At first, I think I am hearing things, but then I hear it again.
I open the bathroom door and stick my head out.
I hear it again.
Confused, I step out into the bedroom, and when it rings for the fourth time, I follow it to a white phone hanging in the corner.
Callum has the same one in his room. He uses it to make some calls and order food from Linda or speak with his staff, so maybe someone is calling me since they know he's still asleep.
Breakfast, maybe, because they heard me up?
I walk over and pick it up.
"Hello," I say in a cheerful tone. "Good morning."
"Sister Omega," the voice says, and my hand braces the wall to catch me from falling as I register whose voice it is.
The room spins slightly. This can't be.
My stomach drops, my muscles tense, and a tremor overtakes my hands.
No. No, no, no.
"The Morrígan is disappointed in you, daughter.
I swallow bile in my throat on the verge of throwing up.
How did he find me?
"How—" I start, but my voice cracks. "How did you?—”
"Now we must please her," he continues, ignoring me completely, the way he always does when he's already decided my fate.
I squeeze my eyes shut, the room tilting.
He knows where I am.
The thought makes my skin crawl. Has he been watching this whole time? Did he see me leave the ritual? Did he let me run?
"We have Callum's mother."
The words hit me like a fist to the chest.
Cormac has her.
It’s my fault. It has to be.
"Come to the Old Ruins alone, or she dies, and Callum becomes an orphan because of you," he shouts the last word.
"What? No. Please."
The line goes dead. Cormac hangs up.
I barely manage to hang up the phone before I start dry heaving and the tears begin to flow.
I run into the bathroom, shut the door, and cry into my robe. I do not want anyone to hear me, especially Callum.
I am scared, confused, angry, all at once. This was my one shot to have a good life with someone I feel I'm starting to care and connect with, who actually appreciates and accepts me, and now it's all gone.
