Page 44 of Salem's Fall
“And then your mother—” He grips the table, his knuckles going white. “She stepped forward. It was like she understood something I didn’t. She told them she would be the sacrifice?—”
A cold chill spreads through me. I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Dad, no… How could you do that?”
“I didn’tdoanything!” he cries, shaking his head furiously. “I wouldn’t do it, James! I wouldn’t take her life!” His breath shudders, his shoulders sagging like the weight of that moment is still crushing him. “But the knife—the Veil—didn’t care. I tried everything I could to stop it. But it was too late. They took her anyway.”
The room spins, tilting dangerously, like the ground beneath me is no longer solid. A cold, sharp pressure clamps around my chest, and suddenly, I can’t seem to pull in enough air. My mother is dead because of some twisted, fucked-up ritual my dad and Damien’s father agreed to.
I blink at him, my voice raw. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to know what I’d done,” he says, his voice breaking. “I lost your mother and then your sister. Madison… she wouldn’t even look at me after what happened. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you too, James.”
“But what about your attorney?” My pulse pounds in my ears, my vision narrowing. “Why didn’t he bring this up at the trial? Why didn’t he say anything about the Veil?”
He lets out a bitter laugh. “Say what? That the Blackhollows—the wealthiest, most powerful family in New England—are part of some secret evil cult? Practicing witchcraft and sacrificing your mother in some gory ritual gone awry?”
“You could’ve done something,” I say, my voice waveringbetween accusation and desperation. “You could’ve fought back, tried to expose them.”
“Expose theBlackhollow family? They would have crushed me and then gone after you and your sister for revenge.” He shakes his head, a resigned look in his eyes. “No, staying quiet was the only way to keep you safe.”
I shake my head, tears blurring my vision. A mix of fury and sadness roils inside me.
“You should have told me. I deserved to know the truth.”
“You’re right,” he says, his face etched with regret. “I’m so sorry. For all of it.”
I stand, my legs trembling as his terrible confession sinks in. I can barely bring myself to look at him.
“I have to go.”
“Kiddo, wait,” he pleads, but I’m already backing away, my heart shattered.
Without another word, I turn and make my way out of the prison, the weight of my father’s words hanging over me like a death sentence. For the first time in years, I feel completely lost. Everything I believed about my family, about my father, was a lie. And Damien…
Damien knew the truth this whole time.
The streets of Salem’s Fall are buzzing with energy as I return from the visit with my father. With Halloween quickly approaching, the streets are even more crowded than when I first arrived days ago. Everywhere I look, tourists are wandering through the maze of little shops, clutching hot apple cider and pumpkin lattes in their hands. The sound of children’s laughter echoes through the street as kids chase each other in witch hats and cat ears, holding on to broomsticks and colorful gourds.
It’s almost too festive. Too perfect.
For a moment, I wish I could lose myself in it too, but there’s a darkness hanging over me now, something no amount of fall cheer can shake. It’s not just the weight of what I’ve learned about my father—it’s this entire case. The deeper I go, the more twisted everything gets.
As I walk up to the Cottage, I see Damien leaning against his sleek black car. He watches me approach, arms crossed, face set in a hard line. He smiles politely, but the air crackles with tension. I can feel the anger radiating from him even before I get close.
That’s okay. I’m none too happy with him either.
“Where have you been all day?” His voice is a low growl.
I stop short.
“You may be my client, Damien, but I don’t report to you on my every move.”
“I asked you a question.” He quickly closes the gap between us. “Where were you?”
I square my shoulders and lift my chin. I’m not about to be interrogated by anyone, not even Damien Blackhollow.
“I went to see my dad. Not that it’s any of your business.”
