Avenge

by Sarah M. Ross

  “I remember being in the hospital, and talking to Mommy about Heaven. Is that where I am?”

  “You don’t remember anything else?”

  “It was dark for a really long time. I was sleepy, and it was dark.”

  I bit my lip to keep from crying. “I need you to tell me something, okay? I need you to tell me the story about your first day of kindergarten. Tell me why we tease you about that day.”

  Jessica giggled, and it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. “Luc! Do I have to? In front of all these people? You and Mommy tease me about that all the time. I don’t want everyone to know.” She rolled her eyes like I asked the stupidest question ever.

  “I need you to tell me. Every detail.”

  She looked around nervously, and then cupped her hand to whisper in my ear and began reciting the story the same way my mom and I told it a hundred times. “I was so excited to start school and I wanted everyone to think I was a grand princess, like Belle and Ariel and Jasmine. So I got up real early and dressed in one of mommy’s silky nightgowns. It was so soft and pretty, but I cinched it with a gold belt since it was a little too big. I found my princess high heels from when we went to Disney and I got to go to the Bippity Bopity Boutique. And I did my makeup real pretty, ‘cause I wanted to be grown up like you.”

  I released a smile so wide it covered my entire face. “That was the worst makeup job ever. Your blue eye-shadow went to your eyebrows, the lipstick almost touched your nose, and your cheeks were so red from the blush that you made a clown look subtle.”

  We both started laughing again, and I scooped her up into my arms and cried. I cried all the tears I wanted to cry for the past six months without her. She was back, my beautiful baby sister, who had been plagued by the most vile being and committed the most heinous of crimes. She was perfect again. Her soul completely untarnished. I squeezed her so tight, not letting up even when she squirmed against me.

  “I missed you so much, you don’t even know,” I cried in her hair.

  “I missed you too, Lucy. I was so afraid, but Mommy kept telling me that you would be right there for me waiting. And that made me less scared. I was okay leaving Mommy and Daddy since I knew you’d be there.” Her words were spoken softly, and I knew that she was missing them. For years she put on a brave face so my parents wouldn’t break down, and she was still doing it.

  “It’s okay, you’re allowed to miss them,” I assured her. That was all the cue she needed. Within seconds, she was sobbing in my arms, slumped against me. I sat us both on the floor and I rocked her like I used to when she’d have a nightmare.

  As I held her, I kept my eyes on Alastair and the goons. I did not put it past them to use this moment of vulnerability to attack or try to make another move. He was perched back on his throne-like chair, paying no attention to us. The goons receded back into the shadows, and even though they were out of sight for now, I knew they still surrounded me and could be on me in a matter of seconds.

  I made soothing noises and stroked her hair, happy that she knew she didn’t need to be strong anymore. I would be strong for her. She cried for all the pain she’d gone through, and all the life she missed out on. She cried for the guilt of leaving my parents, and for missing them terribly. I let her cry, her tears soaking my shirt.

  As weary as I was about this situation, I was so happy to spend this time with her. When her sobs quieted, she hiccupped loudly. I took her mind off of her own grief by recalling stories about our time together. We told stories, and it warmed my heart to see her smiling again.

  It hit me then that whatever the fog had disappeared. I didn’t feel angry or frustrated or disgusted like the last few weeks. I knew it could come back at any moment, but I hoped that meant that they released Max from the prison they kept him in.

  “Lucy?” Jessica whispered to me, not lifting her head from my chest.

  “Yeah, Little One?”

  “What happens now? Do I get to stay with you? I really want to stay with you.”

  I couldn’t seem to swallow the baseball that was now lodged in my throat. “No, sweetie, you can’t stay with me. I have to go somewhere else. My job isn’t done yet.”

  Jessica’s tiny fingers gripped my shirt harder. “Please. I’ll be good, I promise. I’ll stay real quiet and I won’t bother you at all. Let me stay with you.”

  I sat up a little straighter and Jessica looked up at me. “Where you’re going, you’ll have so much fun, and be so loved that you won’t even have time to miss me, I promise. And then, before you know it, you’ll be back with Grandma and Grandpa, and then Mommy and Daddy.”

  “But what about you?” Her eyes were so wide with innocence and wonder, I shut my own to keep going.

  “I love you, squirt. And I’ll always love you. But I can’t go with you.” I held her close to me, wanting to savor these last, few precious moments. I could see Alastair out of the corner of my eye, tapping his wrist as the universal sign for “time’s up.”

  Pushing up, I made Jessica stand as I knelt next to her. “It’s time for you to go, sweetie. Remember while you’re there that I love you very much, okay?”

  She nodded and bit her lip to keep from crying. “Are you going to take me?”

  I shook my head. “No, you’re going to go with…” My voice trailed off, because I still had no idea who she was going to go with. The spy hadn’t come yet to receive the prize. I looked at Alastair, silently asking “now what?”

  He didn’t respond, instead he waved two fingers for someone to step forward. The next thing I knew, someone shuffled out of the shadows and into the light.

  I gasped, clutching my sister closer to me to keep her away. Of all the people who I would have guessed to be the spy, this person was not among them. I blinked repeatedly, trying to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “No. It can’t be. You can’t be the spy.”

  Amelia sneered at me, the hatred plastered on her face. “Maybe if you didn’t have your head so far up Elizabeth’s ass, you might have seen this, you stupid cow. I honestly don’t know what she sees in you. You’re not half as bright or talented as everyone thinks you are.”

  I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t even put together questions. None of this made sense to me. “But…how…why would you…what were you thinking?”

  “What was I thinking?” she scoffed, like I asked the stupidest question ever. “Maybe I was thinking that I could go somewhere where I wasn’t forced to work myself ragged. Or somewhere that loyalty was rewarded instead of spat upon. Maybe I wanted to work with some people who appreciated my talents and abilities rather than tossing me aside for the newest shiny toy on the shelf.”

  I knew my mouth was opening and closing, but I simply couldn’t seem to form words. I had no idea what she was talking about, and nothing she said seemed worth the price she was paying.

  “Everyone acts like you’re some prodigy, but I can see you for what you really are. You’re nothing but a whiny, self-absorbed bitch who cries when she doesn’t get her way. Everyone seems to bend the rules for you like you’re special. You’re not special, you’re nothing. You’re less than nothing.”

  Amelia started walking toward me, and I protectively placed Jessica behind me. I could feel her tiny fingers gripping my shirt, and I squeezed her wrist once to reassure her.

  “It should have been me on that team, not you. You’re pathetic.”

  “Amelia, I don’t care what you think of me, but how could you do this to everyone else? Do you know how many souls you risked? How many innocents that have been lost because of you? If you want to hate me, fine. But why them?”

  I thought a flash of remorse crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by her mask of contempt. “I have my reasons. Besides, no one is innocent. There are only those who are better at hiding their guilt.”

  “I guess you would know a thing or two about that, huh?” I knew antagonizing her was a stu
pid move, but I couldn’t seem to keep my mouth from spewing the words out. I was so angry that she would do this to us.

  Amelia turned to Alastair, who leaned back in his seat like he was enjoying the greatest show. “Please let me be the one to kill her. I’d really like that.”

  “Not yet, my dear. You have a very important job to do, one that will get you on that team you’ve been longing to be a part of and back in everyone’s good graces.”

  I glanced over at Amelia, who was practically salivating at the idea. I knew she was disappointed that she wasn’t a member of our Gideon team, but she was promoted and ran the Guide training program. It was a position even higher than being a member of our team.

  I couldn’t worry about that now. I needed to put the last piece in play so I could free Max and end all this. Behind me, Jessica continued to cling to me. I bent down to reassure her.

  “Little One, you’re going to go with this nice lady, and she’s going to take you where you need to go. She won’t hurt you, I promise.” I looked over at Amelia as I said this, staring daggers that let her know she’d better hold that promise.

  Amelia sauntered over to me and held out her hand expectantly. Jessica—who was obviously wise beyond her years—refused to leave my side. “I don’t like her. Can’t I stay with you?”

  Amelia’s lip curled hearing this, but I didn’t acknowledge Jessica. Amelia’s hurt feelings were the last thing on my mind. I took Jessica by the shoulders and pulled her in front of me, facing Amelia. I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’ve gotta trust me here. I know it’s scary, and you don’t know her or like her, but trust that I would always do everything in my power to make sure you are safe and protected. Do you believe me?”

  Jessica nodded, and I kissed her hair before lowering my voice so only she could hear me. “Good girl. I need you to be brave. Now, very slowly walk up to her and take her hand. Tell her you want to see Cassie as soon as you leave this room, and that I promised you that Cassie would give you a present from me. Make sure she takes you to her, okay? Can you remember that?”

  Jessica turned into me and hugged me tight, crying once again. “I love you so much, Lucy. I promise, I’ll do what you said. I won’t forget. I won’t let you down.”

  “You never could, sweet girl.” I took one final embrace, and pushed her away from me. “Now go. Everything will be okay, I promise. I love you.”

  Amelia took a few steps forward and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go, Jessica. There are a lot of people here who want to meet you. I’m going to take you away from all these mean people. I’m going to rescue you from the bad guys. What do you say to that?”

  “But what about Lucy? She’s not a bad guy.”

  Amelia growled in the back of her throat, but Jessica missed it. “No, she’s not. But she is going to stay and make sure they all go to jail while I make sure you’re nice and safe. Remember when we get there to tell them that I was the one who took you away from here, okay?”

  Jessica didn’t take her eyes off me, but nodded in agreement. I gave her a small smile and winked, and she walked out the door.

  I swallowed against the lump in my throat. It was finally time and I needed to be on top of my game now more than ever if I had any hope of pulling this off. I spun away from the door and faced Alastair one last time.

  “One down, one to go, Alastair. As soon as you show me Max is safe, my secrets and I are all yours.”

  “Tit for tat, my dear. I gave you a huge tit.”

  Snickers from the goons behind him made me roll my eyes. “Really, boys? What are you, in middle school?”

  Alastair shot them a warning look at they quickly muffled their snickers with fake coughing. “You’re going to have to give me something else, Lucy.”

  “What do you want, Alastair?”

  “Where are the other teams located? In what states?”

  I sighed, weighing how I should answer. I couldn’t lie, he’d see it. For some reason, he was able to see through any lies like I wore a sign saying “I’m lying.” I could only assume it was because he was so close to the root of evil. I knew I needed to answer truthfully, but I didn’t want to put other teams in danger either. “I only know of a few. I can’t be sure of how many there are total.”

  “Then you will tell me what you do know.”

  I ground my teeth, hating what I was about to do. If this didn’t work… “There are teams in Florida, Louisiana, California, New York, and Maryland that I know about. A few overseas. There may be more, but those are the only ones I‘m certain about.”

  Alastair smiled widely, reminding me of the Cheshire cat. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “You disgust me.”

  He chuckled, like I amused him and turned away from me. “Remove the fangs, and place him in the location we discussed previously. But make sure he won’t wake up for a while. I can’t have him ruining all my fun with her.”

  I shivered at his suggestion, but didn’t stop looking him in the eye. The goons departed, leaving me alone with Alastair. “Now, I’m going to need you to come here and put this on.” He held up what looked like a leather collar and dangled it in front of him by one finger. It swung lazily, and when I took a closer look at it, it reminded me of a dog collar or something that the Goth kids would wear. Seeing the confused look on my face, he flipped a small switch on a remote control. Instantly, several razor like blades on the inside of the band popped out of the collar.

  My eyes widened in fear and my legs refused to move. It looked like a torture device and I had no idea what he wanted to do with it.

  “Just in case you get any wise ideas, this will make sure that I don’t have to touch that pretty silver skin of yours, and yet I can still drain you in a matter of minutes of every drop of vital Patronus blood you have. Your body will never be able to heal in time. You will die. Those men know not to give Max his soul back until you’re wearing this pretty necklace.”

  “Shit,” I whispered too low for him to hear. This definitely put a cramp in my plan. But I couldn’t risk them not holding up their end. That wasn’t an option. I needed a Plan B.

  I slowly convinced my feet to walk forward, my heart beating so hard I was sure a drum would have been quieter. Each step was like walking through quicksand. My body rebelled against the very idea, and I could feel my silver skin swirling under my bracelet, begging to be released. I forced the urge back and willed my body forward.

  When I finally stood before him, I held perfectly still and allowed him to place the collar around my neck, the click of the lock sounding like a gunshot in my ears. I winced, and let out a sigh. It was out of my hands now.

  Chapter Thirty

  “Why don’t you have a seat here?” Alastair pointed to a footstool beside him. “You might as well get comfortable. You’ll be here for a little while as they take care of Max.”

  I crouched down and sat rigidly, counting down the minutes in my head as I thought of a way to get the remote control away from him. I needed that out of his possession before the rest of the plan could fall into place. If my team got the message I hid, that is…

  “Why don’t we go ahead and start our little conversation while we wait? No use in sitting here. You know what they say about idle minds.”

  “It’s idle hands, you moron. And I’m not saying a word until it’s done.”

  A tingle in my bracelet indicated I had a message. I didn’t dare check it and scowled to keep a smile from growing on my face.

  My team had found the clue I’d left behind. It was time.

  The first thing I needed to do was get him out of that chair. It protected him too much, and I needed him to expose as much vulnerability as possible if I had a hope of making it out of this intact.

  While I’d been sitting there, an idea came to me. It was crazy, and a last resort, but desperate times and all that.

  “I need to walk. I can’t stay seated. It’s driving me crazy.” I stood up and paced, lengthening my stride w
ith each short lap. Alastair didn’t stop me as I stood; he had no reason to with that remote sitting next to him propped up on the arm of his chair. I needed as much distance as possible between us so when the time was right, he would have no choice but to come toward me and away from the safety of the corner where he sulked.

  When I reached the corner of the room opposite Alastair, I made my move. Keeping my back to him, I conjured up a small pocketknife and made a one-inch slit in my neck, just under the collar. Before he could notice the swift movement, I allowed the knife to vanish back into my bracelet. I swiveled my body toward him, allowing him to see the thick blood that dripped in heavy globs down my neck. I gasped in fake pain, jerking my head to the left and grabbing my neck with my hand. “Oh! What did you do?” I cried, and fell to my knees.

  “What’s wrong with you? What are you doing?” Alastair sat up a little straighter in his chair at tilted his head curiously but didn’t move. I needed more.

  “Why would you do this?” I held my hand to the wound, pressing it harder to force more blood out while making it appear as if I was protecting the injury. The warm, crimson liquid flowed even faster as I pushed harder, soaking the top of my tee shirt. “I thought you wanted information from me first. Now, I can’t…” I made a choking noise in my throat, stumbling further. “I can’t…”

  Alastair jumped up and walked toward me, muttering about malfunction and defective pieces of junk. I kept my head down, but my gaze never left him out of the corner of my eye. When he was in the center of the room, I punched a button on my bracelet and screamed, “NOW!”

  In the blink of an eye, my entire team as well as several others dashed into the room, surrounding almost every inch of the chamber. There must have been at least twenty people in the tiny area, each one with weapons drawn and ready for battle. They stood trembling, fingers twitching for the signal to take him down. I recognized a few other Patroni from my realm, but other than my team, I didn’t know most of them.