“Wait, I have to—” She stretched her hand back toward the drink tray, digging in her heels.
Soren picked it up, placing it in her hands. “She can’t help it,” he said, answering my unspoken question. “Better to go along with her instincts when you’re able.”
Sneaking back into the kitchen, we were ignored just like the last time, and Soren waved us both into a pantry, waiting for Rissa’s slow shuffle to follow me in before pulling the door mostly closed. “In case any other fae come through,” he murmured in my ear, and I nodded understanding.
The people here barely noticed our existence, but another fae would ask questions.
It took ages, but Olive entered the kitchen next.
I squealed and shook Rissa’s arm where my hand still wrapped around her wrist. “Look!”
She’d gone half zombie again, and her reaction came slow, but as she spotted Olive’s face, she bounced a little in muted excitement.
When we moved to leave the pantry, Rissa automatically lifted her drink tray.
“No, no.” A hint of panic hit me at the thought of her wandering off and forgetting us. Tugging the tray out of her hands, I started to sweat through the gold dress. “Stay here with Soren, okay? Rissa?” I couldn’t risk losing her.
She nodded with a confused expression but didn’t protest.
Soren placed a calming hand on my back and gave me a nod that said he’d watch out for her.
It was pure torture to wait for Olive to load her tray full of drinks, turn her back to us, and head for the same quiet hallway Rissa had used. I jumped out and ran after her the second she crossed the threshold.
Now to repeat the whole process over again.
I had to use her name four times before I got through to her. That was three times more than Soren had needed. Unlike Rissa, though, she didn’t cry. She just set the tray down slowly and then sort of... melted.
Folding in on herself, she dropped to the ground first, then curled into a quiet ball.
“Olive? Olive.” I fell to my knees next to her, checking her pulse.
She was still breathing, but she didn’t move.
“Hey, Olive, I know it’s hard, but we need to go. You need to listen to me,” I pleaded with her as I pulled at her lifeless arm. It just dangled in my grip. Her body was deadweight. “Ugh, I need Soren’s magic voice,” I grumbled.
Feet shuffled behind me, then stopped.
Between Olive curled up on one side and me on the other, we’d blocked the narrow passageway.
“Sorry.” I scooted to one side, assuming it was another zombie human, since a fae would’ve yelled at me to move by now.
Wiping my eyes to hide the emotions pouring out of me, I glanced up briefly.
My heart stopped.
“Dad!”
