ATONEMENT
Alex
Ididn’t know how long I remained sitting on the cold floor of the lavatory, dripping and smelling of lye soap. When I stood up, my legs trembled, and my chest was empty. Not even anger or thirst remained. I was truly alone.
Irene’s disappointed expression haunted me. If she hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed Graves, adding a new fracture to my soul, as the mirror showed me.
I’d never drunk anyone dry. I’d killed to defend myself or Darius, but never by using the thirst. Killing Graves would have scarred me forever. Once again, Irene had saved me, and I’d yelled at her.
After I donned clean clothes, I went to see Graves. Cara ambushed me in the corridor. My power wasn’t fully leashed, and the sound of her heartbeat hummed at a high-pitched tone that unnerved me.
She swayed her hips as she walked over to me. Her raven hair fell to her waist. “I didn’t thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving me from Logan.”
I waited to see if she was making fun of me. Cara admitting she’d needed help? That was a tale I would never believe.
“You’re welcome.” I resumed walking, but she wasn’t finished.
“I should return the favour.”
“It’s unnecessary.”
She stopped close to me. “I can make your fears go away in a moment. Like this.” She snapped her fingers.
I knew better than to make a deal with the witch. She always required a price for her gifts, and the price meant losing something extremely precious, from a limb to a loved one.
“I don’t need anything.”
It was a good thing that her charming spells didn’t work on undead people.
“Let me give you a peek into what I can do.”
The corridor blurred, and a vision of me laughing with Irene in my arms filled my mind. I was holding her, and she rested her head on my chest before kissing me with a passion I’d dreamt of. The vision was so beautiful it was painful to watch.
“I know your heart.” She sounded sweet and caring. “Your infirmity prevents you from touching or being touched. You hate this condition. You’re in deep pain. I feel sorry for you.”
I said nothing. I wouldn’t fall for her fake compassion.
“Imagine what it would mean for you to hold and kiss Irene, to be free from the pain. You would be stronger than you are now.”
“What do you want, Cara?” I resigned myself to having this conversation. “You would never offer me help if you didn’t want something in return.”
“I don’t want anything. It’s magic that requires a price, not me.”
“And what would the price be in my case?” I asked, curious despite myself.
She lifted a shoulder. “It’s impossible to say. The magic decides.”
“I’m not interested.”
“If you change your mind, Your Grace,” she hissed the last word, “I’ll be happy to help you.”
The vision of Irene and me together flashed again, and I had to admit it was a beautiful vision.
Cara swept into view. “It could be your future.” She wriggled her fingers before leaving.
