AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The fact that Griffin evencansoothe this kid’s emotions is proof that we’ve made progress.
I just can’t help feeling a little sick about how much else I had to steal from him to accomplish that.
The boy rubs his forehead. “You say my name is Keith? I… I don’t even rememberthat.”
Neither had I, if I’d ever known it. But we had a little extra help in that department.
I motion Ajax over from where he’s been waiting near the door, braced in case he has to duck outside for his own safety. He steps closer, his telepathic voice traveling into my mind at the same time.I’m not picking up on any violent thoughts. He’s just confused. And he doesn’t like the idea that he hurt people.
Well, developing a conscience seems like important progress too.
I tap the slim boy’s shoulder. “This is Ajax. He did some training with you at one of the places you lived before, so he can tell you some things about yourself. If you’re ready to talk more about that.”
Keith wavers for a moment with a slight sway of his posture before offering a tentative smile. “That—that would be nice.”
The door eases open to reveal Zian’s face. “Lull says that the girl—Bethany—is going to wake up soon. If you want to try on her too.”
I glance around at the others, not sure whether I want to be told to go ahead or held back from wiping out my second mind of the day.
Dominic dips his head. “I’ll stay, just in case.”
There are a few shadowkind watching from the shadows who can step in if they need to too,Ajax informs me silently. It turns out he can sense their thoughts even when they don’t have a physical presence, although he says the impression is pretty foggy.
I square my shoulders. “All right. I’ll see how it goes with Bethany.”
One victory isn’t proof of success, only a good sign. We need to see if I can repeat it.
Griffin turns to follow me over to the next room, where Rollick’s people moved the captured shadowblood girl. “I should come along for calming purposes. Keith seems pretty stable at the moment.”
I shoot my friend a quick smile in thanks. At least I don’t have to carry out this awful job on my own.
In the other room, we find the lamia poised next to the bed. The girl lying on it is bound with chains wrapped around her body, the gag still in her mouth.
I wasn’t there when she started singing the first time she woke up, but apparently her crooning is powerful enough to send whoever she focuses it on into a panic.
“The sleep I put her under will last about ten more minutes,” Lull says, looking down at her charge. “I’ll stay in case you need to send her under again. I shouldn’t need to check on the older one for another couple of hours.”
I swallow thickly. “Thank you. We should take the gag out so she can at least talk once she wakes up. I don’t want her to be more freaked out than she needs to be.”
Lull reaches to release the gag. “Just be careful. That power of hers seems to work fast.”
“Absolutely. If she starts singing—or even humming—you’d better knock her out right away.”
But when I’m through with Bethany’s mind, she shouldn’t remember that she evencanwield a power like that.
As I walk up on the other side of the bed, my stomach sinks with every step. I prop myself against the edge of the mattress and reach over to rest my hand on the girl’s forehead where the messy strands of her thin, flaxen hair have fallen aside.
I don’t have to touch a person to wipe their memories as long as I can see them, but it’s easier to focus like this. It takes a little less out of me when there’s no distance to compel my ability across.
Staring at Bethany’s slack, pale face, I can feel all the recollections whispering inside her skull. If I wanted to, I could tip myself right into them and experience those glimpses of her life.
But I already know too well what sort of experiences she’s had. I know where they’ve brought her.
Is it fair to wipe them all away like taking a magnet to a hard drive? To force her to start over from scratch?
I’m still not sure. My gut has clenched even tighter as I prepare myself.
I’ve grappled with that question a lot in the time since Riva told me what she was thinking. I kind of hate that I’m doing this… but I also can’t see any better way.
