“Did your brother tell you how to find her?”
Annie shook her head, sending her brown hair swinging around her shoulders. “He’s always so dirty when he comes back. The headmistress beat him because he ruined his clothes. I asked him not to go again, but he said the woman needed his help. Mine too! She gives him food, and these…” The little girl scrambled to her feet and moved toward a bed pushed against the wall. She dove underneath it, her head buried beneath the cover hanging off the side. When she came back out, she unfurled her fingers.
In her palm lay a small peppermint candy.
My breath lodged in my throat. Not only did I recognize the peppermint, but Annie had a similar birthmark to mine on her wrist.
She has the gift too.
I snatched the candy from Annie’s hand. The scent of mint assailed me, and I pushed back the dark memories threatening to rush in and take over.
Bowen steadied me, concern filling his eyes. “Is that what I think it is?”
I closed my fingers around the mint, my fist shaking as I faced the truth. “It’s her. The witch is back. It’s happening again.”
Chapter 17
Liana
“She can’t stay here.” I paced the hallway outside Annie’s room. The candy was still clutched in my hand, and the scent of mint made my stomach roll. The last time I held one, I lost my brother, and now, that poor girl on the other side of the door might have lost hers too. “Annie has the same birthmark as me. It’s not a coincidence. The witch will come after her. Bowen, she can’t—”
“I know.” He caught my shoulders, halting me mid-step. “I’ll speak with the headmistress.”
I sighed and dropped my head forward. “You didn’t ask for any of this. It’s too much.”
“Neither did you.” He lifted my chin with his thumb, holding my gaze. A wealth of emotions gathered there, and I felt lost in them.
“It will be temporary. I promise. She’ll go back with me when I return home. I’d never expect…” I didn’t finish the sentence. Something in Bowen’s expression stopped me.
“We’ll discuss that later. Wait here with Annie.” His hands dropped away, and he left me standing in the hall.
Opening my hand, I stared down at the small mint. So many years had passed, and even though the memories had never left me, holding evidence of that time was like falling through a portal and landing back inside that house. The smells, the fear, the wretched heat—it all rolled over me like a thunderstorm, cracking me open and leaving me defenseless to its onslaught.
For long minutes, I was stuck inside that memory, until I heard my name, soft and inquisitive. I looked up to see Annie standing in the doorway. She twisted her hands, peering at me with uncertainty.
“Liana, are you angry with me? Did I get my brother in trouble?”
“Oh, sweetie, no.” I knelt in front of her and smoothed a lock of hair from her eyes. “We’re worried about you, that’s all.”
“You don’t have to worry.” A brave smile lit her features. “I can take care of myself.”
It was hard to hear the words I’d said so many times. I’d taken them to heart and believed them to be true.
“I know you can. You’re so brave.”
She nodded, looking solemn. “My brother told me to be brave.”
So did mine. A lifetime ago when he made me promise I’d run.
“I’m sure he’s very proud of you.” I choked on the words, hearing them spoken in Sarah Archer’s calming tone. Amazingly, this time, I believed them.
I felt a presence at my back and turned to look over my shoulder. Bowen slowed his steps, watching the two of us. He nodded, answering my unspoken question.
“Thank you,” I mouthed.
Annie tugged on my sleeve. “Do you want to do another drawing? It will make you feel better.”
“I do, very much, but first, I need to ask you something.”
