“Ow! Goddammit!” There was a thud. Catherine stood in front of the stainless-steel table after having dropped Florence. I crinkled my face in sympathy… with Florence, not Catherine. She bent but stopped abruptly halfway, slamming her hand onto her back and moaning. Well, well, well, somewitch had a back problem. I smiled.
I rearranged my expression into something I hoped resembled sympathy. “Do you need some help? I can lift her onto the table if you like.”
She slowly straightened and turned towards me. Lips pursed, she looked at Florence again, then back up at me. “Give me a moment to think about it.” Catherine took a deep breath and tried bending again. She’d hardly bent when she cried, “Hellfire and damnation! Bloody back.”
“I won’t try anything. I promise. Maybe if I help you, you can put in a good word for me with Jeremy. He’ll need someone to visit him when he’s in jail, and he’s so handsome. I really do like him, not just his fame and money. Maybe I could take an oath to not tell anyone anything about you and what you’ve done? If he stays in jail, and you keep his money, and I have my life, we all win.” I smiled and nodded, trying to believe my own crap so it would seem legit.
Florence groaned. Nice timing. Catherine walked haltingly towards my cage. Would I have time to cast a return-to-sender spell while shoving her? Or should I wait for a better opportunity? I had no idea how strong her magic was, and I would only get one chance. She reached the cage and mumbled. I tensed and held my breath, just in case she’d been lying to me and rather than let me out, she was going to fry me. The door clicked and swung open.
“Hold your hands out.”
I did as asked. Ghostly golden rope appeared in the air, then snaked around my wrists, binding them. A flash of light and moment of searing heat around my wrists and the rope became solid. “Now you may exit.”
I stepped out of the cage, emptiness hitting me in the gut. Damn. Looked like I would have to wait for a better time. I could still feel my magic in the cage—it was as if we were separated by a thin invisible barrier—but now that she’d cut me off, all I could sense was emptiness. It was just like wearing PIB handcuffs. Oh joy. I hastily turned my thoughts to birds and double-chocolate muffins. Now my power was gone, she’d be able to read my mind if she possessed that talent. Maybe I should sing a song to myself. What would suit this occasion? Thirty Seconds to Mars for a battle anthem, or maybe Zara Larsen with “Ruin My Life.” Hmm, that sounded about right. I laughed.
Catherine tilted her head to the side and smirked. “Maybe you’re more like me than I thought. It’s good that you find this amusing. You should really enjoy what happens next. Now, pick her up and place her on the table face up.”
I planted happy thoughts in my brain, which was trying to reject them, but I was persistent. Minions, kittens, and chocolate. Minions, kittens, and chocolate. Hmm, this was going to be harder than I thought. How was I going to pick her up? She probably weighed more than me. As I contemplated the best way to get her onto the table, I glanced around at the various tools and crap scattered about. There were rubber gloves, a scalpel, forceps, a bloody rag.
“Well, I haven’t got all day. Hurry up, or I’ll put you back in the cage, and you can have your turn on the table tomorrow.”
I swallowed hard. Not happening. Minions, kittens, chocolate. “Sorry. Just figuring out the best way. It’s going to be kind of hard with my wrists tied together.”
Catherine huffed and rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She mumbled something, and the rope elongated in the middle to the point where I could spread my arms about a metre wide, but I still had no magic access. Damn. “Now stop piddling around. I need a new heart for my collection.” She grinned and clapped her hands together excitedly.
I blinked and tried to keep my thoughts neutral, but it was a losing battle. How much longer I could contain my disgust was anyone’s guess. Damn everyone at the stupid PIB. If they hadn’t been so against me helping Jeremy, maybe I would have told someone what was happening. Maybe I wouldn’t be here. Stop thinking! Negativity wouldn’t help me now. Neither would blaming anyone. It was my own stupid fault for not being careful.
Time to do this and hope an opportunity presented itself. I knelt behind Florence’s head and wriggled my hands under her back until I could slide my arms all the way under hers. Once I had them secured near her shoulders, I carefully lifted one knee till I had my foot on the floor, then I lifted the other. While I heaved her up, Catherine slid the rubber gloves on. I couldn’t let this happen, and the seconds were ticking down.
Catherine grabbed the scalpel and held it to my chest, just over my heart. “You’d better not be stalling, photo girl. Would you like to go first, after all?”
“What about me helping you? Aren’t you going to let me live?”
“I never agreed to that.” She laughed. “You must think I’m stupid.”
My voice came out strained—Florence was not a feather. “No, of course not. But I thought you’d be a woman with honour.” Maybe I could appeal to her sense of pride? “I’m helping you. I should get something worthwhile in return?”
“I don’t think so. When you’re done, you can go back in the cage.” She wasn’t very good at negotiating. Since I’d get nothing out of this, I had nothing to lose. Very bad decision on her part.
My shoulders ached from holding onto Florence for so long, and if I didn’t hurry, I was going to drop her. I walked backwards quickly, dragging her with me.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“She’s coming back to my cage with me. If you won’t deal, I’m not putting her on the table.” So there.
“Stop!”
I kept walking.
Her face reddened. “I said stop! Damn you!”
“Why don’t you stop me?” Somewhere deep in my brain came the suggestion that maybe I shouldn’t be goading her.
She mumbled something, and I hit a barrier. She said something I couldn’t decipher, and a large kitchen knife appeared in her hand. Damn. I’d just made it worse. I lowered Florence to the floor and let go of her, then faced Catherine the Crazy. Even though she was walking with a stiff gait, she’d almost reached me. It wasn’t like this place was huge.
“Because of your insubordinate attitude, you’re going first. I can gut you. It’s not ideal, but as long as I can cut your heart out in one piece, I’ll be happy.”
I tried to back up, but the invisible wall stopped me. Crap. I crabbed sideways, feeling for a break in the barrier. Reaching the far wall brought me no escape. Catherine hobbled after me. I was backed into a corner. She held the knife out in front of her, but she was slow. I ran towards her, then dodged to the left and kept going. If I couldn’t win with witch skills, I’d have to try and outrun her and her magic, which wasn’t the best plan, but it was the only one I had.
I reached the metal table and frantically searched for any kind of weapon. Nothing. Was the universe kidding me right now? I jerked my head up at the shuffle, click, shuffle, click of Catherine bearing down on me. She was three metres away—I had plenty of time to run again even though she’d picked up speed. I gauged how much time I’d have to run to the door and escape, but I couldn’t leave Florence. She could easily kill her while I was gone, but then again, if I didn’t escape, she’d kill both of us. The only solution I could live with was to stop her.
She laughed. “You’ll never escape, silly girl. Your feet are stuck to the floor.”
What? I tried to lift one foot, then the other. I strained until my muscles burnt. Nothing happened. This being-cut-off-from-magic thing was horrible—I couldn’t tell when she was casting a spell. I obviously hadn’t tried hard enough. I wasn’t going to die like this, with things unsaid to the people I loved, who may have been angry with me, but I knew they still loved me. And there was no way I was leaving this earth without my precious niece or nephew not knowing an aunt’s undying love. Damned if I was going to die before he or she was born.
There had to be a way to access the rive
r of magic. Hope flared when I realised I had my innate magic, the power that every witch had in small amounts—their life force. I delved deep inside while watching Catherine inch closer and closer, blade ready to strike. But there was nothing to see. The rope binding my wrists was like a roadblock or dam, cutting off my power. Hmm, those things could be broken, given enough force. I concentrated, pushing my lifeforce energy towards the ropes, visualising them separating and dropping to the floor, dissolving. Tingling warmth radiated through my stomach, my headache intensified, and sweat sprang out on my forehead. I winced but asked my body for more. Whatever I had must be given. It was all or I would be nothing. There was no choice.
Florence’s pained cry rang out. “Lily, watch out!”
I appreciated the warning, but it was unnecessary. I was all too aware of Catherine pulling her arm back, ready to plunge the knife into my stomach. I sent more of my lifeforce against the bonds. The sound of wind rushing through trees vibrated my ears, and the warmth in my gut grew to a blazing, blood-boiling inferno. I gritted my teeth, but the pain was too much. I screamed and grabbed my middle, fighting the violent urge to double over.
Catherine’s cackle seemed as if it was echoing through a tunnel, distant, muted as her arm started forward. I panted, the pressure building inside me asking for everything and leaving no room for my lungs to expand.
She lunged. The blade, lifeless grey in the faded light, sliced into me, just below the protection of my arms as I gave one last push, sending everything into the golden rope. My final scream, a razorblade of sound, shredded my throat.
The shackles exploded with a deafening boom that shook the walls and sent a shockwave outward. Ears ringing, I fell back, slamming into the table. The last thing I saw before I crashed into the ground was Catherine’s shocked face, replete with capital O as she was blasted off her feet and hurtled through the air.
Muffled shouts came from behind the door. Banging, then the sound of wood splintering. So many voices shouting beyond the ringing, “Lily! Lily!” Was one of them James?
I tried to answer, to call out I was here, but I was so very tired, and my mouth wouldn’t move. The grating rattle of a hard-won breath filled my ears.
Oh. Was that me?
Dizziness.
I tried but failed to suck in another breath. My eyes closed, and as I bid my loved ones goodbye in my head, my last tear slid down my cold cheek. The golden river beckoned, no longer out of reach beyond the magic shackles, but this time, it ran through a meadow lit with flowers of every colour and dewy grass that sparkled in the morning sun. I reached for the warmth, held it to me for comfort as the shouts and ringing faded to silence.
So this was how it ended.
Crap.
Chapter 16
Heavy. So heavy it felt as if my limbs could sink through the bed. I was awake but exhausted. Maybe I should just turn over and go back to sleep.
Hang on a minute….
My eyes sprang open. My room! I was alive! At least I thought I was.
“You’re awake!” Joy radiated from Olivia’s face. “Hang on a sec.” She jumped off a chair next to my bed and ran to the doorway to yell, “She’s awake! Lily’s awake!”
Yep, I was alive. But, man, was I sore. Everything ached, and my stomach throbbed. I tried to speak, but my throat and mouth were parched. I coughed instead, then grunted at the pain that sliced through my belly.
Olivia hurried back over and leant down, squishing me in a huge hug. She sniffled against my hair. “Welcome back, gorgeous girl. I missed you.” She pulled away and smiled down at me through her tears. Her voice broke as she said, “Don’t ever do that again. Ever.”
I swallowed and tried to work moisture into my mouth. “I’ll try not to.” My voice was hoarse, but at least it worked this time. “Can I have some water, please?”
“I’ll grab some. Wait here.” She turned and laughed, then spun back. “Okay, so you’re not likely to go anywhere, but you know.”
As soon as she was out the door, James, Beren, Angelica, and Imani rushed in, pushing each other out of the way to get in as quickly as possible. Happiness surged through my exhaustion—by the relieved looks on their faces, they weren’t here to yell at me for something. But then the rush of pleasantness disappeared, leaving me deflated. “Where’s Will?”
Angelica and James shared a look. Sympathy permeated the room, or was it pity? “Don’t hold back. Just tell me.” My heart was beating way too fast for someone lying in bed doing nothing.
Angelica’s gentle smile was worse than her poker face. This was going to be really bad. She waved her hand, indicating she’d made a bubble of silence. “His assignment is going very well, actually, but he’s had to go deep undercover, dear. Not even I can talk to him.”
“How deep are we talking?” My throat itched. Where was that water?
James sat on the edge of my bed and brushed my hair off my forehead. “He’s close to having those agents trust him. We’re hoping they’ll bring him into the fold. With a bit of luck, he’ll make contact with Dana soon. I’m sorry, Lily. I’m sure he’d be here if he could.”
“Oh, okay.” I stared at the ceiling, blinking my tears away. Was the universe conspiring to keep us apart? Maybe we were never meant to be together. Deep down, I knew I was being a big baby and feeling sorry for myself, but I was too tired to control my emotions.
“Let’s not think about Will right now, dear. It will all work out how it’s meant to in the end. He’s sacrificing a lot to help us find out what happened to your parents. Keep that in mind, okay?” Angelica made a valid point... as usual.
“I know you’re right. Sorry. So, is someone going to tell me how I got here? I thought I was never going to see any of you again.”
James smiled. “Imani called me when your phone dropped out.”
“I never ignore my talent, Lily. I knew you were in danger.” Her dark eyes were serious, the tightness at their corners giving her away.
“After she called me, I came here and found your camera on the dining-room table. I scrolled through it and realised you’d been visiting the crime scenes. When I saw the number plate, I looked it up and found it had belonged to Jeremy’s mother—she sold the car shortly after her third murder. We went to her house, but she wasn’t there. We searched the place and couldn’t find any secret rooms.”
“So how did you find me? And where the hell was I?”
Angelica said, “You can thank Jeremy for that. Imani went to see him, and he told her about his mother’s holiday house down in Brighton. She’d soundproofed a large brick shed in her backyard. We got there just in time, or maybe a little bit late, to be honest.” She blushed. I guessed not living up to her own high standards was bound to get to her.
“But you did. I’m still here.” I smiled.
“You can thank my nephew for that.”
Beren grinned and pushed through everyone to give me a massive cuddle. I said, “Thank you, B. That’s twice now you’ve saved my life.”
“Well, you saved mine once, so I’m only one up, and it’s not a competition, you know.” He laughed.
“We’ll see.” I grinned. Of course I didn’t want anyone to almost die again, but the way life had been lately, it was bound to happen.
Olivia returned with my water. I gingerly sat up, then gulped it down. Water. Sweet, sweet water. “Thanks, Liv.”
“My pleasure. And sorry I didn’t get back to you with those number-plate details. I was swamped at work, and I didn’t realise my phone battery had died. Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “There is something I want to ask. How did Catherine get around her alibi? She must have snuck away from her trip at some point.”
James said, “The woman sharing her room wasn’t a witch. She tampered with her memories so that when the police questioned her, she swore blind that Catherine had been with her the whole time.”
She was a strong witch. I really had
been lucky to get out alive. If it hadn’t been for her bad back…. There was one more question I had to ask. “So, is Jeremy out of jail now? He’s obviously innocent.” I wasn’t one to be petty, but I couldn’t help my I-told-you-so expression.
Angelica raised a brow. “Yes, Lily, you were right. I’m sorry I didn’t support you in your search for answers. We can talk about that later, but for now, someone’s been waiting to see you.” A knowing smile crossed her face. “He’s been here pretty much the whole time you’ve been asleep, waiting for you to wake up. Three days, to be exact.”
My eyes widened. “What? Why?”
James shrugged. “Because he wants to thank you for saving his life, for believing him when no one else would.” James looked up at Angelica, regret shining from his eyes. He looked back at me. “Sorry we had a go at you, Lily. You were doing the right thing, and we’re sorry.”
“Very sorry,” Angelica added.
“I’m just glad you don’t all hate me.”
“Lily!” Liv admonished. “We could never hate you. Never in a million years. You’re our Lily, our impossibly silly, stubborn, coffee-swilling Aussie witch. And we wouldn’t have you any other way.”
I couldn’t help but grin. But then I remembered something. “What about Florence? Is she okay?”
Beren smiled. “She was battered and bruised, but James healed her. I had nothing left after working on you. I slept for two days. Oh, and we managed to save Catherine. She almost died in the power surge, but we saved her. She’s in jail, charged with murdering twelve women and the attempted murder of two, plus assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, plus a couple of other minor charges. She’ll go to jail for the rest of her undeserved life.”
“Well, that’s good. I hope she suffers. Crazy cow.” Anger constricted my heart. She’d ruined so many lives, including her son’s. How did you ever get past the fact that your mother hates you and tried to put you in jail forever?
“Um, Lily, we have one more question.” James took my hand and held it. “How did you cause that explosion of power. It was something we’ve never seen before. And from what Florence said, you were manacled, cut off from your magic. When we found you, you were bleeding out, but worse, your power centre was burnt out. The only thing keeping you alive was your link to the river of magic. Somehow, even unconscious, you managed to stay linked. If it wasn’t for that….”
Killer Witch in Westerham Page 17