“No!” I screamed, struggling to break free.
“Yes,” Revenald replied calmly. “You need an incentive to be a productive part of our world. If your sister is a member of it, you’ll fall into line. It’s the perfect solution. After all, there’s no bond stronger than the one you share with family.” As I continued fighting him, whipping my head back and forth so hard that I busted my nose and blood flowed from it, Revenald cooed, “Shh. This is the way it has to be. You’ll see. Flesh of our flesh, blood of our blood.”
“They’ll miss her,” I bluffed, scrambling for an excuse. “They’ll know she’s gone. They’ll search for her.”
“All taken care of,” Revenald replied. “Your mother checked her out of the hospital early this morning. She told the staff she’d hired private help. Pity we had to destroy the old woman before the trip here, but she didn’t serve any purpose. She wouldn’t have survived long in my home, anyway.”
“The girl is mad,” Victoria said from behind us, her distain obvious. “Look at her. She’ll lose all sense of logic. She’ll be uncontrollable.”
“That may be true, but mad or not she is the key to your revenge. Change her, bring her into your fold. My familiar wouldn’t dare act against her own, especially her sister.” Revenald inhaled deeply against my head. “Can’t you smell the fear coming from Rhiannon Murphy? Isn’t it more powerful than killing her quickly? You can ensure she suffers for an eternity. You will govern the life of the person she cherishes most—forever. There is no greater justice I can give you.”
“Please,” I begged, breaking down. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Of course you’ll do whatever I want,” Revenald whispered mockingly. “That isn’t open for debate. You are mine. You do what I say, when I say it. You don’t eat, sleep, or think without my command.”
“Please,” I repeated, desperate despite his tone. “You don’t have to do this. She hasn’t done anything to you. Let her go. You’re angry at me, not her.”
A hand forced my head back and I gazed into Anton’s face. He seemed awed, his green eyes glowing. Portions of spit had dried on his nose, leaving behind white patchy smears. “The despair in her eyes tastes delicious.”
“Don’t do this.” I couldn’t believe I was pleading with the man who’d killed Paine. “Let her go.”
“She’s so much better when she’s obedient,” Anton observed, lowering his head and licking the blood streaming from my nose before he let me go. “Sticky sweet.”
“What say you, Victoria?” Revenald asked. “A life for a life. A loss for a loss.”
Victoria grabbed my head this time, looking down at me. I didn’t know what she was looking for. I simply gazed into her endless green eyes, humbled, pleading, and desperate. After a moment, she seemed to have found what she was searching for. She nodded and released me.
“Make her watch.”
“No!” I screamed a second time, trying to break free, wishing I had the power to do something. Instead my head was forced back at an angle that left me with no alternative but to witness Victoria approaching my sister.
I prayed, pleading for God to help me, to intervene on behalf of an innocent soul. Jennifer was a victim, someone who had never done anyone any harm. It wasn’t fair—no, it wasn’t right—that she should suffer further atrocities. I strained beneath Revenald, knowing I couldn’t break free, unable to forgive myself for being so weak. They were going to destroy the only part of my sister left, taking the last of her sanity.
“You said I could plead and you would listen,” I whispered to Revenald, past my breaking point, no longer whole. “I’m begging you. Begging you. Please let her go. I’ll be your fucking slave if that’s what you want. I’ll do whatever you tell me to. Just don’t hurt her.”