“Tick tock, Mitzi. All deals gopoof! Once Lindsey figures out how to pull out of this. When she does, that’s the end of any leverage you have. I should probably tell you that the one thing I shared with my aunt is a powerful vindictive streak. I’ll put your box on my mantle and take enormous delight in knowing you’re suffering the way you made Lindsey suffer all these years. In fact, please don’t take the deal. I’m looking forward to making your death a nightmare. Given a few minutes, I know I can think up even more creative ways to fuck with you.”
It was my turn for the Grinch grin as I felt her quail, and then her surrender.
“Very well,” she said. “I will do as you say.”
With that, she walked into the boiling black and yellow clouds, making an expression of distaste as she went.
I couldn’t hear what she said to Lindsey, and I had no idea how long she’d been gone, but a sledgehammer clobbered my brain and that was all I knew.
When I woke up,I found myself staring up into Stacey’s angry blue eyes. I blinked, my own eyes feeling gritty and dry.
“Hey.”
The single word sent fire rolling around my ribs. I sucked in a breath, which only served to increase the pain. I coughed in reaction and my pain skyrocketed.
“Here. Drink.”
Jen cupped the back of my head, helping me sit up a little as she pressed a glass of water to my lips. I sipped, and sipped again, then grabbed the glass and guzzled. My entire body felt parched.
“More?”
Jen went to get more.
“What happened?” I asked Stacey. “How’s Lindsey?”
“She’s breathing on her own, but she’s raving and none of us have any idea what she’s talking about. Mike’s recording her on his phone. How are you doing?”
“Chest hurts.” I frowned as I took stock of myself. “And my leg and back.”
She nodded. “You took a fall after you grabbed Lindsey’s hand. Pretty quickly after that, you stopped breathing. I gave you mouth-to-mouth.”
Jen returned with the water. I struggled upright. I was laying on one of the chaise lounges from the patio. It had been dragged inside. I swung my feet over onto the floor and took the water, holding it carefully. My hands shook, and my head swam.
I drank the water about as fast as before.
“More?” Jen asked. Her expression was bland, but her eyes were turbulent.
“What happened?” Stacey asked, before I could respond.
“When I grabbed her hand, I got sucked into Lindsey’s psychic space and my body seemed to start behaving just like hers. Couldn’t breath, couldn’t let go. Only solution I could think of was Mitzi, so I summoned her binding stone and she popped in. A lot too much like Aunty Mommy, if you ask me. I offered her a bargain. Took a little convincing, but she agreed to help Lindsey. Next thing I know, I’m looking up at you.”
“What was the bargain?” Jen asked.
“Just that I was going to make an isolation box, so she could spend eternity with only herself for company and no outside stimulation whatsoever. If she helped Lindsey and agreed to teach her how to control her abilities, I’d let her continue in the world, still bound to the stone, of course.”
“We were giving you CPR. What made you think you’d get out alive?” Stacey’s question was almost nonchalant, like she hadn’t been scared out of her mind, or furious at me for nearly dying and putting them through the emotional wringer.
I smirked. “Couldn’t happen. You two weren’t going to let me die. I knew that.” Maybe my absolute certainty had been what convinced Mitzi. I looked around. Lindsey was in another chaise with Rhi and Lorel on either side, both trying to calm her. Her arms swung and her fingers wiggled in patterns that only she could see. She pantomimed writing. It seemed intricate, some of her gestures broad, others bare flicks of her fingers. The entire time she spoke. I couldn’t understand a word. Several times a word or two sounded almost familiar, but it was all gobbledygook to me. Mikey stood at her feet with his phone held up, videoing her.
“Where’s Luke?” I asked as I glanced around for Mitzi’s rose quartz. “All of us women are accounted for. Did he find a hole in the fence?”
That got a small smile from both Stacey and Jen. I still couldn’t tell if they were mad or not. I wouldn’t apologize, though. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t have done anything differently.
“He’s gone in search of some bandages and disinfectant. You cut your hand on that rock.”
I glanced at my hand. A torn piece of cloth wrapped it. I pulled it aside and discovered Stacey was telling the truth, except the two wounds were more gouges than cuts. The side of the rock where it had broken off had sharp edges. I’d clutched it so hard I’d pressed wedged openings into my palm. Blood welled and started to fill my palm. I grimaced and closed my fist around the cloth to stem the bleeding.
“I guess if that’s the worst of it, I’m coming out of this okay.”
