The Initiation

by Lisa J. Smith

  The golden eyes were still staring at her… into her. She was so lightheaded, so afraid.

  And this time there was no rock beneath her feet to steady her. She was in Faye's second-floor bedroom, trapped away from any help.

  "Do we have a deal?" Faye said again.

  No escape. No hope. Cassie's vision was blurring, going dim; she could barely hear Faye over the rushing in her ears.

  She felt the last drops of resistance, of will, drain out of her.

  "Well?" said Faye in her throaty, mocking voice.

  Blindly, scarcely knowing what she was doing, Cassie nodded.

  Faye released her.

  Then she pushed the mute button again. "Sorry, Diana, I got the wrong number. I meant to call the Maytag repairman. 'Bye now!" And with that she hung up.

  She stretched like a giant cat, replacing the phone on the nightstand as she lay back. Then she put her arms behind her head and looked at Cassie, smiling.

  "All right," she said. "The first thing is, you get me that skull. And after that… well, after that I'll think of what else I want. You realize that from now on I own you, Cassie."

  "I thought," Cassie whispered, still unable to see for the gray mist, "that we were friends."

  "That was just a euphemism. The truth is that you're my captive from now on. I own you now, Cassie Blake. I own you body and soul."