Page 8 of Hell Hath No Fury

I’m saved from having to say anything in response when the COM is suddenly switched on, and we hear Camilla talking nonchalantly about the person she confused Antoinette for when she first met her. Agatha smiles, picking up her phone and sending a text message that will give Camilla the opening to ask if it would be okay for that person to join them.

At first, we only hear Camilla’s voice faintly, but then she must have moved the microphone closer to her companion, and clear as day, for the first time in months, Antoinette’s voice sounds in our ears.

Agatha visibly tenses beside me, her eyes widening, the sudden clench of her jaw matching my own. Her hand grips mine again, squeezing almost painfully as her eyes meet mine questioningly. I nod, my voice coming out in a broken whisper as I respond, “That’s fucking her, Ag. That’s our girl.”

A half-sobbing laugh falls from her mouth, and she moves to exit the van, out onto the street. I grip her wrist tightly, yanking her back until she’s looking at me, the glint in her eye wild and untamed. I give her another yank, squeezing until she’s entirely focused on my face. “If you can’t keep it together, you can’t go out there.” She tilts her head at me and squints, so I yank her again as I add, “The plan, Agatha. Can you stick to the plan?”

She blinks rapidly a few times, then inhales sharply through her nose, her body relaxing as the expression on her face becomes magically passive. “I won’t fuck up. I got this.”

I wait one beat and then two, my eyes searching hers before slowly releasing my grip on her wrist.

Then, with another curt nod, she turns, exiting the van as I sit back helplessly and watch her go.

5

An Uninvited Guest

Agatha

Eventhoughnoteventwo minutes ago, I said I got this, I’m currently trying to convince myself that I truly got this.

I walked around the block one time in an attempt to get control of my urge to go into that restaurant and snatch Antoinette out of whatever situation she may be in. This delay also made it look as if I truly happened to be in the area and was making my way to join them, so that worked out just fine.

I spot them as soon as I enter the restaurant. Antoinette’s back is to me, which is for the best because as soon as Camilla makes eye contact with me, I see the glimmer of panic on her features. I take a moment to collect myself, smiling at the waitstaff as I slowly make my way across the restaurant toward where they’re seated.

Camilla immediately rises from her seat and meets me a few feet from their table. Wrapping her arms around me, she leans in and whispers, “Either get your shit together or turn around and leave.”

I hug her to me, annoyed that I’m having such trouble controlling myself. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, given the trauma of having Antoinette ripped from my life after a lifetime of not knowing her. And the fact that Darius is alive somewhere and just blatantly ignoring us adds insult to injury. Not that I don’t believe he has a good reason, but there are some moments when those reasons don’t matter at all, and I want nothing more than to hunt him down and stab him in the eyeball.

Camilla releases me and steps back, her hands gripping my forearms as she looks up at me and cheerfully says, “It’s so good to see you. Wait until you meet Lila. It’s uncanny how alike you look.”

I give her a tight smile, my eyes widening, and I manage just a glimmer of excitement in my tone as I respond, “Oh, I can’t wait.”

Camilla takes my hand and leads me to the table where Antoinette is still seated. As we approach, she turns to face us, her eyes widening as she looks at me, and then she gasps, “My god, Cami. No wonder you were so confused.”

Her voice sends warmth down my spine, and my smile is genuine as I close the distance between us. By the time I’m standing in front of her, she has risen to her feet, so I’m looking directly into her face as I say, “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Those bright blue eyes that match my own stare back at me, and then her brow furrows, and she laughs almost hollowly. One of her hands comes up, her fingertips brushing down my cheek lightly as she whispers, “Almost like looking in a mirror.”

I don’t flinch from her touch, and it’s difficult not to give in to my urge to lean into it, lean into her, to grab onto her, and wrap myself around her so she can never escape again.

Camilla laughs loudly beside us, then jabs me in the side with her elbow as she says, “See, I fuckin’ told you.”

I nod, turning my attention to her as I intentionally walk around Antoinette and take a seat in the vacant chair. Antoinette resumes her earlier position and Camilla hers, and then, for a few moments, we all sit in silence, staring between each other.

Camilla giggles and says, “Well, this isn’t awkward at all.”

I laugh, and so does Antoinette, and some of the tension leaves the table. Then Antoinette looks at me and says, “They say we all have a doppelgänger somewhere. But it seems surreal to come face-to-face with mine.”

“That’s an understatement,” I reply truthfully. “It seems a huge leap of faith that you ran into Camilla like you did.”

“It’s really quite funny,” Antoinette states with a nod. “When Dmitri—“

“Dmitri?” I interject somewhat forcefully. Camilla kicks me under the table, and I don’t flinch as I keep my eyes locked on Antoinette’s face.

She smiles and laughs, her hand waving around in her typical Antoinette fashion as she answers, “Yes, Dmitri, my husband.”

I grind my teeth so forcefully that I’m pretty sure anyone in the room can hear them creaking. Camilla kicks me again, and I clear my throat, sure my smile is laced with disdain as I retort, “Oh. Have you been married long?”

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