Deena looked over at me like I was possessed. She shook her head. “Mm, mm, mm,” she said. She pulled her keys out of the ignition. I scrambled out of the car and tried to head Deena off, but she waved me away like a wasp.
“I’ve gotta tell Ms. Reid what’s going on, honey. I get that you’re scared, but I promise, I’m gonna take care of you.”
“But—but she’s dangerous,” I blurted.
I knew saying that made me look even crazier, which is what I was going for in the first place. Deena placing me in a residential facility with Caleb staying alive was better than Caleb dying—and of course, there was that 50-50 chance of me dying that was another consideration. And anyway, I’d eventually make it to the hospital. When I did, I’d figure out how to heal him—somehow.
But Deena was an awful getaway driver. I watched with growing horror as Deena rang the doorbell.
Maybe if I’d framed Maeve to seem abusive, Deena’d listen to me now. But no, I had gone for all-out crazy and now she was treating me like I was just that.
Backfired. That was the only way to describe the situation as Maeve opened the door looking one hundred percent pissed.
I tried to slump in the powder blue, gold-studded armchair Maeve had ordered me to sit down in, but it wouldn’t let me. The back was too high and rigid and the seat cushion shoved my weight right back at me, creating the sensation of balancing on an over-inflated ball. Maeve sat across from me, her hands folded tightly in her lap, while Deena sat in the other overstuffed armchair, a pleasant smile pasted on her lips.
“So you see, Ms. Reid, with Kella seeing things, we’ve got to get her evaluated and put on a treatment plan.”
I barely stopped myself from nodding in agreement.
“I…see,” Maeve said. “I would like to assure you, though, that Kella is getting help here. Kella agreed,” —I did not miss Maeve’s emphasis on “agreed”— “that she would see a therapist—starting tomorrow, in fact.”
Deena’s eyes narrowed. “You knew she was having issues and didn’t inform me?”
“No, nothing like that.” Maeve pursed her lips. “It was for some other issues—minor issues.”
Deena’s brows drew together like two thunderclouds. “What other issues?”
“Merely a bit of…post-traumatic stress, I’m sure. Something we were going to have evaluated due to a couple of episodes.”
“I didn’t read about any episodes. You haven’t filed a single incident report.”
“They’re very recent.”
“That so?” Deena eyed Maeve, suspicion practically oozing out of her.
“Well, Ms. Reid, I appreciate all you’ve done for Kella, but she needs more services that what you can immediately provide.”
This time, I did nod. “And,” I added, “I will be seeing a therapist in whatever place I go to, so there’s that.”
Deena nodded. “And a psychologist.”
“Well,” Maeve said, “it seems I may have underestimated your…fluency…with words.”
I shrugged. Underestimating me was her problem, not mine.
A small smile peeked out before she turned her attention back to Deena.
“I’m afraid Kella needs to stay.”
Deena’s eyes popped wide open. “Excuse me?”
“She already has an appointment with an excellent therapist, and we also have a highly competent psychologist that will more than adequately meet her needs.”
“Ms. Reid,” Deena said, sucking all of the warmth out of her voice, “I’m glad you care about Kella, but her staying or leaving here isn’t your call. It’s mine.”
“Of course,” Maeve replied as she stood up from the sofa. “I intended no offense. I only wish to express my confidence that we have exceptional local resources to help Kella through this. Besides, the foster system is overwhelmed with teens. If we can help her here, why not let us?”
Deena wrinkled her forehead as though she was considering it. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at her, waiting.
Finally, Deena shook her head. “No, from what Kella was saying, she needs a treatment center.”
“Exactly what did Kella say?”
Deena looked at me. I shook my head.
“Ma’am. ” Deena got up from the chair. I quickly followed her lead. “We need to go. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
Maeve walked over to us and put her hand on Deena’s arm. A feeling of deja vu crept over me.
“She needs to stay.”
Deena stared into Maeve’s eyes for a long moment. And blinked.
“She needs to stay,” Maeve repeated, more firmly.
“She needs to…” Deena shook her head. “Kella, honey, where’s your bag?”
“Right here.” I’d been clutching the cheap backpack in my arms like a teddy bear.
“’Kay,” she said. “It’s time to go.” I nodded, glancing back at Maeve. Her mouth gaped open, staring at Deena as she walked toward the door.
“Bye, Maeve,” I said before rushing out of the house.
Chapter 16
Dawn had barely broken when we reached the fork before reaching the intersection before the interstate. Deena got turned around and took a right instead going straight ahead. She mumbled under her breath as she looked for a stretch of road with enough of a shoulder to turn around. But no big deal. We were almost out of town. Just flip a u-turn and…
Lights flashed in Deena’s rearview mirror, a siren blaring into the early morning, completely out of place in the forested area. No freaking way. We were too close to freedom to get pulled over by a cop car now.
I took in a deep breath. It was probably just a speed trap, was all. Something that fae police probably did in their rural areas, too.
Deena muttered a few things under her breath as she gripped the steering wheel. Something about having a white kid in her car. But I was too focused on the Glamour-disguised fae coming up to her window to listen to what she was saying.
Normally, fae seemed to want their glamours to look as beautiful as possible. But this guy had opted to look like a rhino turned human. I guessed he was going for the intimidation factor—something handy if you
