Poor Lucy was always made out to be an angel who lived on earth for eight short years bringing light and happiness to everyone around her. Not the secretive, moody brat with violent tendencies who Ariana had been traveling with the last few days. But no one ever remembered the bad about anyone once they were gone, or else they did it fondly. Eight years old was only a little older than her youngest brother and he was often a wee fiend. Lucy must have been mostly good because she had helped save her from Milo’s plot and had saved Maria when Owen called.
Dear Lord, Maria.
Kostya still sat beside her crying, probably completely unaware of the limp young woman before him. Owen stood shaking his head. It would be a while before he fully accepted he’d just met a sister who’d died before he was born. Ariana crawled forward and lightly slapped Maria a few times, trying not to panic and definitely not calling up any healing spells.
“Lucy said she was ready,” she mumbled to herself as she turned Maria’s face from side to side. “Maria, come back now, please.”
Hearing a voice other than his deceased daughter’s seemed to pull Uncle Kostya out of his tearful trance. He scrambled to her side, peeling back one of Maria’s eyelids.
“Maria?” he asked, voice shaking. “Miss Winters?”
Maria’s other eye popped open and she sat up fast enough to make them both recoil to keep from getting hit. She looked around her at the beautiful hillside spot, digging her fingers into the grass when her eyes settled on Lucy’s grave. Slowly opening her mouth, she let out an ear splitting scream.
Owen began to pace, his hands on the sides of his head and Uncle Kostya moved away from Maria. He said something to her, probably a soothing plea to stop screaming but none of them could hear the words over her long, heartrending howl. Ariana didn’t know how she had enough breath in her to keep going as long as she did and feared she’d pass out again. Reluctantly, she raised her hand and slapped Maria soundly across the face.
It worked, but Uncle Kostya and Owen looked at her like she was a mess they’d accidentally stepped in.
“I’m sorry, Maria,” she said. Least of all for the slap, but it was a starting point.
Maria took a shuddering breath and looked at each of them with wide, glaring eyes. “No. No, no, no.”
Every word raised in decibel. Ariana prepared for another scream, wondering if she just needed to get it all out. She not only couldn’t, but didn’t want to imagine what her friend had gone through. Owen dropped to his knees and tried to gather Maria into his arms, apologizing over and over. She shoved him away, but now her weak, emaciated arms didn’t have the strength of a powerful witch’s ghost behind them and Owen managed to wrap his arms around her. For a second. Maria scrambled to her feet, backing away. Uncle Kostya stepped behind her to keep her from tumbling down the hill.
“Leave me alone,” Maria pleaded. “You.” She pointed to Owen. “And you.” Her finger swung toward Ariana. “You’re evil.” She looked to Uncle Kostya, the only person she didn’t despise, and begged him to take her away from there.
“Of course,” he said, holding out his arm. After a long moment, she must have realized how weak she was and took it. He turned to help her away and then stopped in his tracks, looking to Ariana. “Oh, bloody hell. Your father. And Tilly. I’ve got to find Tilly.” He looked like he wanted to race back to the house but nodded encouragingly at Maria. “I’m sorry, Miss Winters. Let’s get you some tea and fresh clothes…”
“I want to go home,” she said miserably.
“We’ll arrange whatever you want. You needn’t worry at all anymore.”
Ariana took Owen by the arm. He looked nearly as weak as Maria. “Come on,” she said. “It’s done. It’s all over.”
He shook his head, hanging back. “Let her get some space from us. I can’t stand to see her so distraught after everything else I’ve put her through.”
Ariana studied his face. It was a mixture of despair and hope. A strange combination. He must still love her, then. Which meant he’d fight for her. Which also meant Ariana would have to follow through with her promise to herself to make things right for him. Just like Owen, she’d fight for what the one she loved wanted, even if it meant giving up her own hopes.
***
They walked in silence back to the house, keeping a fair distance from Maria. Ariana could see her shoulders shaking as Uncle Kostya helped her to stay upright. More than anything she wanted to ask Owen what he made of it all, but when she glanced at him he looked far too broken to want to talk. She worried about Uncle Kostya as well. He had Maria’s hysteria to occupy him for the moment, but when it really sunk in that he’d spoken to his long-dead daughter, that she’d been possessing Maria, it was sure to hit him hard.
For the first time in a long time, Ariana noticed her surroundings. The familiar hills and farmland in the distance, the beloved house and barns. The sky was ridiculously blue and free of clouds. It should have been embarrassed to be so cheery when everything was so somber.
“But everything’s okay now,” she said absently, almost as if answering the sky’s reassuring beauty. Owen gave her a look that dared her to explain why she
