Page 12 of Rainshadow

Blythe locked eyes with her. “Afraid why?” The question sounded more pointed than curious.

“Oh, uh, not really afraid,” Flora corrected. “She’s just kind of mean.”

Blythe studied her for a moment. “You should quit.”

“Quit?” Flora was shocked, especially since Blythe had very specifically not hired her recently when she had the opportunity. Who was she to tell Flora to quit a good job?

“Quit, and get away from this place,” Blythe said. “There is something dark here, something evil.”

“Evil?” Flora scoffed.

Sylvia was very unpleasant, but was she evil?

“I can’t…” Blythe took a deep breath.” I can’t tell you what I know—I’m not sure I know anything, but I am certain that there is something here, Flora. Someone who is very dangerous. You must get away from it.”

Flora laughed uncomfortably. “You’re scaring me, Blythe.”

“You should be scared. This is a house where something old and evil resides.” Her voice was rising, and Flora began to feel a shiver of fear.

“What are you doing here? You need to leave.”

Flora and Blythe both gasped as Sylvia appeared, her sallow face and sharp eyes startling them both. “Get out of here, and take the girl with you if you insist.”

Blythe met Sylvia’s eyes defiantly, steady and sure. “What are you doing on this island?”

“I go where I must, witch,” Sylvia growled. “It is not for me to explain myself to you. What are you doing here at my home?”

Flora could not believe Sylvia had called Blythe a witch, and Blythe had not batted an eyelash. The whole exchange was freaking her out.

“I came for herbs, but I want nothing from this tainted land.” Blythe’s voice sounded strange, deep and commanding. Flora had never heard her speak like that before.

Sylvia’s face burned with something. Fury? Shame? Flora couldn’t tell.

What in the world was going on?

“Come, Flora,” Blythe said. “Let’s go.” She started toward her car.

Sylvia looked at her, and Flora could read nothing in the woman’s cold stare. “Go with her,” Sylvia finally said.

“No,” Flora said. Her heart was thumping.

Blythe stopped, turned, looked at her.

Flora gathered her strength.

She wouldn’t let Blythe order her around the way her mother always did. She looked right into Blythe’s eyes. “I love it here. I begged for this job. I can’t leave just because you say you feel something evil.”

Blythe gave her a long, appraising look, like she was weighing whether to argue with Flora or not.

“It’s not too late for you, Flora,” Blythe said. “But by the time you fully understand, it may be.”

Flora felt a flush of anger. If Blythe really thought it was dangerous for her to stay at Rainshadow, wouldn’t she just tell her why? Blythe was no better than her mother, or Sylvia, bitter about her own life, and taking it out on Flora.

“I’ll be fine,” Flora said, and turned, brushing past Sylvia, stalking toward the barn as both of the older women watched her go.

Sylvia stayed inside the house for the rest of the day, and Flora worked in the barn. She cleaned every inch of the tack room and the hayloft, put out rodent traps, and brushed each of the horses. Through all of it, she felt a burning anger that felt like a hot coal in her heart. Anger and embarrassment. Blythe had embarrassed her, and Sylvia had made it even worse. Blythe was a batty old witch. Witch, though, seemed like such an old-fashioned and strange term for Sylvia to use. Hearing Blythe called that was unsettling.

Flora worked so long and so hard she didn’t notice it had gone from regular, rainy-day dark to after sunset dark. She felt her heart quicken when she realized that the lights were coming on. She had disobeyed Sylvia, and on such a bad day for it. She packed quickly, and hoped Sylvia wouldn’t notice her sneaking out.

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