“So, youdidn’t go,” I finished for her.
Mom hung herhead in shame. “No, I didn’t.” She looked up, begging for Maria tolook her way. “And the sirens cursed you to punish me. They tookyour soul and filled you withdarkness.”
Maria pacedthe room in front of the fireplace, furthest away from us. Muttering things under her breathand stomping madly as she did. I watched in horror as my sisterbecame even more unhinged than she already was, and I quickened myattempt at releasing my wrists from the ropes. I could almost slipone hand out, if I really pulled hard enough. But that wouldn’t beany good and Maria would notice. I had to get both free at the sametime.
Just then,Maria stopped pacing and threw her head back in a mad cackle oflaughter as she bound back toward us. My blood ran cold. But shedisregarded me altogether and went straight for Mom. She hauled herfrom the bed and tossed her to the floor before reaching into herjacket pocket and pulling out a tiny object. No bigger than a pieceof jewelry. My eyes narrowed tosee what it was. A ring. A familiar ring. A silver band, whitestone like a diamond or quartz. Far too modern for this era.
Maria spunaround and looked at me. “You know, it was damn near impossible tofind a witch who’d removed herself from the circle. I thought I’dnever find one, in fact.” She held the ring up, catching it in thefirelight. “But did. Right here in Southampton. It took someconvincing, but the stupid seamstress finally bent to my will.”
Seamstress? I thought as I looked at the ring again, tryingto remember where I’d seen it before. My mind just couldn’t placeit, the memory was just too old. But, when I peered down at thefloor and saw the fear and disbelief in my mother’s eyes, Isuddenly recalled just where I’d seen it.
On herfinger.
It was thewedding ring my father had given to my mom so many years ago. I’dadmired it as a little girl. And, now, Maria had a witch… “MadamGuthrie?” I asked her.
“Oh, you knowthe old bag, do you?” my sister said. “Stubborn woman, she was.Claimed to have given up the practice of her people’s magic. Butshe did just fine.”
Maria twirledthe ring in her fingers before reaching for the dagger sheathed ather side. It slipped out of his scabbard with a shrill sound. Mywrists were nearly free. One good yank and they’d both come loose.I just had to wait for the right moment.
“Now it’s timeto finish this,” Maria told us and bent down to the floor next toour mother.
Before I couldmake sense of what she was doing, the sound of flesh squishing fromthe pressure of a blade and the wetness of blood sticking to itfilled my ears. Mom let out a guttural cry and curled into thefetal position on the floor behind my sister’s crouched figure.When Maria moved aside, I could see that she had stabbed our motherin the stomach. Blood seeped through her white shirt faster than Icould comprehend and the color quickly drained from her agonizedface.
“No!” Iyelled. “Why? You don’t have to do this!”
The bloodyblade pointed to me. “Yes, I do,” Maria said with all assurance.Then she placed the ring on the floor next to Mom and forced Mom’sfingers to curl around the thick hilt of the dagger. “And I’ll dothis, as well.”
It allhappened so fast. If I had realized a second sooner, perhaps Icould have stopped it. But I watched, unable to move as Marialifted our mother’s hand and brought it down in one swift, hardthrust. Crushing the stone of the ring. A blinding light shot outfrom the impact and threw Maria back several feet.
I took that asmy chance.
Tearing my rawskin, I yanked as hard as I could and broke free of my ties. I dovefor the floor, for my mother, but it was too late. The light hadgrown, opened up the threads of time and sucked her body intooblivion. Just like I had done not so long ago.
“No!” Iscreamed, my throat ripping raw from the cries. “Mom!” My fingersclawed at the marble floor, but it was no use. She was gone. Allthat remained was a pool of her blood.
From behind, Iheard Maria scramble to her feet and my sense kicked intooverdrive. I had to protect my baby. I had to get out of there. Ilunged for the sword that hung on the wall and yanked it from thesmall hooks that held it there. In the nick of time, I swung aroundand met my blade with hers in a loud, piercing screech. Thesensation of the impact reverberating up through my tired arms.Slack from lack of blood flow.
But Ipersisted.
I fought witheverything I had, meeting her sword with every swing as I backedaway toward the door.
“I don’t knowwhy I tried to save you,” I told my sister. “I should have justwished you dead! You’re a monster not fit for this world.”
“Like it ornot, little one, I’m the only family you’ve got left!”
Her swordadvanced but I pushed back, giving two quick swipes and catchingthe skin of her cheek. She recoiled, giving me that split-secondwindow I needed to reach for the doorknob. I gave it a twist and flung the door openbefore running out into the hall. Stunned, I glanced around at themassive paintings and gaudy décor, recognizing it and placing thecold marble floor from the room I just left. Maria followed me out,swinging her blade causally at her side, delighting in myrealization.
“Clever, no?”she said. “I was right here under your nose the entire time.Roselynn Wallace was supposed to bring you to me, but she failed.”Maria spit on the floor. “She tried and tried to get you to stay put long enough for mycall to work. Even burnt down that tavern to force you here. Still,she failed. Worthless bitch. I should have killed that man of hersand been done with it.”
Oh, my God. Iwas still in The Siren’s Call. What part of the massive mansion,I’d no idea. But I had to call for help. I had to try. I sucked ina deep breath and
