Chapter 27 #2
He raked a hand through his hair. “Okay, let’s say your mom is responsible…
she’s obviously trying to help him, or she wouldn’t have called the doctor.
If she’s keeping him here, she must know something we don’t.
” He studied Edmund, looking for a clue.
“What if this has to do with the curse? A… side effect, or bad reaction?”
Before Gabriel could respond, the door creaked open and Bram peered in. The poor kid looked exhausted. “Are you here to help Edmund?” he asked Miles.
“I’m trying. Do you know what happened to him?”
Bram came in, Balthazar slipping through the crack behind him.
“No. I heard him going downstairs late last night. He goes to the library when he can’t sleep.
” He picked up his cat and placed him on Edmund’s bed.
Balthazar sniffed delicately at the pulse monitor on Edmund’s finger before sinking down beside him.
“I’m going to leave Balthazar here. He’ll protect him and let me know if he gets worse. ”
Gabriel put his hand on Bram’s shoulder.
“Smart plan,” Miles told him. “You’re good at looking out for your brothers.”
“Not all the time.”
On the bed, Balthazar suddenly puffed up, black fur standing on end, and let out a low growl. His yellow eyes were fixed on the door, pupils shrunk to razor-thin slits.
“Mother’s coming,” Bram and Gabriel said in unison.
Shit. If she caught Miles here, there’d be hell to pay. He really should’ve asked Gabriel at some point if this place had a dungeon, and how one might hypothetically escape if locked inside.
“I’ll just explain to her why I’m here.” Miles squared his shoulders, thankful for his height for once—he needed every advantage he could get over Felicity. “I’ll be honest, and if she—”
“As admirable as your bravery is…” Gabriel crossed the room and opened the wardrobe. “Get in.”
It was a tight fit, but Miles crouched down and shuffled back until his shoulder blades met wood, and Gabriel managed to close the door. He could make out a sliver of the room through the narrow crack, part of Edmund’s bed and the table beside it.
Felicity’s clacking heels announced her arrival. “What are you two doing in here?”
“Making sure our brother isn’t dead,” Gabriel snapped back. “Since you can’t be bothered.”
From the shocked noise Bram made, Gabriel had never spoken to his mom like that before.
“I told you to leave him alone.” Felicity’s voice was tight. “I’m taking care of it.”
“You haven’t given me any reason to believe that’s true.”
A beat of silence passed.
“Bramwell, leave.” Felicity’s words cracked like a whip.
“But I—”
“Now.”
Reluctant footsteps went to the door, smaller ones following behind as Balthazar trailed after him.
Felicity sighed as the door closed. “I expect more from you, Gabriel. You’re usually the level-headed one, but lately, you’ve been following in Edmund’s footsteps. You see why that’s a problem, don’t you?”
Gabriel didn’t respond. Miles wished he could see his face, but he didn’t dare move.
Heels clicked and Felicity came into view beside Edmund’s bed. She leaned in to straighten his blankets, the hem of her long black coat sweeping the floor. “Your brother made a poor choice, as he constantly insists on doing, and now I’m cleaning up his mess.”
“Tell me what you did to him,” Gabriel demanded, matching her coldness.
She gave him a withering look. “Are we throwing around baseless accusations now? I thought you knew better than to let your emotions get the best of you.”
“Tell me what you did to him,” Gabriel repeated with more force.
“I haven’t done anything to him. Tuck away whatever villainous little fantasies you’ve created about me and do as I say: stay out of this room and stop wasting my time. You don’t know anything about what’s happening here.”
“Then tell me.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “Your entitlement is astounding.”
Gabriel’s voice quivered with fury. “And your arrogance is laughably transparent. Your control is slipping. We can all see it. I’m not afraid of you, and I refuse to leave Edmund here to die simply because you say so. The moment you leave this house, I’m taking him to the nearest hospital.”
Felicity’s expression cracked, ugliness peeking through. “Then your brother’s death will be on your hands.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, Gabriel, it’s a fact. You may not approve of my methods, but I’m the only thing keeping him alive.
This is your final warning—cease your meddling or understand it will have consequences.
We live in a world where rash actions are punished.
Your brother is a prime example of that.
Perhaps you can learn from his mistake.”
“How can you not care that your son is dying?”
Felicity moved out of sight. Miles leaned forward, ears straining.
“Don’t you ever presume to tell me how I’m feeling,” she warned, so deadly quiet he almost didn’t catch it. “Now leave. If I catch you in here again, you’re going to find yourself locked in your room.”
Gabriel’s anger was so palpable, Miles could feel it blistering the air. Without a word, he strode out, slamming the door behind him.
Thighs screaming from crouching so long, Miles turned into the collar of his jacket, irrationally afraid Felicity would be able to hear his breathing in the new silence.
She stepped back into view, staring down at Edmund. “You stupid boy,” she murmured, brushing his hair back from his forehead.
A moment later, she left too.