“What do you want?”
“What you know.”
“And if you get that?”
There’s no answer because everything goes black fast.
* * *
Where I am when I wake isn’t where I was when something hit me over the back on the head. It’s large with full windows across two sides, a white sectional sofa set up around a media centre and rugs on a wooden floor that look like they could be pelts.
If they are, this isn’t my sister’s doing, but I don’t know her anymore.
My vision stops swimming and I can focus on what’s around me, the pounding in my head pushed to one side. I’ve felt worse. Had worse done.
That’s not what makes me feel nauseated.
It’s Blair.
I shouldn’t have returned. Taken the job. Going back has put her at risk, even if some of that risk was decided.
Another way to get Majken to pay attention.
The room isn’t dark or cold or unwelcoming. It overlooks the edge of a forest, the sort of tangled web of bare branches and twisted trees that are from some dark fairy tale.“I never thought you’d change your mind. I always thought that after everything this would still be your endgame.”
My sister, Majken, isn’t who I remembered. This woman sitting on the green chair is calm, too fucking calm for my liking. I’m pretending I’m calm but I’m not. I’ve no idea how I can get out of here. I’ve no fucking idea where I am. There are trees, but I don’t think I’m in Scotland. How the fuck did she get us out of there?
The man who I’ve disliked since day one sits down on the arm next to her and she puts a hand on his thigh. Nausea should hit me, but it doesn’t because I’ve seen worse.
Done worse.
Majken’s playing a game too.
We all are. Have been all along.
“You need to consider this offer, Ben. It won’t stay available if we think we can’t trust you.” He takes her hand in his, squeezes it.
I could, if I wanted, end them both. He’s six inches shorter and I have at least fifty pounds on him. She’s actually more problematic, not least because of who she is, who I’m beginning to realise she is. She knows how to fight me and she will fight dirty.
“You should never have trusted me.”
It’s now I see the revolver.
“I’m not sure I ever did. There was always a little too much time spent at that dreadful castle. I thought you’d have broken sooner.” Her accent is still different from mine, the change imperceptible unless you know what to listen for, but it’s there.
“I did spend time there because I wanted to.”
“Because you loved her. And you still do.”
It isn’t a question. I’d like to say she doesn’t need to ask me any questions, because she knows me too well, but that hasn’t been the case. Ten years older and a continent apart for most of my life. Beautiful, brilliant and driven.
“She’s difficult not to love.” It’s the first time today when I tell the truth.
Majken nods. “That may be. She’s certainly not your usual type.”
This time I laugh. He hasn’t pulled the trigger yet so I don’t think he’s going to. However, if Majjie gets hold of it, she probably will. I’m just not sure which of the three of us will be at the end of it.
“I don’t think I ever had a type.”
