Karson stalked closer. The witch shrank back. “And what was Leon’s role in this?”
“He wasn’t involved at all.”
“Don’t dare lie to me,” Karson erupted. “I’m in no mood for your deceit either.”
The witch looked at Janetta, her face pained. Janetta shook her head. She’d go to her death with the secret.
I stepped up beside Karson. “Tell us what you know and no harm will come to you.”
Rodney jerked his head to me, then to Karson, waiting for him to object. A muscle on Karson’s jaw ticked, but he said nothing.
“No, Meg, don’t,” Janetta rasped. “They’ll kill us anyway.”
Tears slipped down Meg’s face.
“Our promise is our oath,” Michael said, flanking me. “Tell us and you shall live.”
Monique snapped her head up, fury glinting in her dark eyes.
“Our families,” Janetta whispered, pleading with Meg.
“Your families will remain safe,” Michael said.
“Meg, no. Don’t trust them,” Janetta pleaded. “You can’t trust them.”
Meg’s eyes flashed with guilt, but desperate to live she blurted, “Leon didn’t want you inside his head because it was his family who had the bone-ash knife. Sarah threatened to kill all of them unless they gave it to her. They had no choice. He has young brothers.”
A look of guilt, anguish, and grief crossed Karson’s features, but then it was gone so fast I could have imagined it.
Janetta broke down and sobbed.
“Karson.” Michael placed a hand on his shoulder. “I suggest we send these two back to the coven alive and well, as promised, and let that be a showing of goodwill and warning of what will become of anyone who dares attack us.”
Karson stared at them for a long moment, considering. The witch looked up, her face pale and covered in red, tears streaking down her cheeks.
“Go, and if you ever step foot in my house again, or harm anyone I care about, you and your entire coven will end up as landfill.”
Rodney jerked his head to him, his lips thin, disbelief in his eyes. But he didn’t argue, didn’t challenge his order.
Janetta blinked slowly, as if she was trying to comprehend what was said.
“Go,” Karson snarled. “Before I change my mind.”
“What about Leon, and Tilly, Becca, Holly, Arlen, Jacqui and Abbie?” she asked, her voice cracking.
The dead had a name now. I couldn’t look at them. My breath swelled in my chest and my legs shook like jelly.
Karson shrugged. “Take them. I do not want their stench staining my home.”
They couldn’t carry them, and he knew it.
“I will carry them,” Josh said quietly. He moved to Leon, looking like he was about to cry, and lifted him into his arms. “Could you help please, Janice?”
Janice sighed heavily, but she dragged the witches by their arms out of the door, their bodies thumping on the tiled stairs.
Chapter 43
Betrayal
