Chapter 22 - Sadie
The next day, there is a pack event at the nearby park. It’s a Sunday tradition that has been upheld even as the packs began to sicken, and it’s been on these occasions that I was able to really connect with people.
I arrive early with Rhys and Cassie to help set up, bringing cookies and cakes that were my mother’s recipe. I try to keep magic out of it, but since I really don’t know the scope of my powers, I can’t be sure I didn’t lace the food with spells.
Just so long as it’s not poison.
While I cover the picnic tables with cloths and set out cutlery, I try to talk to the girls, only to find them avoiding me.
“Word’s gotten around,” Rachel says, elbowing me. “You’re no one’s favorite person right now.”
“So I gathered,” I say, trying not to sound too defeated. “Is it really that bad?”
“Worse,” she says. “The actual events of the trial by the council have been blown out of proportion, and it doesn’t help that Aaron is on death row for his actions that night.”
“No,” I gasp. “They wouldn’t execute him, would they?”
“They definitely would,” Rachel replies. “And from what I hear, they are. In a couple of days’ time, they’ll decide for sure, and Rhys will probably do it himself.”
I feel sick to my stomach, but part of me is glad I’ll never have to worry about him coming after me again.
“What about his gang?”
“Let off with community service. Their behavior is frowned upon but not criminal. They convinced the council they were just acting under Aaron’s orders.”
“Okay. Well, that’s something.”
“It doesn’t mean much good fortune for you,” Rachel says. “Like I said, the rumors are worse than the facts, and the old hatreds run deep. Just don’t do anything…uh…witchy, I guess.”
“I’ll try,” I whisper, not even really knowing how to stop myself. “Are you scared of me, too?”
“Only a little,” Rachel says, poking me in the ribs. “I still think I could take your skinny ass any day.”
We both laugh, and Rachel gives me a brief hug.
“Don’t let it get you down, okay?” she says. “You’re still here, and that’s an amazing triumph in this place. You’re working against generations of prejudice.”
“Lucky me,” I mutter.
“The luckiest,” Rachel says, waving as she turns away. “I’ve got to go help out in the parking lot. Stay out of trouble.”
I finish setting the tables and start bringing out trays of food. No one talks to me, but I keep greeting everyone and trying to start a conversation. Finally, Helen cuts through the crowd and comes over to me.
“What are you trying to prove?” she hisses.
“Nothing,” I say, keeping my voice low. “I just want to make sure everyone has a good time, that’s all.”
“It’s hard to do that with you here,” Helen says in a scathing tone. “Witch.”
She says the last word like it’s a curse, and I back away from her.
I’m screwed. Completely and utterly fucked. How can I be back to square one again?
I go over to the barbecue area to take some solace from Rhys, but he barely says two words to me. I try not to take it personally, because all the guys are there together without their wives and there’s a definite male vibe going on, but it still hurts.
Turning back to the main park area, I see Jean wrangling the kids and head over that way. When Cassie sees me, she breaks from the pack and runs over, leaping into my arms.
“Hi, Mommy!”
“Hi, baby girl,” I say, hugging her. “Are you having a good time?”
“We’re playing ball,” she says with enthusiasm.
“What kind of game?” I ask.
“We just kick the ball,” she says, her tiny brow furrowing with concentration. “I don’t know what it’s called.”
“Okay, then,” I laugh. “You head back out there and play. Jean said you were good at sports.”
“I am, Mommy!” she squeals.
I let her go, and she charges back into the group, laughing as she joins the other kids.
“No one is holding a grudge against her,” Jean says. “All the parents are still happy for her to play with their kids.”
“That’s a relief,” I answer. “So, it’s just me they have a problem with?”
“Yes,” Jean says, her tone firm. “This is unprecedented, Sadie. You need to understand that.”
“So I keep being told,” I mutter.
“No, I really mean it,” Jean says. “For as long as we can remember and have recorded, witches are killed on sight. You used your powers on our wolves, and you’re still alive. Quite frankly, it’s a fucking miracle.”
“Okay,” I reply. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
“I’m not seeing any signs of anyone getting better, either,” Jean says. “It’s a hot topic on the rumor mill.”
“They don’t think Rhys lied?” I ask, shocked.
“No,” Jean answers, shaking her head. “They think Rhys is bound to you and not thinking straight.”
“Oh,” I whisper, looking at the ground.
That’s far worse.
“All I can say is good luck,” Jean says. “I can’t say I’m decided myself, but I have always liked you. Whether I trust you, I just can’t say.”
“Thank you,” I reply.
What am I thanking her for, exactly?
As the day goes by, the pack eats together, sharing food and laughter. Anywhere I go, voices stop and suspicious looks are thrown my way. Rachel makes an effort to talk to me, but I can see the pack’s disapproval shifting to her as well.
“I don’t think you should hang out with me,” I say. “It’s going to look really bad for you, and I’m worried about the backlash.”
“I’ll be fine,” Rachel says, helping me clear the table. “Besides, I don’t mind doing dishes with you.”
“Oh, we’re doing dishes, now?”
“It’s a great way to garner goodwill,” she laughs. “Find a job no one likes, always volunteer for it, do it well, and you’ll be irreplaceable.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, helping her stack plates near a big tub of water and suds.
A couple of other women help with washing and drying the dishes, and for a short while, the atmosphere feels relaxed. We’re just women helping each other out, and a sense of community and shared responsibility makes my chest glow with hope.
The day wraps up near sunset, and I help some of the older or sick wolves get packed up and to their vehicles. Even though I can tell they don’t like me, they’re surprised that I offered to help them, and I can tell they appreciate it in spite of themselves.
I feel like the day went well, and I’m excited to tell Rhys about it on the way home. To my surprise, he engages with Cassie but barely even acknowledges me.
Maybe he’s missed her today and just wants to catch up. It’s okay, don’t panic.
I keep my emotions in check after we get home and get Cassie ready for bed. After her bath and story, she drops off to sleep, and Rhys kisses her on the forehead before going towards his room.
“Rhys?” I ask, hovering behind him.
“What?” he replies, looking over his shoulder.
I’m lost for words, and full of confusion. I don’t know what he’s feeling, and I’m too scared to ask.
Doesn’t he trust me?
“Is everything… okay?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yes, fine,” he says, his tone flat. “Did you need something?”
To spend the night in your arms.
“No,” I answer. “I’m okay.”
“Goodnight, then,” he says, and walks away without another word.
***
I go to bed hoping for a better day tomorrow, but Rhys remains impersonal to me the next morning.
We return to our usual weekday routine of Cassie going with Jean, and both of us driving to work.
I’m relieved to have Trina and Lacey to talk to, even though they aren’t part of the pack and can’t vouch for me.
However, Fern is cold to me, and her distrust cuts deep.
She gave me this job, and she was one of the first people to accept me. If I’ve lost her, I’ve lost everything.
A couple of days go by with no improvement from Rhys or Fern. I start to feel desperate, as if all I’m doing is waiting for my doom.
If I can turn this around, Cassie will be safe, and Rhys will be happy. I’m sure he still wants me. He just has to play along for the pack.
I keep telling myself that, but with every passing day, I believe it less. One morning, I wake up so depressed that I feel like the only solution would be to escape using my powers.
They couldn’t stop me, I know that. I could take Cassie and just disappear.
But when I greet Rhys at breakfast, even though he’s still cold to me, I realize I can’t run away. I can’t leave his pack slowly dying, and whatever happens to Rhys, I can’t abandon him, either.
I love him. I can’t leave him… even if the only thing left to do is watch him die.
The thought hurts me so much, I retreat into my shell, but by the time evening comes around, I’m fighting again. I know that staying with Rhys through sickness is a strength, and no matter how bad it gets, I won’t leave his side.
Since the rest of the pack is only pulling further away from me, I decide to organize an evening for the girls. I set up the backyard with fairy lights and music, bake lots of treats, and get a few cases of wine. I even set the guys up to watch the kids so Jean can come.
At the last minute, Rachel tells me most of them wanted to pull out, but she convinced them to give me one last chance.
As the women begin to arrive, I can truly say I’ve never been more scared in my whole entire life. Even though the night starts out awkward, after sharing some drinks and stories, everyone begins to loosen up.
“Okay,” Helen says, nibbling on one of my cakes. “You can bake, I’ll say that for you. These are amazing.”
“Thank you,” I reply. “I really just want to do everything I can to be a useful member of the pack.”
“Keep baking,” Fern says, toasting me with a wine glass.
Most of the other women join the toast, and a knot of tension around my ribs slowly unwinds.
This might be the first deep breath I’ve taken in over a week.
I let myself relax, and the night grows late. By the time the men come to pick up their wives, all of us are shrieking with laughter and telling silly stories.
“You guys look like you’re having fun,” Rhys says, coming up to us with a smile on his face.
“We are,” I say happily. “How’s Cassie?”
“Sound asleep on a bunk at the kids’ camp. A couple of grandmas are spending the night there.”
“Great,” I reply. “Everything is just great.”
“Yeah,” Rachel says from beside me, leaning over to touch my arm. “I tell you what would be really great—”
Rachel never finishes her sentence, because she falls out of her chair, flat on her face. Most of the women laugh and make drunk jokes, toasting Rachel’s clumsiness.
“Rach?” I ask, kneeling on the ground. “Are you okay?”
I turn her over gently, and her face is completely white. Her eyelids flutter, and a trickle of blood oozes from the side of her mouth.
“Rachel!” I scream, shaking her. “Wake up!”
Her eyes flicker open, staring up and swimming back and forth. “What happened?” she chokes out, through shallow, rasping breaths.
“You fell,” I say, tears trickling down my cheeks as I hold her in my arms. “Are you okay? Have you had too much to drink?”
“No,” Rachel mutters. “I’ve barely had any. I…”
“You did this!” Helen screams, throwing her glass to the ground where it shatters into a million pieces. “You poisoned her.”
“How dare you!” I scream back. “I love Rachel—she’s my friend! Besides, how stupid would I have to be to poison her at my own party, with food I made?”
“That might be your cover,” Fern says scathingly. “This is how you take us down from within.”
“No,” Rachel mumbles, her voice strained. “I was dizzy this morning… my powers were weak. I wanted to come to the party, but I just ignored it…”
Rachel’s voice is so soft that only people very close by can hear it. The rest of the party looks like it wants to lynch me on the spot.
“Rachel,” I moan, shaking her. “Please. Hold on. I can help you, I know I can.”
My friend shakes her head, her eyes slowly closing. She takes one last rattling breath, then goes limp in my arms.
“Rachel!” I scream, shaking her. “No! Don’t die, please don’t die!”
I don’t have time to cry or grieve as the other women grab me and yank me to my feet. Helen has one arm, and Fern the other. Some of the girls gather around Rachel.
“She’s dead,” Carly says, looking up at me accusingly.
“No,” I gasp. “No, she can’t be.”
“She is!” one of the others yells. “And you did it! We should execute you right here.”
“Wait,” Jean says. She’s down on her knees, examining Rachel. “This is the disease. Sadie didn’t do this.”
“Why are you defending her?” Helen asks in disgust. “The evidence is clear.”
“No, it’s not,” Jean says firmly. She stands up and takes a step towards us, her presence calm and imposing.
She’s trusted and respected by everyone. I couldn’t have asked for a better defender.
“This is the disease,” she says again. “I recognize the signs, and Rachel did complain of feeling weak and dizzy this week. We can’t just execute Sadie because we’re suspicious.”
Helen’s hand tightens on my arm, and I know she doesn’t care. She’d rip my throat out right now, regardless of the evidence, and plenty of the others feel the same.
“No,” Rhys says. “I can’t let you execute her, either, and this isn’t just my bias. The prophecy spoke of darkness before light, and I felt truth in it. This might be the event that brings light to us all.”
The other women don’t look convinced, but not a single one of them will speak against the alpha. He takes a step towards us, and the other women let go of me in a hurry.
“We still have more to learn before we condemn Sadie,” he says. “Not even the council would kill her here and now without a trial. I, for one, know that Sadie would never kill her friend, and she considers each and every one of you to be her friend.”
I take a big, shaky breath, deeply moved by Rhys’s words. His support of me touches me deeply, but I still don’t know if it’s me he’s trying to save or his pack.
And if I don’t keep trying, I’ll never know how important I am to him, or what we could be…
But how can I move forward from this? How could anyone?
I look down at Rachel’s body again, and this time, I let the tears come.