38. The Malefic Sisters #2
When I looked up, Rumor was smiling at me. Old Rumor, my big sister Rumor. “I missed you,” she said, tinged with heartache. “I’m so sorry that I… that I didn’t keep you safe. That will never happen again.”
“You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”
“I always have to worry about you, Prism.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “What have you been doing here? Other than turning Birch into a horse.”
My sister lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t really turn him into a horse, more like, soul-swapped his and a horse’s body. I’ve been doing whatever I’ve had to get you home—and here you are.”
“Here I am.” I shifted in my seat. “Rumor, I need to talk to you.”
My sister exhaled and sank into her seat. “Let’s talk tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”
I glanced out the window and into the forest beyond. “I won’t be here tomorrow.”
Rumor opened one eye as if she’d heard me incorrectly. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not staying here… I’m not staying in Willowspire.”
“This is our home, Prism. Where else would you even go?” Rumor sat up in her chair, furrowing her dark brows. She looked just like Matri when she gave me that face. It was as if my mothers were here asking me the same question.
I sucked in a steadying breath and held onto the arms of my rocking chair. “I have found my place in the world, and I’ve found the one who my heart truly loves.”
My older sister tilted her head, still bewildered. “How did you meet someone when you’ve been abducted by monsters? Did someone rescue you? Some hunter or huntress?”
I shook my head. “No, no. You see… I’m in love with the one who—who took me… they aren’t at all what they seem. He’s kind, and brave, and really cares about me?—“
“You don’t mean… the wither , do you?”
Rocking nervously in my seat, I nodded slowly. “My wither’s name is Vore… I’m going to be living with him. Rumor, it would mean so much to me if you’d meet him and?—“
A loud pop sounded as my sister stood up, her chair falling and crashing behind her as she did. She marched to the table, mumbling to herself, before frantically flipping through each page of the black book.
Standing and clutching my sweaty fingers, I continued, “Vore was kind enough to bring me back because I wanted to check on you… and I wanted to say goodbye. A proper goodbye. And to let you know that I’m good, Rumor.
You don’t have to worry about me anymore.
You can have your own life now without the responsibility of protecting me?—“
Rumor held up a silencing finger, holding the book in her other hand. After a moment, she shook the pages and addressed the binding. “Oh, now you’re as quiet as a risible-fairy-mouse.”
“A what? Are you talking to a book?”
“Are you seriously telling me you’re in love with a wither ?”
I winced, preparing for the worst. “Yes.”
My sister merely clicked her cheek and nodded. “Mhm… okay, then.” Fruit bumped together as she turned to dig through the basket. Plucking out a bright red apple, she leaned against the table, taking a bite and staring into the fire.
Was she… accepting my news? No lightning bolts or screaming or leeches raining from the heavens? Perhaps in my absence, my sister was just happy I was alive and contented?
I let out a small exhale, and in that moment, I felt my mission was complete.
My heart yearned for Vore as my gaze continued to drift to the windows, knowing he was just beyond the trees.
With how adept withers were at camouflage, I could have been staring right at him. The thought made my heart patter.
“I love you.” I hugged my sister’s shoulders. Still, she remained perched all the same, not returning my embrace, seemingly in a trance as she munched her apple. “I’ll always love you, Rumor. I just wanted you to know that I’m safe and I’m well. Really though, I must be going.”
After giving the girl-frozen-in-place a final hug, I made my way to the door. The moment my touch hit the knob—burning pain seared my palm. I jerked my hand to my chest, yelping. It was as if I’d just touched a hot cast iron pan. “Ouch! What is wrong with the door?”
Rumor took another leisurely bite of her apple. “You know, I’ve about had it with monsters fucking up my life. Asunder taking our moms. The Blackthorne Daimons fucking with my head. The Viper brothers fucking with me constantly. This wither fucking with my sister. Monsters, monsters, monsters.”
Rubbing my burnt palm, I eyed my sister quizzically. “Sis, are you okay? Wait, did you say Blackthornes? Like, the lords of Willowspire?”
Tossing her apple core into the fire, Rumor nodded, walking slowly over to me. “Those are the ones. I sought their help once you were taken by that hideous monster… what’s his name? Vore. Goddess, I will enjoy killing Vore .”
“Rumor,” I said on a low, frightened breath. “Why would you get involved with the Blackthornes? What did the coven say?” I felt the need to stall, my gaze still drifting toward the window. Could I escape my sister if I needed to? Would it come to that?
“Oh, the coven encouraged it. Don’t worry, I learned a lot—a whole lot.”
“I’m sure you did… but I really need to go. Maybe you should rest.” Hesitation pricked my heart as my sister neared. She wasn’t herself. My time away, her own feelings of shame in losing me… it had distorted her in some way I never could have anticipated.
The moment the feeling of fear entered my heart… a thunderous howl tore across Willowspire.
Rumor stopped right in front of me as my back pressed against the door. She cupped her ear. “What’s that? My would-be brother-in-law?”
Vore tasted my fear.
Trees clanked together outside our home.
“Rumor,” I begged. “He will tear everything apart if you don’t let me go.”
“No,” she answered, taking my hands in hers.
“It is I who will be tearing him apart for taking you. Vore will never hurt you again, do you understand? I don’t know what kind of game this was for them.
I don’t care if you’re brainwashed or bewitched, but I mean it when I say—I will never let those monsters near you ever again. ”
Another howl tore through the sky—closer now—right outside our house. A tree fell in the backyard, rumbling the ground. It sounded as if the earth was fighting to swallow us whole. “It’s not like that,” I argued. “I love him. Don’t you understand? I love him.”
Rumor intertwined her fingers with mine. “I understand.” As our cottage shook, my sister rested her forehead against mine and whispered.
“ As the wind blows,
So far as the sea knows,
So long, so long,
Send me back where I belong.”
A scream died in my throat as the last thing I saw was a long, muscular arm break through the glass of my cottage window.
My wither had risked it all to come for me.
Though it was too late. Shimmering purple smoke swirled around us until all the commotion and noise of glass and beams breaking silenced.
Holding tight to my sister’s palm, it felt as if we were floating. My feet dangled as if were suspended in midair. Then suddenly, we landed upon cold, hard ground.
The purple shimmers dispersed, revealing an onyx black, echoey room. At the end of the room rested three thrones. One black, one white, and one silver.
Rumor swore. “You have got to be kidding me.”