Fiona swallowed, trying to catch Tobias’s eye. What the hell is going on?
Connor rose, eyes glistening. Edging toward the door, he stumbled over Jonah’s leg. “It was just herbs. Bay leaves. I read they’d keep the witches away. I said some words over them. It was for protection.”
Mrs. Ranulf stepped toward him, clutching the pendant in the air. A grin spread across her face. “It’s just as Blodrial told me. You’re the witch. I can see the sickness all around you.” She pointed at his face. “You’ve been marked by evil. You’ll burn in the inferno.”
“It was just herbs. I didn’t have a bat.”
Two guards entered, and Mrs. Ranulf nodded toward Connor. The guards gripped his arm, dragging him across the floor.
He struggled against them, kicking his legs, as they pulled him out of the room. “Where are you taking me?” he shrieked.
Fiona stood. “He’s not the witch. I’m the witch.” The words spilled out of her.
“Fiona!” Tobias jumped up. He shook his head, frowning at Mrs. Ranulf. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
Mrs. Ranulf turned slowly, gaping at Fiona and folding her arms. “You what?”
“I’ve been using magic. I’m the one who transformed into a bat.” Her hands shook, but it felt like a relief to get the truth out. And maybe they’d take her to Mariana.
Tobias gripped her arm, pulling her close. “Don’t do this.”
“They have Mariana,” she whispered.
Mrs. Ranulf stared, licking her lips. “Don’t be ridiculous. Blodrial hasn’t marked you. Look at your test scores! You’re far too smart for that. Your mind has merely been tainted through proximity.” She stepped toward Fiona, grasping her hand and pulling her up. As Fiona’s stomach turned, Mrs. Ranulf wrapped her arm around her shoulders, hugging her close. “And this is why it’s so important to keep our house clean,” she projected. “So we don’t become corrupted through the miasma of evil and filth.” She smelled of honey and crushed roses. For some reason the scent made Fiona want to gag.
Tobias glared at her. Apparently, he didn’t appreciate her impulsive attempt to find Mariana, but their window of opportunity to find her was shrinking.
Mrs. Ranulf’s arm remained firmly around Fiona’s shoulders, the tips of her nails pressing into Fiona’s skin. “Without order, we are nothing,” she sighed, and turned to Fiona. “Well, I feel confident we have solved our magic problems. Don’t you?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Fiona
After a dinner of pea shoots and quinoa, Fiona requested permission to call home. It had taken her a few tries to dial the old-fashioned rotary telephone in the drawing room, and she listened to the ringing on the other end while Mrs. Ranulf stared at her from an aubergine armchair on the other side of the room.
“Hello? Fiona?”
It was an enormous relief to hear her mother’s voice. At seven in the evening, she knew her mom would be sitting with her laptop at the kitchen table. Ordinarily she’d be grading papers, but with the school shut down, she’d likely be reading the news over a glass of white wine and a plate of garlicky pasta.
Still, with Mrs. Ranulf’s gray eyes burning into her, there was no way she could tell her mother she was being kept prisoner here.
“Mom! I just wanted to give you a call. See how everything is going.”
“I’m glad you did. I’ve been missing you here. I haven’t been able to get through on the number they gave me. Can you ask Mrs. Ranulf to give me the correct phone number?”
She’s a psychopath. “I’ll put her on after. What’s going on in Boston?”
“They think they’ve caught all the terrorists, and they’re lifting the lockdown. People are talking openly about witchcraft now. Are the Ranulfs okay to live with? Senator Ranulf seems a little fanatical on the news. I’ve been thinking maybe you should come home. It’s safe here, now. We can worry about making up the classes later.”
Fiona could hear the radio blaring pop music in the background. It all seemed so normal, and tears stung her eyes. She glanced at Mrs. Ranulf, who didn’t seem to blink. “Mariana and Connor were arrested for aiding the terrorists.”
“What? Fiona, that’s not funny.”
“It’s not a joke.” She glanced again at Mrs. Ranulf, whose pale eyes bulged. “Mariana and Connor are witches, it turns out. Mrs. Ranulf caught them. It’ll be on the news soon.”
“This is crazy.” There was a noise like the shuffling of papers. “I’m going down to rent a car and come down to see you. Is Mrs. Ranulf around? Can I speak to her?”
Fiona felt awash with relief. Maybe her mother could fix this. “She’s right here, as it happens.” Fiona held the phone out to Mrs. Ranulf, who rose from her chair.