid the secret to getting that magic back. They guarded it not only with spells of concealment, but a lake monster, and a witch guardian.
It occurred to me that my grandmother had tried to do something about it. Sent me away in the hopes of giving me a life. And failed.
The curse, that had gone on for much too long, drew me back. It ended now.
But only after I had a bath.
If I was going to my doom, then I’d damned well be wearing clean underwear and my second nicest dress. They could use the first one to bury me in after I’d told them where to go and fought my damnedest.
29
Only once I got to my room did I contemplate escape. I had a window. I could climb down, hop in my car, and go. Fuck my kids. Apparently, it was okay to toss me to the orcs.
Ungrateful brats.
I sobbed in my bath. Let myself have a good pity cry. Then I got calm. Not the calm of a pond on a windless morning, but that electrical moment of stillness before a storm crashed.
I was so centered and calm that the ice rimming my water shattered as I stood. For a moment I stared at myself in a mirror.
I glowed blue. Literally. Blue. It was kind of freaking me out because I looked like Orville with his pointy-eared demon, except, with me, it was truly inside my skin.
The house had taken on a somber cast, none of the lights getting bright. I could sense its melancholy as it helped dress me, the pants warm white wool, the short-heeled boots cute and perfect fitting. The turtleneck cashmere and soft. I’d never dressed so stylishly, or in so many light colors. What if I spilled something on it? Usually my stains ended up on my boobs and food in my cleavage—a snack for later.
To complete my ensemble, Winnie appeared, bearing a massive fur cloak, done in shades of white, gray, and cream.
“It’s cold outside. This will keep you warm,” she said, holding it out as a peace offering.
I almost slapped it out of her hand.
She saw my expression and her lips trembled. “I’m sorry, mom.”
“Sorry, you’re sacrificing me to some fucked up group of people?” I didn’t soften the accusation.
“They left me and Geoff without any choice.”
I didn’t point out they could have volunteered in my place. In truth, better me than them. I appreciated the fact she at least looked upset about it.
“What was in those pages you cut out of the book?” I asked, not that there was a spell that would help me now.
“A spell to see the truth.”
“And did you find it?”
She bit her lip. “I did, and wished I hadn’t, which is why I cut those pages out and burned them.”
She didn’t elaborate on what she saw, and I was distracted by the watch on her wrist chiming.
Time was up.
“You need to get ready.” Winnie bit her lower lip.
“Where is it happening?”
“The lake.”
Big surprise. A part of me had always known I’d end up there. After all, wasn’t this where my mother tried to kill me? It was why my father wanted to take me away. Why my grandma hid me so I wouldn’t have to face my doom too soon. Once my grandma died, the magic concealing the source failed, the lake monster protecting it died, and the Orgh’kks ended up finding it. Now, they would sacrifice me to get it back.
But at least I’d look fashionable.
I ran my fingers over it. “It’s soft. Absorbent.” The blood would soak into it like a sponge.
“Mom, I—”
I interrupted her. “Don’t apologize. I don’t blame you. If the roles were reversed, I’d do the same. It’s for the best.” I placated her like I’d placated my miserable husband for a good chunk of my life.
She never suspected. I appeared docile