Page 16 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“You made a deal.”Thewords slipped fromElla’smouth before she could stop them.
Mr.McCoystood, turning. “You?Iknew there was something about you.IwarnedMr.Garveyabout you.Willyou do the same to his son?”
His words had no meaning to her.Shedidn’t control the deals that were made.Mr.McCoy’ssoul glowed brightly under his skin, and the tethers that held it in pulsed with life.Ellastruggled with what was happening.Thewoman who stood before the older man was notElla.Thiswoman recognized herself and where she belonged.Ellawanted to be her.
Thane took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Ihave missed you so much, my love.Pleasehurry back to me.”
She had missed him, too, but when she tried to say the words, her mouth wouldn’t form them.Herheart broke for how long they had been apart.
Thane touched her cheek. “Iknow, my love.Therewill be another time to confess our wrongs.Butnot now.Wedon’t have much time before you forget everything again.Youknow what must be done.Icannot help you.”
She nodded and turned toMr.McCoyas tears ran down his cheeks.Hehad traded his soul for the fortune his family now enjoyed.Hissons would never know the cattle empire they would foster for generations had cost their father his soul.
Ella sadly smiled, giving in to the sweet surrender of what was about to happen.Thiswas the life she missed.Herlips formed the familiar words she knew from a different time. “Youhave given your soul for my lord to keep.Nowlie down to sleep, for your soul,Ishall reap.”Asthe words left her mouth, the world around her went dark.Thelast thing she saw was the glow ofMr.McCoy’ssoul being taken into shadows that swirled around her.
CHAPTER8
ELLA
She was lost in the space between sleep and awake.Thefirst blush of the dawn had not yet kissed the darkness good night.Butshe liked it here.Inthis space, she knew her name.Thename her mother and father had given her.Thename that held the truth to who she was.Itsat at the end of her fingertips.Shecould grab it, swallow it down, and make it part of her.Asshe reached for it, someone tugged on her, pulling her from the darkness.Shefought the hands that pulled her into the light.
“Ella?” someone called.
No,she screamed.That’snot my name.Stopcalling me that.Myname is…Whatis my name!Shescreamed into the emptiness.Thedarkness gave way to lightness, andEllabecameEllaagain.Thetears of frustration ran down her cheek and into the shell of her ear.Ithad been right there.
“Ella, please.”Mrs.Astood above, shaking her.
“Stop,”Ellagroaned, pushingAilith’shands away.Herhead pounded, and her mouth felt as if theSandmanhad filled it.Therest of her body was no better.Everythingached. “WhatinHel’sname happened last night?”
“You don’t remember?”Mrs.AtouchedElla’sbrow.
Ella brushed awayAilith’shand, sitting up. “I…I…”Shestopped, sorting through the memories, searching for something.Anything. “No.”Thepanic clawed at her throat.Whatif she forgot more?Whatif this life slipped away too?Everythingshe had worked so hard to hold on to would be gone. “Ohgods, it’s happening again.”
“No, it’s not.Takea deep breath.”Ailithsat on the edge of the bed.
“No.”Ellatried to shake her memories loose.Therewas nothing, no scraps of yesterday.Noconversations with guests, not even what she ate for her evening meal.Theywere all gone.
“Ella, look at me.”Mrs.Atook her hand. “Doyou know whoIam?”
“Yes, but what?—”
“Stop.”Mrs.Asqueezed her hand. “Mr.Tenebrissaid this might happen.”
“What?”Ellapulled her hand away, touching her forehead.Thankfullyshe knew who he was. “WhatdoesThanehave to do with this?”
“You really don’t remember?”Mrs.Afrowned. “YouaccompaniedMr.TenebristoMr.McCoy’s.And, well,Mr.McCoywas dead.Youfound his body and fainted.”
“Dead?”Ellalet the older woman’s words turn into memories.
“Yes.Mr.Tenebrissaid the old man’s heart must have given out.Sucha sad thing.Hispoor wife.Theywere so close to finally leaving and letting their eldest son take over the…”
Ella didn’t hear the rest ofAilith’swords.Hermind worked quickly to knit together the loose strings that floated around.SheandThanehad gone toMr.McCoy’shouse.Thanehad been looking for something.Asthe images danced before her eyes, the strings snapped before they could be attached to others. “I… uh… remember.Ithink?”VisionsofMr.McCoylying in front of the fireplace rushed forward.Thescotch he had been drinking spilled across the wooden planks when he collapsed.Thepanic faded as the rest of the night’s events played out.Atleast enough to calm her. “Iremember now.”
“See, nothing to worry about.It’snormal for the mind to sweep out bad memories.Ibrought your morning meal.Alittle tea, fresh bread, some sweet butter, and you’ll feel better in no time.”Mrs.Asmeared the butter on the bread. “Mr.Tenebrisfeels awful about what happened.Ifhe had known, he would have never let you talk him into taking you with.Here, eat this.”
Ella did as she was told.Thebread had no taste.Therehad been no reason for her to go withThane.She’dhad no interaction withMr.McCoy. “WhydidIwant to go with him?”
“I asked the same thing.Mr.Tenebrissaid you didn’t want to speak to a young man namedAlbert.Ella,Iunderstand thatAlbertis not the most handsome man.Andcan be a bit boorish.Butyou cannot get out of giving him an answer by running off with another man.Andsince we are on the subject,Idon’t think you should be seen with any man unchaperoned.Mr.Hansonsaid you andWilliamseemed very cozy the other day.YouleftSissyto do your work and now this.Idon’t know what has gotten into you.”Mrs.Aclicked her tongue, shaking her head. “You’reluckyMr.Tenebrishas agreed to keep your name out of it.Thinkof the scandal.Peoplealready talk about you.Ifanyone finds out you were alone withMr.Tenebris, well, it wouldn’t be good.”
