Chapter Eleven
Iblinked to find Shelly screaming, tears flowing down her face, scrambling to grab the dagger from Abby’s chest. I breathed a sigh of relief as I grabbed the cup again.
I jumped to her side and grabbed her face.
“What the fuck are you doing, you stupid fucking bitch? You killed our pup. My baby.” She grabbed a chunk of hair and ripped it from my head, but I was focused on her tears. I needed exactly five tears.
Her nails found purchase on my face, and I felt the blood trickle from my face as her nails sliced through. I had to jerk back as one claw sliced too close to my eye. But once the five tears dropped into the cup, I pulled away from her grip. I didn’t want to hurt her any more than I already had.
I walked to Rick, who was still screaming.
Still crying. Toya and my mom had his arms so he couldn’t cut into me like his mate.
I grabbed his face, and collected his five tears as he screamed at me.
“I hate you. I should have let Vince kill you.” His words rolled off my back.
But his next insult landed. “You are nothing like your father. You are the rot in the world, and eventually everyone will see it. That’s why the goddess never gave you a good mate.
You deserved Brandon. You deserve each other.
That’s why the goddess took your pup. You would only ruin it. ”
I kissed his brow. “You might be right.” I whispered, as I turned back to Abby.
“Leave her alone.” Shelly screamed as I walked back to the burning bowl next to Abby.
I tipped some of the burning liquid into the cup.
Then I grabbed Abby by her shoulders and tipped some of the liquid into her mouth.
“DON’T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!” Shelly fought harder, but Wendy just tightened her grip.
I laid her back on the table, and then I ripped the dagger from her chest. I stood over her and poured the rest of the burning liquid into the jagged wound in her chest. Rick screamed.
“Leave her alone!” His scream had my hand trembling.
But I grabbed the bowl and upended it all over her.
Catching Abby on fire. I fed the flame until it was a few inches high.
“NO!” Shelly lunged. But Wendy caught her in time. “Please, no.” She crumpled to her knees next to her mate.
The hatred I saw in both of their eyes as they wrapped their arms around each other dried my mouth. “They will understand.” My grandmother whispered behind me. “Finish it.”
I raised my hands over Abby as I pushed more power into her.
“Lorna ca shad une ben sou sla clen da shure sav itsha dom.” I watched as the wound in her chest slowly closed.
The brand that Vince burned into her skin flaked off.
I grabbed the dagger once more from the table and I waited.
The fire burned for a few minutes as the couple on the ground watched in horror as their child was burned away.
I started to worry. I looked back at my grandmother, but she was gone.
Did I mess this up? My fingers tightened on the dagger and I closed my eyes, bowing my head.
“Goddess, hear me. Deliver this child from the fire. Save her from her fate that was thrust upon her unwilling soul. Help guide me to cut the thread that ties her to this place and allow me to set her free.”
Rick fought to stand, he’s breathing coming in quick gasps.
“I’ll kill you.” He started to fight against Toya’s and my mom’s hold.
But I was still fully focused on the flames above Abby’s body.
“Let me go.” He screamed. Shelly wrapped her arm around Toya’s leg and pulled.
Giving Rick enough of a distraction to break free.
He lept over the table and tried to grab me, but I snapped a shield between him and the table.
“Let go of my baby!” He screamed, slamming his hands against the invisible barrier.
But I couldn’t let my attention spilt for even a second.
I needed to see the cord. Rick threw himself against the magic.
“As soon as this is down, you’re dead. Do you hear me?
” He snarled, and I could see he was lost in his anger. “YOU ARE DEAD!”
I refused to look at him as he snarled next to me, and I am thankful I stayed focused on Abby.
I snapped my hand out as soon as I saw the thin black cord slicing through it.
Vince’s scream bounced around the cabin, causing everyone to cover their ears.
All but me as I stayed focused on Abby. I felt the blood trickle from my ear to join the trail of blood off of my face.
“I’ll kill you!” Shelly and Rick screamed again. Rick charged against the shield, and this time, I allowed him through. His hand wrapped around my throat and he leaned in. “I hope your soul is turned away by the goddess.” Then he squeezed.
“Daddy, let her go.”
Rick and Shelly both froze. I slid myself into a chair, knowing that the night was far from over, but I needed a minute. My throat was burning from Rick’s hands, but I couldn’t spare a drop of magic to heal myself. Everything I had was going to be needed.
Shelly and Rick launched themselves at Abby. Tears streaming down their faces. “Baby?” Shelly’s hands trembled on her face. “Is this real?” She leaned in and pressed her lips against Abby’s forehead. “Are you real?”
Abby giggled. “Yes, momma. I’m real.” She looked over at me. “Thank you for saving me.”
I smiled. “Of course.” I winked. “I told you I would.”
Shelly and Rick looked at each other, then over at me.
I watched their faces go through a ton of emotions, but both settled on embarrassment.
Rick pushed up from the table and turned to face me fully.
“Amy…” He dropped to his knees beside me, and I watched the man crumple.
“I don’t think I’m sorry would even touch what I just did to you. ”
I watched him for a second before I reached out to pat his shoulder. “It’s okay.”
He shook his head, and Shelly dropped to her knees next to him. “No.” Her voice was full of tears. “No, it’s not. We attacked you. We screamed at you. We did so much except trust you.” She looked up and met my gaze. Tears streamed down her face. “We should have trusted you.”
I nodded. “You should have.” I grabbed both of their hands. “But I understood why you didn’t. I couldn’t tell you because your tears are the catalyst of the spell. I would have down a lot worse because of my pup. I am doing a lot worse. I don’t hold it against you.”
Shelly broke down into sobs then. “Why not? We deserve it and worse.”
Rick nodded. “This is all my fault. The curse, the kids, your friend… Oh goddess, your friend.”
I shifted to Megan. “Is completely fine.”
He reeled back. “She was you…”
I shifted back and sighed. “Yeah. It was me.” I waved him off. “But I got more information than I had in the few months in the office.” I smirked as I turned to Abby. “Down you come.” She held up her arms, and I grabbed her. “You did so good, sweetheart.”
“Am I really healed?” Her voice was full of hope.
I smiled. “How do you feel?”
“Tired, but…” She scrunched her face up. “Better.”
I smiled. “That’s expected.” I spun her around and looked at the brand, but it was gone. “Your curse mark is gone, and I don’t feel anything around you anymore.” I spun her back around to face me. “You are officially healed.”
Shelly stood and held out her arms. But I shook my head. “What’s wrong?” Shelly’s hands dropped. I turned and handed Abby to Wendy.
“Can you bring the girls up to bed?” Wendy nodded.
“Of course I can.” She put Abby on her hip before she turned to a slightly pale Carly. “You ready for bed time girls?”
Carly bounced on her toes, then yawned. “Yeah Aunty Wendy, I am.” She slipped her hand into Wendy’s and then all walked upstairs. Shelly and Rick turned to follow, but I called them back.
“Don’t leave.” They turned, and I raised my hands. “Tomorrow you guys will have all day to play and have the first healthy day with your girl for the first time since all of this started, but sadly, we aren’t done with everything tonight.”
Rick looked down and sighed. He looked at Shelly. “I haven’t been one hundred percent honest…” He turned to look at me. “How much longer do I have?”
I opened my mouth but Shelly smacked him on his shoulder. “What are you talking about?” She looked at me. “What is he talking about?”
I had to stifle a laugh. “Rick, you aren’t the only one with something they have been hiding…” I turned to look at everyone here. “Are you?” I looked at Alannah, Ternen and then settled on Shelly.
All three looked away from my eyes. Alannah and Ternen caught each other look, but it was Alannah that smacked a hand over her mouth and sank to the ground. “No.”
I turned to Rick. “Show them.” He stared at me for a minute before turning around and lifting the hair he had let grow over the infected rune carved there.
Shelly broke down. Her sobs were soft, but everyone could feel the pain. “That’s why you stopped letting me cut your hair?”
He let the hair drop back down. “I couldn’t let you see.” Shelly wiped her eyes before she lifted her arm. Tucked inside her armpit was a brand. “What the fuck is that?” Rick rushed to her side and stared at the brand. “It doesn’t look like mine…or Abby’s.”
Before I could say anything, Alannah took off her shoe and lifted a foot, showing off the same rune on the bottom of her foot.
Ternen looked a little green when he grabbed a fist of his hair and pulled back his ear, showing off his own rune.
My mom looked at all of them and then turned to me. “What are these?”
“Parasitic runes.” I sank back into the chair. “Abby’s was a draining rune. Vince is trying to drain all the children of pack members who I can only assume wouldn’t blindly follow his plan to revolt.”
My mom scoffed, but then she fell silent. “You are serious?” I nodded. “But how would he even know that they wouldn’t follow him?”