Page 77 of Strange Lights

“Enough,” Adele says with a sharp rap of the Gauntlet against glass, to remind us who is in charge. “You’re a fool if you think I wasn’t keeping track of you just in case, Regina. You’d do well to remember your own sins before you start casting stones. And on the topic of betrayal, I want to know which one of you two”⁠—she gestures at Meredith and Zara⁠—“betrayed me to Regina. Which one of you gave her the warning that I was coming to take back that little monster? Which one of you smuggled her that foul little creature in the first place?”

I’m swimming through so many layers of betrayal, I don’t know what to feel. I know better than to blame Calvin for all this⁠—I was digging my own grave long before Calvin grabbed a shovel and jumped in with me⁠—but the shock of his betrayal still stings. He looks at me, and I see in his eyes that he feels the same about me.

“Which one of you was it?” Adele demands again.

“I would never, even if I had the chance,” Meredith scoffs, as if offended by the idea.

Adele fixes her gaze on Zara, who rolls her eyes and sighs. “Haven’t I proven myself time and time again? The fact I’m even still here after the way you treat me should tell you everything you need to know about my loyalty. Why do I always get blamed for everything? I’m always the scapegoat.”

“Wrong animal,” Meredith says. “It’s not called being the scapegoat when you get caught doing the things you’re accused of. That’s called being a dumbass.”

I let out a bark of involuntary laughter at that. Teenage Meredith is exactly how I’ve been imagining her.

“I’m not in the mood for games,” Adele says. “You have a choice, Regina. Tell me which one of them has been passing you information?”

“Why would I do anything for you?” I say.

She stares at me for a moment, then walks out the door and returns with that tiny little cage, Eldi locked inside. She’s hissing and trying to grab at Adele. But the cage is too small, the mesh too tight for her to do anything. I can see the fear behind the anger, though.

“Eldi,” I call, “Eldi, it’s me. I’m under the mask. It’s Reggie.”

Eldi stills, looks at me in horror before resuming her thrashing.

“Eldi,” Calvin calls to her, too, and she turns to him.

“Calvin!” she cries. And my heart breaks. Of course she wants a familiar face.

“This is why you’ll tell me which one of your sisters it was who tipped you off.” She lifts the Gauntlet, deliberately.

“You wouldn’t,” I gasp. But I know she would.

Calvin growls a warning, a deep noise that sends shivers up my spine. Even with the suppressant, I can see the wolf struggling to emerge.

“Oh, don’t worry, you’d go first if it comes to that,” Adele says to him.

“Please, please⁠—” I say. I’m frantically thinking, maybe I could fight it. Control the Gauntlet again. But I wasn’t strong enough when she hurt Zara or when she stole the Gauntlet from me. I’ve failed already.

“I believe it was you who said pain is a crude and unreliable method of control, was it not?” Adele says coolly, cutting through my begging. “I have better options now.” She lifts the collar, twists it so it catches the light. “One of you gets to leave this cell. But you’re wearing this before you do.”

I can fight it. It’s worth the risk. A little pain for their sakes. Just like Adele took the Gauntlet from me, I can take this collar from her. Almost everyone I’ve ever cared about is in this basement. If I can escape, I can come back for them all this time. Doubt churns in my gut. There’s no reason to believe I’ll succeed now, and even more people I love are at stake. I think of Luca, how he was willing to die rather than become a weapon. What does it say about me that I’m willing to become that weapon?

“Me. Let me put it on. You can have me if you let Calvin and Eldi go. Let Meredith and Zara out.”

Adele stares at me. Without warning, she turns, raises her hand, and twists her fingers.

Calvin falls, screaming and writhing in pain in his cell. I fight this time, instinctively. Before I understand just why Adele has attacked. It’s harder than I thought, from a distance, to control the Gauntlet. My hand is outstretched. It’s like pulling on an invisible string with all my might. It’s so much harder to hold back the pain rather than wield it. Shielding Calvin from the pain takes ten times the effort that inflicting it does. I know I won’t be able to stop it entirely. I won’t even be able to hold it for long.

Eldi whimpers as Adele releases Calvin and turns toward her. Eldi cowers. I feel the tears roll inside my mask. This time, to save Eldi, I have to funnel some of that pain back at myself. The pain is worse than I remembered: sharp, immediate, and all-consuming. It’s agony, but Adele withdraws abruptly.

I lean against the cell bars, my knees barely holding me up. I dimly sense Zara is behind me, her hand clenching mine. It’s her touch that allowed me to fight this time. Even with her help, it’s taken a toll. I try not to give away that I can barely stand. I’m no longer sure I can fight that collar, I realize with a sinking heart.

Only the extra second Adele takes to steady herself reveals the cost she suffered. So it hurt her too. Good. My triumph is fleeting when Adele smiles grimly at me. I showed her my hand. I proved I would fight. Because I couldn’t let them suffer, I’ve ruined any chance of having Adele put that collar on me. I’ve ruined my chance at fighting the thing myself. I’ll have to sacrifice one of my sisters instead. An impossible choice.

“Motivation has always been your biggest obstacle. I’m not stupid enough to waste the collar on you. It takes a considerable amount of magic and control to create. And even more will to come back afterward. That’s why I was impressed when I truly realized what you had to do to make this.” She gestures once more with the hand.

“So tell me. Which one of your sisters is more loyal? Which one are you going to keep down here with you for some sisterly bonding time?”

“I vote Zara.” Meredith raises her hand. “The original two members of the Disappointing Designer Baby Club can have a reunion. I’m Mom’s favorite, anyway.”