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“I’d invite you to stay for tea, but I don’t think you want to be here any longer than necessary with this in the background!” Sybil shouted over the racket.
“You’re always welcome at the penthouse,” I offered. It would be extra protection for Tansy if the witch were around.
“I might take you up on that if this sound doesn’t stop. Otherwise, I might murder a bitch.”
Chapter 10
Tansy
Itwascoldanddark, and the only light coming from the moon spilled in through the curtains. I lay in bed, the lingering feeling of dread and terror filling my chest. There was a strange presence in the room.
I got up and turned on the lights. The woman in the mirror looked back at me with hollow eyes. She was tired. Exhausted. Then I saw it. The charmed talisman Sybil had given was gone, and Amrita stared back at me in the reflection.
No!
This couldn’t be. I’d just started fighting back. I was supposed to defeat her. I was supposed to have more time.
She cackled in my head. “Time? How silly! The only one with more time is me. And now I’m going to take my sweet time to kill all your new friends. Then, when all your friends are gone, I’ll use your body, forcing you to do unspeakable things until you’re an old, used-up crone. They all end up like that, every last body I’ve taken.”
I fought against her, my mind battling the numbness that was starting to take hold. But the evil soul had time to take hold while I slept. Amrita’s will overpowered my own, and I’d succumbed to her control.
I walked, though to where, I had no idea. It was like watching a movie from inside my own body. Except the movie was of myself, and it wasn’t a movie at all; it was real. I found myself standing in the kitchen of the penthouse, my eyes on the block of knives.
“Tansy?” Eamon’s voice came from behind me. “It’s the middle of the night. Why are you up?”
I felt the spirit’s grip on me tighten, forcing me to pick up the largest kitchen knife.
“Are you hungry? I’ll make you some food if you want.” Eamon stepped up behind me.
All I wanted to do was call out and warn him, tell him I wasn’t who he thought I was and to get away from me. I was the eternal hag now and a danger to everyone here. But no matter how hard I willed myself to speak, no sound came from my throat.
My body moved of its own volition, turning me around to face the demon who had protected me the past two days, the one who’d offered me a place to stay. Tears streamed down my face, one droplet hanging at the tip of my chin.
“What’s wrong?” Eamon’s face was one of concern. He might not have known me long, but he actually cared about me. That was new in my life.
And now I was going to kill him.
I raised my arm, knife in hand, and plunged it into Eamon’s heart.
I woke up screaming, my body drenched in sweat. It took me a moment to realize where I was. Nugget’s cage sat in the corner of the penthouse guest room. The lamp on the bedside table was still on, since I’d fallen asleep reading the spell book I’d borrowed.
There was a flicker at the corner of the room next to Nugget’s cage, and Eamon popped into existence. You’d think a demon materializing in my room would freak me out, but after the dream I just had, I welcomed Eamon’s presence.
At least, I did, until I started doubting whether that dream meant anything. Was I still myself? I still felt like myself; there was no other presence in my mind, and I didn’t have the urge to kill anything. Nugget also hadn’t started to squawk at me, and the charm Sybil had given me was still around my neck. So it must be okay.
It was only a nightmare. But oh, what a nightmare!
Eamon hurried over and grabbed me by the shoulders and started patting me down, as if trying to see where I was hurt.
“What’s wrong? I heard a scream and came immediately.”
“I had a nightmare.” I took a shaky breath and reached out to touch him.
He was whole. As whole as a demon could be. I was still me, and I hadn’t hacked the only person who truly showed care for me into pieces. I hugged him, squeezing him tight and letting myself breathe in his scent.
“I’m sorry I woke you.” But I wasn’t sorry he was here.
Having him here made me feel stronger. Much of the interaction I’d had in the last few days had that effect. I’d been starved for real, lasting friendships my whole life, so every connection I made filled a void I didn’t know I had. It was the most obvious with Eamon.
