Page 38 of Wicked Love
Talia made a dismissive noise.
“I didn’t know why this was happening, because I couldn’t remember anything,” I said. “I went to clean my nails, and I heard shouting out in my shed. I went into the garden, and there were two bodies on the floor.”
More gasps. Delphine held up a hand.
“And sitting on the washer was this,” I bent down and took Zelda and her reliquary out of my beach bag.
There were shouts, and people stood up, hands waving. Delphine stood, and held out her hands. “Enough,” she thundered. “Melasina, how did you come to have our founder in your possession?”
“I’m not just a box,” Zelda said. “And I would appreciate it if you would hear the girl out.” Her words carried a ring of power that silenced a lot of the whispering.
Talia was staring at the reliquary, her face taut and angry.
“I am not sure,” I said. “I had a dream one night where I was walking into the crypt, and I was behind a beautiful man. He opened the doors, and took something of glass, and then ran away. But he left the doors open, and I went in. Zelda called out to me, and I brought her home with me.”
“Is this true?” Delphine asked Zelda.
“It is. The handsome man did come in, and steal a vial from a red pillow. Then Mel came in, and I told her to take me.”
“Why would you do that?” Delphine asked.
“My reasons are my own,” Zelda said with the manner of a queen. “The point is, I concur with the girl’s story.”
Delphine stared at Zelda for a long moment, and then turned her gaze back to me. I couldn’t read her face. “Do you have more to say?” she asked me.
“I do, if you don’t mind.”
She gestured at me to continue.
“I have been trying to figure out why I was walking in my sleep. Why I came to the crypt. Why I had bodies in my laundry shed. Once I found the bodies and Zelda, she helped me to get the bodies back to St. Louis No. 1 the night of the ball. And I tried to work out how to bring her back. In that, she wasn’t very helpful.” I glared down at Zelda.
“No, I was not,” Zelda sniffed.
One of the witches to the left of Delphine covered her mouth with her hand, making a choking sound. Which suggested that she was familiar with Zelda.
“So I am returning her to where she belongs. I am asking for your forgiveness for not doing so before. I am confessing that I was the person who removed and returned the bodies. And I am asking for help to discover why it is I have been doing these things.” I stopped, and let the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding out.
“This is rubbish!” Talia got up, pointing at me. “This is—”
“Talia, sit down,” Delphine said.
Talia stopped in mid-rant, and sank back into her chair.
I managed not to smirk. She couldn’t see me anyway.
“How long have you been sleep walking?” Delphine asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “But I woke up with dirty hands and dressed in my clothes and with shoes from time to time a little over a month ago to when Zelda came to my home.”
“Has she sleep walked since you’ve been there?” Delphine asked Zelda.
“No,” Zelda said. “I watched, each night. I also put a ward over her home, so that might have stopped someone or something that was affecting her.”
Delphine nodded, and reached out her hands to the witches on either side of her. There were four on each side who clasped hands. They all closed their eyes.
The room was completely silent. I risked a glance at Jasper. He was smiling, almost as if he was proud of me. As I turned my gaze back to Delphine, I saw Talia. She was glaring in a manner that would have killed me if her eyes had daggers.
Delphine opened her eyes. “We have discussed your situation. You have come to us to seek help, to your sisters and brothers, as you should. I do not sense untruth in your words. And the founder, Zelda Dupuis, stands with your account. So my decision is thus: We will help you discover why you’re walking in your sleep, and you have our thanks for your care of Zelda.” Delphine nodded to a witch off to the right, and the man hurried over, bending down and reaching for Zelda.
