Page 37 of The Blood Widow

I didn’t want to let it go further, but I had to make sure this was him. Killing random people wasn’t right. I promised myself I would never be that person again. My kills mattered now.

The guy snickered at the wall of pillows and walked around to the other side of the bed. My heart swung around like a wrecking ball. It tore through my insides until a wave of sickness hit me. The sickness turned to anger when his hand covered her small mouth.

He hovered over her as he spoke. “Don’t make a sound. Be good and everything will be okay. You know I love you, Cherry. I’m going to make you feel good,” the creep said. Even if I didn’t see him, the disgusting tone he was using was meant for a woman his own age, not a child.

I called on my power. “Guy,” was all I said, opening my mouth. The blood from his body lifted into the air and rushedover to me. As the disgusting crimson liquid poured into my mouth, I called for my portal magic to take him away.

The magic listened in situations like this. It appeared underneath the lifeless body before it could fall to the ground. Another present for Cole. He was going to have enough to feed an army of ghouls if I kept this up.

The little girl sat up on the fluffy bed. Her skin was sickly pale from fear. The blonde hair around her face was damp from her tears and clung to her skin.

My heart exploded into pieces as I watched the tears fall down her chubby cheeks and into her trembling lips. I wanted to pick up every piece and give them to her to let her know she wasn’t alone.

After a few seconds, her scared tired eyes opened and scoured the dark room. She didn’t see her villain or me. I wanted to give her time to calm down before I approached. Opening her eyes to another adult hovering over her wouldn’t help.

Her chest moved up and down slowly as her breaths evened out. “H-hello?” Her small, sweet voice shook.

I stepped out of the closet, making her backpedal on the bed. Little fearful cries escaping her that tore at my insides. Her cries were loud enough, I bet they could be heard from anywhere in the house, but no one came to help her.

“Hey, Cherry, it’s okay. It’s the Blood Widow. Remember, you wrote to me?” I said in the nicest tone I had.

Her bottom lip quivered. “Widow?”

I smiled at her even though her vision wasn’t as good as mine.

“Yes. I’ve come to help you. I got rid of your mommy’s boyfriend. But I have to ask you a question. Is that okay?”

I slowly sat on the floor to make her feel better. She probably didn’t see much of what I did to her villain, but she was still rattled. Her little body moved to the edge of the bed to see me.She pushed her hair out of her face and pulled down her pink unicorn shirt. I waited until she nodded her consent.

“How many times does your mommy put you in the closet?” I asked.

The pretty little girl pulled her pink lips to the side. She looked down at me with innocent eyes, saying, “Um, I don’t know.” She shrugged. “When I’m bad. Mommy said good girls don’t get punished. I try, but I’m just a bad girl.” Her shoulders slumped.

I licked my lips before speaking. I didn’t have kids or parents, but I knew that wasn’t right. “Can you tell me what you do that’s bad?”

She took a deep breath and filled her cheeks like a blowfish. “I make faces like that. I listen to the TV too loud. I’m always too loud. Mommy doesn’t like that.”

That red, hot anger from earlier returned. I bit the inside of my cheek until the pain helped to clear my head.

“Okay, sweetie, I have something to ask. Do you want to leave? Have another mommy, one that doesn’t punish you?”

Some people would think that was a silly question, but I think kids were a lot smarter than adults give them credit for. If she wanted help, I’d take her away and give her to a good family. If she didn’t, I’d have people watch her and help her as much as I could. I wouldn’t, however, become her bad guy and force an answer on her.

“Leave Mommy?” she whispered.

I nodded. “Yes.”

She hugged herself. “Will I ever see her again?”

I shook my head. “No, your new family would take care of you. You wouldn’t have to be quiet, there would be no more punishments, and no one would ever sneak into your room like your mom’s boyfriend.”

The shifter family she’d go to didn’t believe in spanking, so the worst she’d get was time out in the corner. I hoped she’d say yes, but not all of the kids did.

She bit her lip and wrinkled her brow as she thought it through. “Can my dollies come?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. Of course. How about you pack a bag, and I go talk to your old mommy.”

She jumped off the bed with pep in her movements. “Tell her that it’ll be quiet now, and I not lie about him. Tell her.”

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