Dashwood gestured for them to precede him. “Then let the games begin.”
Cosette watched the trio disappear at the top of the stairs with a heart-wrenching sob of despair.
“Thank God. I thought they’d never leave,” Charlotte whispered from behind her. “Make sure ye guard that satchel with yer life.”
Cosette didn’t know who her friend was speaking to, but considering she was bossy as usual, she had the feeling that it was Quinn.
Charlotte walked into her line of sight. She held a Bible in her hand. “Let’s get that necklace off, shall we?” With that, she opened the book and began to read . . .
~ ~ ~
Davien hoped that he’d been enough of a distraction for Charlotte to sneak into the house unaware, and gather whatever she needed from the library. With any luck, she was already downstairs with Cosette and speaking the prayer of deliverance that would free the locket long enough for them to remove it and smash it into bits, freeing her from the hold that Lilin held over her.
Davien obediently laid down on the bed in his chamber, but not without shooting a glare at Dashwood where he stood in the doorway. The pistol was still in the man’s grasp, but his grip on the handle wasn’t as sure as before. Lilin had diverted his attention by removing her dress, and he was occupied by undoing his trousers to stroke himself.
“Perhaps when I’m finished with Blackburn, I shall reward you for your loyalty.”
“My cock eagerly awaits you, my dear,” he hissed.
She turned back to Blackburn with a glare to see that he was still fully attired. “You’re sadly overdressed.” She looked toward his manhood. “Remove them.”
Davien swallowed, but he slowly began to undo the flap of his trousers. He went as slow as possible, but in the end, he was forced to free his member.
Lilin looked at his semi-erection with a lick of her lips. “I shall enjoy bringing you to full attention.” She walked forward, but paused, a few feet from the bed.
Davien held his breath.
“Something is . . . wrong,” she said, although it was obvious she wasn’t sure exactly what it was. “Check on Cosette,” she snapped at Dashwood.
His ministrations paused. “I thought you said I could watch.”
“Nothing will happen until you return!” she spat. “Now go!”
He righted himself with a curse, but he turned and left the room.
She turned her gaze back to Davien, who had also tucked himself back into his trousers, and now leaned against the headboard, his arms behind his head. “You wouldn’t be attempting to deceive me, would you, Blackburn? For the price of disloyalty is a very steep one indeed.”
He didn’t answer, merely kept his steady gaze on her.
When several moments passed, in which Dashwood did not return, Lilin’s red dress reappeared, along with a savage temper. “That fool! He cannot be trusted with the simplest of tasks!”
She was about to stalk out of the room when Cosette appeared on the threshold. She still wore the white robe, but her eyes were clear and free of enchantment.
“I’m afraid Sir Francis is indisposed at the moment.” Cosette extended her hand, where the silver locket dangled by her fingers. “As far as this, I’m quite through accepting any gifts from you. Mother.” With that, she let the locket fall to the wood floor between them, where it promptly shattered into a million pieces.
~ ~ ~
The moment the necklace hit the floor Cosette felt a breeze flow through her hair, as if it was wiping away any remnant of Lilin’s power over her and replacing it with her own. It was wonderful, it was freeing—it was a rebirth. She hadn’t felt this sense of peace since she was seven years old, when she recalled the blackouts had first started. It was as if a weight had been lifted in the center of her chest. Combined with her love for Davien, she had no doubt that she could defeat this woman before her.
She would vanquish the darkness with the light.
Cosette turned the hand that had held the locket, palm upward where a bright white orb had now formed in the middle. “Move away from Davien, or suffer the consequences of my wrath.”
Lilin crossed her arms and remained where she was. “You think your . . . parlor tricks will work against me?”
“I know they will,” Cosette countered. “Because I have faith, something which you have always lacked.” She drew her arm back and let the ball of light shoot forward. It struck Lilin in the arm, causing her to clutch it in pain. Cosette instantly formed another. “Shall I continue to demonstrate?”
Lilin opened her mouth and let out a piercing howl. The fangs of her teeth lengthened and her eyes glowed fully with that demonic light, as her entire being took on a sinister appearance. When she spoke, it was the voice in Cosette’s mind.
