I nodded.
‘Impressive progress, child.’
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. This was going to be so much easier than I’d imagined.
‘Come on, child. Open your eyes and let’s see this gift in action.’
Obliging, I blinked, gazing at Pablo, wondering if he’d allow me to control him.
‘No,’ Glesni cackled. ‘I told you we’d start small. I’ve put him in your lap.’
My blood turned to ice as I stared at my grey dress and the creature she’d put there came into focus.
Screaming, I leapt, knocking the eight-legged beast to the ground, where it scuttled towards the table. Pablo pounced before it got there. Bile rose up my throat as the sound of crunching filled the air.
‘Bad wolf,’ Glesni cried, shuffling forward, a broom flying into her hand which narrowly missed Pablo’s rump. ‘That was my spider.’
‘You could have warned me! Surely you’re supposed to teach me. Be kind. Offer advice and guidance.’
Glesni leaned on the broom, a glint in her dark eyes. ‘No, I’m supposed to stop your brains leaking out of your eyeballs.’
‘You’re torturing me.’
She snorted as Pablo led me to the doorway, and I fumbled with the handle.
‘If you think a little spider is torture, wait till you’re clawing out chunks of your innards. I wonder if the wolf would eat them or if you’d tear him apart before he got the chance?’
I spun around, nostrils flaring. I could barely see her expression behind the spots across my vision, but the mirth in her voice was obvious.
‘I knew this was a mistake. Goodbye, Glesni, I won’t waste any more of your time.’
Heaving open the door, I took a trembling step into the corridor.
‘Are you scared of mice?’
‘What?’ I gripped the wall.
‘I’m about to say something you’ll probably never hear again. I’m sorry. I thought a woman with such spark, a strength the Gods must envy, wouldn’t be scared of spiders. I apologise.’
My heart slowed as I stared at her. The mirth in her eyes was gone.
‘Be back tomorrow. We’ll use a mouse.’
Glaring at the damned woman, I started to tug the door closed. Did she honestly think I’d go back there? I’d known this was a mistake.
‘And Sorrow?’
I said nothing, slamming her heavy door. Her voice came through the wood, muted and quiet.
‘I think I might like you.’
‘The feeling isnotreciprocated,’ I muttered under my breath.
‘I heard that.’
The sound of her cackling chased me as I stormed away.
CHAPTER 14
