But in typical Priscilla fashion, she bitched the entire time we fitted her.
“One slip and I’m a kebab,” she griped.
“Then don’t slip,” I warned her and zipped her coat up in one swoop.
She grumbled and made a face. “Easy with how you manhandle me. I’m not a pair of Daggett’s pants.”
“Be glad you’re not,” he said. “They’re feeling a little soiled at the moment.”
Priscilla stepped away and curled in her lips.
“Kidding, kidding,” he assured her, but she still stared at him like he was disgusting. The guy loved making himself the brunt of the joke. It was never gonna get him laid. Daggett shook his head and said, “Jeez, a guy tries to make a tense moment feel a little lighter, and he’s treated like a leper.”
“You implied you’re pissing and or shitting your pants.”
“It was a joke!”
I grumbled. “Can we save the piss chat for later? Everybody get in the fucking car and let’s go.”
“We’re driving there?” Melanie asked. She had been standing beside Priscilla and Daggett, but had been so deep in thought I almost forgot about her.
“They know we’re coming,” I began. “Being stealthy seems kind of pointless.”
“So, we just knock on the front door?” Daggett asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, Daggett, we knock on the fucking front door.” And then I rip that fucker’s throat out and send Molly back to whatever shallow grave she crawled out of.
Melanie confidently nodded. “Let’s get the show on the road then.”
We packed into the van we had rented, and Melanie insisted on driving because she knew the way to go. The prick did mentally send her the directions. I also think a part of her was too wired up to sit by and do nothing, even for a short trip like this.
I sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window, my nerves acting up. I wasn’t afraid of meeting with this guy and fighting him. I wasn’t even afraid of getting killed. I was afraid it was too late and Cora was already dead. A trade between the two girls seemed awfully simple, and I knew there had to be a catch. This could be a giant trap, and I had no choice but to walk straight into it because it was the only way to save Cora’s life. If there was even one left to save.
I told myself if we got through this night in one piece, she and I would move to someplace in the country and away from the supernatural world. She deserved a normal life. I owed her that, at least. God, I owed her that so fucking much.
The drive felt like time out of time. It felt fast, but also slow. I wanted to get there quickly, but I also wanted to run through every worst-case scenario and how to deal with it in my head and needed a long drive for that. I fucking hated that feeling.
We took a turn down a dirt road that brought us deep into the woods. We drove for miles with nothing but trees to our left and right, and a narrow view of the road in front of us illuminated by our headlights. Wherever we were heading was heavily secluded, and by the lake. I could smell the water from the car.
At the edge of the road, the thick mass of trees finally opened up, and I could see it a few miles beyond us: a fucking castle. The property was big and was guarded by a steel fence that ended with a gate at the center of the yard. I couldn’t even get a scope of how far back the land went. The backyard was even bigger than the front.
Not being able to see what we were dealing with meant he could have all kinds of shitty little tricks back there to kill us. He could try, but I wouldn’t let him come out on top.
We parked in front of the gate. The light from our headlights created such a glare against the steel that we could see nothing else as we exited the vehicle. It wasn’t until the engine was killed and all four doors were closed that the lights faded. On the opposite side of the fence, two figures appeared. They had been there the entire time, but were hidden by the glare. I led the walk toward the entrance, and the closer I got, the clearer the figures were. They were in dresses.
Instead of finding this Master guy on the front lawn, it was Molly and Veronica. They stood side-by-side in the snow, dolled up in their torn up gowns, the cold weather not bothering them.
And there was no sign of Cora.
My blood boiled. If I didn’t see her face and have undisputed proof she was alive, I was going to take both of these assholes out.
“Where is she?” I practically growled.
“You think we were gonna slide her under the gate like she’s mail and then walk away?” Veronica sassed. “She’ll be here when we know there’s no funny business.” With a shrug, she added, “Real talk, I’m shocked any of you even showed up.”
“Of course he would,” Molly replied with disdain as she stared holes into me. “He has to play the hero. Because he’s such a good person.” The resentment dripped off her tongue, and the rage inside of her turned her eyes black. If the gate weren’t between us, she’d probably be tearing my throat out.
Even in death, she couldn’t let our beef go.
I threw my arms out wide and said, “Well, we’re here. No funny business. So, where is she?”
“We said she’d be here
