I nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “She’s still alive.”
Elizabeth swallowed. She glanced down at her hands in her lap, twiddling her thumbs and picking at her cuticles.
“Are you gonna tell me what’s bothering you?”
When Elizabeth glanced up, I saw the guilt written on her face as clear as day. I had a sudden vision of her and David, naked and tumbling over each other.
I stared. “Come on,” I said sharply. “Tell me.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I’m sick,” she said. “That’s all. I’ve just been ill lately.”
“I don’t think that’s the whole truth,” I said. “Elizabeth, you can’t lie to me. We’re best friends.”
Elizabeth nodded slowly. “I know we are,” she said softly. “I know we are.”
Anger, confusion, and betrayal soared through my heart. Getting to my feet, I shrugged.
“I’m going home,” I said. “I’ll see you around, okay?”
Elizabeth didn’t reply.
Why, I thought as I let myself out of her house and into the street. It was more crowded than I’d seen in a long time. Parties of searchers, screaming Andrea’s name, passed by. They all clutched flashlights and Bibles.
I did this, I thought as I walked slowly through town. This is my fault.
“Monica!”
I looked up and saw Steven, rushing towards me. His face was streaked with tears. Like everyone else outside, he carried a Bible.
“What?” I looked at him dully. “What do you want, Steven?”
“We’re looking for Andrea,” Steven said. “She’s missing.” He sniffled and sobbed, wiping his nose on a damp tissue before stuffing it back in his pocket. “She’s been gone for days.”
“Oh.” Guilt stung me like a brand. “Yeah. Um, I was looking for her,” I lied.
“Let’s look together,” Steven said. “I can’t find Elizabeth anywhere. Her parents and brother are out, but she told me she was sick. She didn’t look sick,” he added in an accusing tone. “I think she’s faking because she’s lazy.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve never heard you say anything so critical of Elizabeth,” I said slowly. “I’m sure she’s just overwhelmed.” And maybe, yeah, a little tired. Because she fucked my boyfriend. I imagine that would tire someone out really fast.
“She’s not helping,” Steven said angrily. “The whole town is helping but Elizabeth doesn’t even care!”
Suddenly, an idea popped into my mind. “Steven,” I said slowly. “Let’s go over here, I bet no one has checked the alleys downtown.”
“Good idea,” Steven said. “You’re smart, Monica.”
I rolled my eyes, grateful for the darkness so he wouldn’t be able to see. “Sometimes I am.”
A plan formed in my brain. A plan to get Elizabeth back… and restore life to its rightful balance around Jaffrey. I won’t use my powers after this, I decided firmly. This will be the last time. And then that’s it. Everything will be back to normal.
“Hey, Steven,” I said. “I think I have something in my eye. Could you look?”
“Sure. We should hurry, though. If Andrea is in one of the alleys, we want to find her as soon as possible.”
You idiot, I thought. This will be too easy.
Steven shone his flashlight in my eyes and leaned in close. His brown eyes oozed with sincerity as he stared at me, locking his gaze with mine.
“Forget about Andrea,” I said. “She doesn’t exist. You don’t have a sister.”
“What?” Steven narrowed his eyes. “Monica, what’re you—”
“Shut up,” I growled. You’ve never had a sister, I thought. Andrea was a figment of the town’s imagination, like a myth. Like a legend. She was a folktale, a fantasy—no more real than Beauty and the Beast.
Steven’s brown eyes glazed over and rolled back in his head. “I never had a sister,” he mumbled.
“Yes,” I hissed. “You never had a sister. You have Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth…”
“Yes, Elizabeth.” I leaned in close, staring at Steven’s slack face. His jaw was open and he drooled slightly. “Elizabeth is meant for you, Steven.”
“Meant… for… me…”
“Yes, Steven,” I growled. “Meant for you.”
Steven’s lids fluttered closed and he collapsed to the ground. I rolled my eyes, then reached down for his flashlight and stuffed it in my bag. Cries of “Andrea! Andrea!” were all around me, but I didn’t care.
Anger boiled inside of me. A hot, new anger unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Anger at Elizabeth, for fucking David. Anger at Henrik and Ligia, for lying to me and treating me like I was a stupid little kid.
But most of all, anger with myself. I’d become the kind of person I hated—a naïve pawn, always being used for the benefit of others.
And the worst part?
I hadn’t even known it until Henrik had cruelly pointed it out to me. The whole time, they’d only been keeping me around for my close proximity to Andrea. They’d known that I’d do it, they’d known that I’d stab her.
I wanted to die.
Chapter Eight
Elizabeth
After Monica left, I was sure she knew. I was just waiting for the angry phone call—the one where Monica told me to kiss her friendship goodbye, and forget all about the coven. But then something very strange happened—something I’m still not sure about.
I felt like a piece of shit. My life had turned from horror movie into stupid teen comedy where the slutty girl sleeps with her best friend’s boyfriend. And I hated myself. I hated myself for not standing up to Monica, for participating in the coven.
The whole town still desperately searched for Andrea. That’s why I was so surprised to hear a knock at the door the next morning. What, I wondered irritably as I walked downstairs, still in my pajama pants and hoodie from the night before. I bet someone’s going to yell at me for not helping with the search. Hell, I can’t believe I’ve gotten away with staying home for so long, anyway.
When I opened the door, I was shocked. Monica and David stood there, grinning happily at each other with their arms around each other’s waist.
“Hey, can we come in? David drove into town and Jamie and Brian don’t have anything to eat. But I told him your mom always has stuff for sandwiches.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Uh, yeah,” I said, stepping back to let them both inside. “Are you okay?”
Monica smiled. “Of course I am,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Because I slept with your boyfriend, you know—the one standing right in front of me. And we both know it. And we both know that we both know. I struggled to smile as David and Monica walked into the kitchen. David didn’t even look at me—his eyes were glued to Monica. I bet she got really mad or something; maybe she threatened to hurt herself. When I remembered his words from that night in the car, about being done with her anyway, I felt angry and bitter. I bet he lied, I thought, following Monica. I bet he just lied so he could have a chance with me.
David sat down at the kitchen table, his eyes hanging off Monica like fur on a dog.
“Hey,” I said. “How are you?”
David didn’t look up.
The phone rang. Glad for a distraction, I grabbed the receiver and held it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Oh, Elizabeth! I’m so glad it’s you!”
“…Steven?”
“It’s me!” I could tell by the tone of his voice that Steven was grinning. “Oh my God, it’s so good to hear your voice. I missed you, Elizabeth. I missed you so much.”
“Um, yeah,” I said slowly. “Did something happen? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine, I just miss you.”
I bit my lip.
“Elizabeth? Elizabeth, are you still there?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m here.”
“I need you, Elizabeth. I need to see you. I need you,” Steven repeated. The intensity of his voice frightened
me.
“You’re scaring me, Steven,” I said slowly. “Are you okay? Are you… I don’t know, stressed about Andrea?”
“No, no,” Steven said. “Trust me, I understand all about Andrea now. What a funny story.”
I frowned. Before I could ask what he meant, he kept going.
“When can I see you? Please, please let it be soon,” Steven said. “Elizabeth, I need you so much!”
“Maybe tomorrow?” I bit my lip. “I don’t know, Steven. I haven’t been really doing well. Remember, I told you I was sick.”
“I could come over, take care of you,” Steven said. “Do you like chicken soup when you’re sick? Oh! Crackers, and ginger ale!”
“You really don’t have to do that,” I said quickly. “I’m fine. Monica and David are over, and I think they’re going to make lunch.”
“Who’s David?” Steven asked in a sulky voice. “Elizabeth, I don’t like the idea of you hanging out with other guys. You’re mine,” he added. “I need you.”
Oh my God, he’s totally manic, I thought. I licked my lips. “Um, yeah,” I said. “Look, I’ll let you go, okay?”
“No!” Steven shrieked into the phone. “No, don’t hang up! Elizabeth, please!”
I grimaced as I set the phone back down in the cradle.
“What was that?” Monica glanced up. Her face was completely earnest. The sense of dread that had begun to grow inside of me during the phone call with Steven grew larger, and I swallowed hard.
“Steven,” I said. I narrowed my eyes. “He was acting really weird,” I said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he sounded really manic.”
“I think he really likes you,” Monica said. She shrugged. “I ran into him last night and he couldn’t stop talking about you. I guess he’s finally ready to settle down and be a good boyfriend.”
“I don’t know that I want that, though,” I said slowly.
Monica spread mayonnaise on a slice of bread. At my words, she set the bread down on a plate and gave me a weird smile before walking over to David. Monica tangled her hands in David’s dark hair. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and smiled as Monica leaned down to kiss him.
“Why wouldn’t you want that?” Monica purred, standing up and smirking at me. “I thought you really wanted Steven, Elizabeth.”
“Yeah, Elizabeth,” David echoed. He smiled at me and I shivered. The intensity in his eyes—that tortured, dark look—had all but vanished. His voice didn’t even sound like it usually did, rough and raw around the edges from too many cigarettes.
What the fuck is going on, I wondered, staring at Monica and David as they cooed and cuddled, right in front of me. Why is she doing this? Is this to punish me, somehow? And how the hell did she get Steven in on the whole thing?
The sound of a loud knock at the door made me jump. Monica grinned. “Better answer that,” she said.
I bit my lip and walked nervously to the door. When I pulled it open, Steven stood there, grinning like a maniac. When he stepped inside, I gasped. His car was parked in my parents’ front lawn. Muddy skid marks marred the grass and I noticed the engine still ran.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Steven. “Why did you rush over here?”
Steven’s brown eyes glowed. He grabbed both of my hands and held them so tightly that it almost hurt.
“I had to see you,” Steven said. “Didn’t you miss me, Elizabeth? I had to come and see you as soon as I knew you were home. I love you!” He practically shouted the words before pulling me into a tight hug.
“Ugh, Steven,” I flinched and tried to push him away, but it was hard. His grip was like that of a football player. “Let me go,” I added, twisting loose and stepping back.
Steven stared at me, panting hard. He still grinned, but his mouth hung open.
“Don’t be mad, Elizabeth,” Steven said. “Don’t be mad about the lawn. I promise, I’ll fix it. Your parents will understand—I’ll tell them how crazy I am about their daughter!”
Oh my God, I thought, glancing from Steven to David. She brainwashed them. Both of them. My horror grew as Steven stepped into the kitchen. When he saw David, he balled his hands into fists.
“Who’s this?” Steven demanded, pointing to David. “I told you—Elizabeth, I don’t want you hanging out with other guys, okay? It’s not fair to us. It cheapens what we have.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “And… Steven, what is it that we have?” I asked in a shaky voice. “What are you talking about?”
Steven’s brown eyes glowed and he tried to pull me into another tight embrace. This time, I barely managed to wriggle free.
“We have true love,” Steven said. “I love you, Elizabeth,” he declared passionately. “And I need you.”
“Monica,” I said sharply. “I need for you a minute.”
“No!” Steven yelled. “Whatever you have to say to Elizabeth, you can say it to me,” he said hotly. “No secrets from us, Elizabeth!”
I groaned. “Monica and I need a few seconds of girl time,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “I won’t be long, okay? Just a few minutes.”
Steven’s intense look softened. “Okay,” he said. “Just don’t be too long. I miss you already,” he added.
I cringed. Monica came out of the kitchen, smiling smugly. I glared at her. Why, I thought as I led Monica through the house and into the bathroom. Locking the door behind us, I leaned against it and crossed my arms.
“Monica, what’s going on,” I asked softly. “Please, tell me—why are you doing this?”
“I admit, it’s a little intense,” Monica said. She licked her lips. “But it’s going to fade soon, Elizabeth, don’t worry. He’ll be normal… just give him a few weeks. It’s a pretty powerful spell,” she added.
“You brainwashed him,” I said incredulously. “He and David both! Why would you do that, Monica? Why?”
Monica smiled. “Because I had to,” she said. “Don’t you get it, Elizabeth? Now everything will work out for the best.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “No! You have to fix it! You have to get Steven to stop… obsessing over me like this! It’s creeping me out, and I don’t even know that I want to be with him!”
“But you wanted to be with David,” Monica said coldly. “So I had to take matters into my own hands, Elizabeth.” She smiled. “Now everything will be perfect.”
“I can’t believe you,” I said sadly. “First Andrea, and now this? You’re crazy,” I said. “I can’t even believe this happening!”
Monica didn’t reply. I pushed past her and stormed down the hall and out of the house.
“Elizabeth, wait!” Steven called. “I have to be with you!”
“Later,” I yelled over my shoulder. Breaking into a run, I headed into the woods.
I ran and ran and ran, stumbling over branches and leaves. Soon, I was crying. But it didn’t feel bad this time—it felt almost good, like a catharsis. A painful stitch broke out in my side and I had to stop, leaning over my legs and resting my hands on my thighs. The day was the warmest that Jaffrey had been in months, but I wasn’t looking to stay in town.
I needed to find the coven. I had to make Ligeia and Henrik learn what Monica had done.
Because otherwise, I knew I could never go back home.
As soon as my side felt better, I broke into a fast jog and sprinted through the woods. The trees began to show buds, then greenery, then soon, there was grass under my feet. As I stumbled into the official clearing that signaled the opening to the coven, I knew I should feel satisfied. But all I felt was hot anger and betrayal, pumping through my veins.
There was no sign of Andrea, but I cringed at the bloodstains lingering on the tree. I wasn’t there for more than a minute when Ligeia glided up.
“Child,” she said softly. “I’m surprised to see you.”
I raised an eyebrow. I was breathing hard from my run and I knew my face was red and soaked with sweat and tears.
“Are yo
u?” I panted. “Because somehow, I doubt that.”
Ligeia nodded. “You’re right,” she said. “But I’m surprised you were able to find us so easily. Tell me, child, is Monica with you?”
“No.” I curled my hands into fists and took a deep breath. “She doesn’t know I’m here.”
Ligeia’s look softened considerably. “Tell me, child, what’s troubling you? You look ill, and very sad,” she said.
“What happened to Andrea?” I swallowed nervously. “Where is she?”
“She is recovering, with some of the others,” Ligeia said. “I prepared a poultice for her wound and she is resting while she regains her strength.”
“And her soul?”
“Child, don’t worry of that now,” Ligeia said. She stepped closer and put an arm around my shoulders. At first, I resisted. But then I felt a strange calm blanketing me, and I closed my eyes and rested my head on Ligeia’s shoulder. She felt almost as comforting as David had.
“Child, I can tell you’re unhappy,” Ligeia said. “Please, lay your troubles on me. I’m your priestess. That, among many other things, is chiefly why I’m here.”
I sighed, then launched into the whole weird story. I even told her about sleeping with David, before Monica had returned from the coven. I cried, and Ligeia dried my tears on her robes. She gave me a cold compress for my forehead that smelled like witch hazel and lavender, and soon I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks.
Just as I was getting to the end of my story, Henrik appeared. He gave me a sympathetic smile and sat on the ground, leaning against a tree. He pulled a small piece of wood from his pocket and began whittling, whistling as he did so.
Suddenly, I realized that I actually felt… at home with Henrik and Ligeia, almost like the coven was where I truly belonged.
“Yes, child,” Ligeia said. She smiled sadly at me. “That is how I feel, too. My coven is the most important thing in the universe to me, don’t you understand?”
I bit my lip. “I’m starting to,” I said slowly. “At least, I think so.”
“Don’t worry,” Henrik said. “I can take care of everything… you’ll just need to give me some time. After all, you helped to perform a very important service for the coven, and your kindness will be remembered for a long time.”
The Uprising (Moonlight Wolves Book 3) Page 47