“We have to kill the naiad.” Steve cocked his head. “Do we need a specific type of weapon? If the construction workers managed to kill one, I’m guessing any weapon will do.”
He wasn’t getting it. “I don’t know that we should kill the naiad.” I cringed when he frowned. “We don’t know that she did anything that wasn’t warranted,” I added hurriedly.
“She killed three people,” Steve argued.
“We don’t know how the other naiad died,” Landon interjected quickly. “We need to know exactly how it went down before we can make decisions on that front.”
“She killed three people,” Steve repeated.
“What about the people who killed the naiad?” I challenged.
Steve looked caught. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “Naiads have no rights under our current laws.”
“That’s the problem.” I didn’t realize I was going to say the next part until the words were already out of my mouth. “That’s the reason no one trusts the government. The naiads have been here a lot longer than we have. When it comes time to deal with these things, we have to weigh everything.”
Steve disappeared into heavy thought. Before he could respond, the swinging door opened to reveal Aunt Tillie.
I studied her for a moment, recognized the outfit from earlier in the day, and allowed my bad mood to get a foothold. “Hello, Millie,” I drawled.
Momentary surprise flitted across her face, then she smirked. “I wondered if you’d figured it out,” she said. “I wasn’t sure. It was the fact that I sat in the wrong chair, wasn’t it? The table I ate at with you lot last time was round.”
I thought back to my childhood. Mom and the aunts had a round table in the old house, before it was upgraded for the inn. That gave me a timetable to work with. “You were here before, when we were kids.”
“You don’t remember me? That’s insulting.”
“We didn’t know to look for you,” I replied. “What do you want?”
“What makes you think I want anything?” Millie’s sly smile was straight out of Aunt Tillie’s playbook.
“If all you wanted was your freedom, you would’ve disappeared as soon as you realized you were back in the real world. You’re still here. I’m guessing you’ve been playing games with Aunt Tillie.”
“Tillie is no longer a concern.”
My heart skipped. “Where is she?”
“Who can say?” Millie held out her hands.
“You didn’t kill her.” Or maybe I just hoped that was true. “If you’ve put her somewhere?—”
“Believe it or not, I don’t want her dead,” Millie said. “I also don’t want her in my way.”
“Listen—”
“No, you listen.” Millie vehemently shook her head. “I played Tillie’s game last time and lost. You can’t create a being, set itloose, and then lock it away when you get bored with it. That’s cruel and unusual punishment.”
Weirdly, I didn’t disagree. That didn’t mean I was going to let her steal Aunt Tillie’s life.
“Now, I have a plan,” she continued. “There are a few things I need to get in order. Once that happens, I’ll be out of your hair.”
“And Aunt Tillie? What happens to her while you get your things in order?”
“She stays where she is.” Millie was grim. “I don’t need her sniffing around and trying to mess things up for me. When I’m gone, I’ll send a message back and tell you where to find her. Before you think you can negotiate with me—or bully me—know that won’t happen,” she added quickly. “You’re incapable of threatening me. I’m not afraid of you.”
I was about to tell her where she could stick her ultimatums when she spoke again.
“If you move on me, you’ll never find your precious aunt,” she said. “She’ll die out there, alone. If that’s what you want, by all means, push me.”
I wanted to slap the smug smile off her face. “What makes you think you can keep Aunt Tillie captive somewhere?” I challenged. “She won’t accept that.”
