Chapter Sixteen
Time ceased its endless tick forward; it moved and bent in ways that released me from all I had known. The cell where they kept me was the same one they’d held my family in. But my family were long gone. No one would tell me whether they had escaped or been killed. No one would tell me anything.
As I slipped in and out of consciousness, I held onto the thread of hope that my family had escaped, that Jet had escaped. I pictured them on their way to a better life out of this hellhole. Every time I slept, I dreamed about Violet. Sometimes she would be in her lounge room, drinking tea and sharing her wisdom. Other times I would see her the moment her neck snapped. I would wake up crying out for my friend who had shown me nothing but love and kindness, whose life had been sacrificed for mine.
I had no idea how long I’d been held inside the cell, nor did I have any idea how much longer I could hold on, to fight. The guards only gave me enough water to keep me alive, barely anything to eat. Every day my body grew weaker and my mind less able to grasp what was real and what was my imagination. Without the crystal wand to feed me, my powers had grown weak, but the darkness inside me remained. It was only a matter of time before I wouldn’t be able to fend off Max and Noah.
The door to my cell opened. I glanced up and there was Noah, clean shaven with bright brown eyes.
‘Good morning, Eva,’ he said, as though we were friends.
I sat up and moved my back against the wall.
‘Leave us,’ said Noah to the officer who was standing at the open door.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ mumbled the guard, who seemed somewhat more human that the rest of the rogues.
Noah turned to the man, barked his order. ‘I said get out of here!’
The guard grumbled before leaving us alone.
Noah pulled up a chair, keeping a safe distance between us.
‘How are you?’
‘What do you want?’
‘Oh, Eva – just think how different your life could have been if you’d chosen me. We could be married now, a baby on the way.’
For a moment, I pictured the world Noah’s words painted. Me living under the eye of his mother, my every move controlled by Noah.
‘Never!’
‘Well, it might be a little difficult now that you’re a condemned witch. Can’t very well have a dead wife, can I? But still, a shame – we could have been good together.’
A fresh wave of electricity surged through me.
‘When? When’s my trial?’
Noah laughed. ‘Trial?’
A cold chill ran down my spine.
‘We only hold trials when there’s doubt that someone may be innocent, but honey, we all saw you that night. There can be no doubt you’re not only a witch, but an evil, dark witch. Why, I think we’d all be dead now if it weren’t for Jet.’
My body startled at Jet’s name.
‘Kind of ironic, don’t you think, that Jet was the one who led to your downfall. And to think, he just left you to die. And Ezra didn’t come to help you either. He stayed at home that night, and apparently he still wants nothing to do with you.’
‘Shut up!’ I hissed.
The first time I’d heard that Ezra had returned home that night had hit me hard. But of course, it made sense. I was a condemned woman. His best chance of a good life was to stay living at home as his father’s son.
Noah cleared his throat and shuffled back in his chair. ‘Are you ready to tell me where my sister is? I don’t want to have to…punish you.’
‘I’d like to see you try,’ I said, remembering the countless times that Noah had tried to force me to tell him where Anna was, only to be kept away by my weak flames.
Noah let out a long sigh. ‘As much as I wish I could say that you’re looking well and strong, we both know that would be a lie. In fact, this “dark witch” thing you’ve got going on, well, most of the guards are, frankly, disappointed. I agree, your dark eyes are a little interesting, but I don’t know – I don’t mind your bad-girl vibe.’
He moved closer and I let fire burn in my hands. Noah shuffled backwards, his voice hard when he spoke.
‘We both know that it’s only a matter of time before you won’t be strong enough to keep me away. And then you won’t be able to stop me from getting the truth from you or Orpheus from executing you.’
‘I will never tell you where she is. She wants to be with my brother, my family,’ I said, the same words I spoke every day. ‘And if you touch me, I will kill you.’
Noah laughed, but it sounded hollow. From his jacket, he pulled out a bar of chocolate and unwrapped it. My stomach betrayed me and let out a loud groan.
‘Oh, are you hungry?’ said Noah before biting into the chocolate.
I turned away, tried my hardest to ignore the pungent sweetness that filled my nostrils.
‘You know, I’d be happy to give you the rest,’ he said, holding the chocolate bar just out of my reach.
I tried not to react, but my body won out. I reached out and tried to snatch the chocolate bar, but Noah pulled it from me.
‘You can have it if you tell me where my sister is.’
I sat back, pulled my legs up. ‘You think a chocolate bar is worth that information, moron?’
‘Until now, I’ve been patient with you. But you know, my parents are beside themselves with worry and my patience has nearly run out.’
I clamped my lips together, turned away from him.
‘I know you know where she is,’ he said, pulling out the black
