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"We had to come through the woods," Victoria said. "A most unpleasant experience. Therese has ripped her blouse."
"We had to come," Therese said. "Is it true? What they say? About poor Grantham?"
"We came because you lied to us, Paige. You said there wasn't a sorcerer in town."
"I never said--"
"You implied as much, leaving us all vulnerable to attack. Look what's happened now. This sorcerer brought Mr. Cary back to life."
"No, that was the necromancer. Sorcerers can't raise the dead."
"Which makes us feel so much better," Victoria said, her face contorting into a most unladylike snarl. "We have been invaded, Paige. Not only by a half-demon, but by a sorcerer and a necrophiliac--"
"Necromancer," I said. "A necrophiliac is someone who has sex with dead people. Necromancers don't--or, at least, I hope they don't ... On second thought, let's not go there."
"Paige Winterbourne! I have had enough of your--"
Thud! Something crashed in the stairwell. Then Savannah's whisper floated up, "Shit! I'm sorry, Lucas. I slipped."
He shushed her, but too late. Victoria thrust me aside and strode toward the cellar door. I ran after her and caught up when she was one step from the basement stairs. I lunged to slam the door shut, but I was too late.
"What in God's name--"
"Oh, my lord," Therese said, looking over Victoria's shoulder. "They've killed a man."
"We haven't killed anyone," I snapped. "The guy broke into our house and ... and I--"
"There was a struggle," Cortez said, from the bottom of the steps. "I accidentally knocked him unconscious. We're moving him to the basement where he can leave through the hatch. Having been struck on the head, he'll be disoriented and will likely believe he fell in that way. As you can see, we have everything under control."
"Under control?" Victoria wheeled on me. "Is this what you call having things under control, Paige? Dead people wandering around mortuaries? Mobs of strangers on your lawn? A sorcerer in your house, dragging a half-dead man into your basement? You took a simple situation and with each passing day, no, with each passing hour you have made it worse."
"Victoria," Therese said, reaching for her friend's arm.
Victoria shook her off. "No, it has to be said. We asked her to leave things alone--"
"I haven't done anything!" I said.
"You disobeyed us. Blatantly disobeyed us as you have been disobeying us for years. For your mother's sake, Paige, we put up with it. In accordance with her dying wish, we let you take the child, though God knows I wouldn't trust a parakeet to your care."
"That's enough," Cortez said, starting up the stairs.
I waved him back and turned to Victoria. "Tell me what I've done wrong. Please. I consulted a lawyer, as you advised. I cooperated with the police when Leah killed that lawyer. I sat in the police station and I answered their questions and I waited for help. For your help."
"The Coven doesn't exist to help those who bring trouble on themselves. You took the girl, knowing this demon woman was after her, knowing she was Eve's daughter and therefore didn't belong anywhere near the Coven."
"The Coven exists to help all witches. No one doesn't belong."
"That's where you are mistaken." Victoria looked down the steps at Savannah, then back at me. "You have twenty-four hours to make alternate arrangements for her care. Permanent arrangements. If you do not, you are no longer welcome in the Coven."
I froze. "What did you say?"
"You heard me, Paige. Fix this now or you will be banished."
"You can't banish me. I'm the Coven Leader."
Victoria laughed. "You are not--"
"Victoria," Therese said again. "Please."
