“HELLO!” Sly yelled. “Wheelers! What.Happened.”
“We heard you the first time,” Anna snapped. “We’re trying to process this, so if you could just shut your warlock trap for just a second that would really help.” Her voice was shaky, and Jewel could tell the girl was every bit as terrified asshewas.
“What have we done?” Jewel whispered. “I don’t understand. I did it the exact same way I did it with you.” She glanced at Anna and then looked back down at the woman. It was like a horrible accident, impossible not to stare no matter how badly it freakedherout.
“You said we were taking her essence,” Anna said. “Something abouthersoul.”
Jewel nodded. “I saw her memories and felt her emotions. It’s like they were merging withmyown.”
“Yeah.” Anna breathed out a trembling breath. “That’s what I felt andsaw,too.”
“Butwhy?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Geeze, Anna. We killed her. We killed Amy. Do you know how long we could go to jail? Does California have the death penalty?” Jewel asked as her eyes widened and she looked backatAnna.
“You’re the genius. How am I supposedtoknow?”
“I don’t know all the states that kill people who kill other people. I never exactly planned on killingsomeone.”
“Well, it wasn’t premeditated, so won’t that get us a break?” Annaasked.
“Yeah, that sounds right.” Jewel nodded, thinking she probably looked a little frantic. “Crime of passion. Surely we’d get a breakonthat.”
Suddenly, their ears perked up at the sound of sharp whistle. Their heads snapped to the left, and Jewel frowned at Z, who was pulled his fingers away from hismouth.
“Nobody is going to jail or facing the death penalty. You two need to pump the brakes on getting a new wardrobe consisting only of orange jumpsuits.” He pointed to Amy. “There’s no way for the human police to tie her to you two. And what would they charge you with? Murder by magic? But you probably shouldn’t be standing here chatting when someone comes along to find her. I’m not sure if Volcan has a good lawyer on retainer, but I’d rather not find out. We need to maketracks…now.”
“We can’t just leave her here.” Jewelgasped.
“We can, and we will,” Sly argued. “There’s nothing you can do for her. She’s gone. A casualtyofwar.”
“We aren’t in a war,” Annacountered.
“Aren’t we?” Z asked. “Volcan is the enemy, but you’re stuck in his army and you have to do what he expects when he expects it, unless you want to end up just like her. Actually, if you two don’t figure out a way to start making his witches, Amy’s end will look pleasant compared to what will becomeofyou.”
“By all means,” Anna said, glaring at Z. “Don’t pull anypunches.”
“Don’t worry,” Sly smiled. “Wewon’t.”
“Now, we need to go.” Z motioned toward the door. “We need to plan yournextmove.”
“Our next move?” Jewel asked. She felt as if she was hearing everything from underwater. Their voices and words were distorted, and her brain was beginning to feel oxygen deprived. Was she going into shock? She started to review the symptoms of shock in her mind, but then wondered if she would really be able to go over the symptoms of shock if she were actually going intoshock.
“Jewel,” Anna said, shaking her arm. “Youokay?”
Jewel shook her head. “I’ve never killedanyone.”
“That’s really good to know,” Anna said, obviously trying to lighten the moment. “I haven’t either, and it sucks, like seriously sucks, but the warlocks are right. We can’t fix her. It’s done, and we can’t be here when she’s found. We havetogo.”
Jewel knew Anna spoke the truth, but her feet wouldn’t move. She wished Dalton were there to carry her. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Dalton. She would have to tell him she’d killed a woman. What would he think of her then? Would he still want her? Could he still love a murderer? She didn’t realize she was moving until she looked down and saw her other hand in Anna’s. Anna was in front of her, pulling her through the building and out of thedoors.
Z and Sly were moving at a jog and Anna was picking up her pace as well, causing Jewel to have to have to scurry tokeepup.
“We can’t call a cab until we’ve put some distance between us and this place,” Sly shouted out so they couldhearhim.
That made sense, Jewel thought and then felt as though she was going to throw up. They were trying to put distance between themselves and the dead body they’d just left behind. What was wrong with them? Had they lost all their morals simply because an evil fae was forcing them to create witches? What was their other option? She couldn’t think of one, at least not in that moment. All she could think about was Amy and her empty eyes. Would she ever be able to close her own eyes and not see Amy’s blank face staring back at her? Shedoubtedit.
