Page 45 of Madness Behind the Mask
“The regional manager?” I ask, my brow furrowing. I only met her once, when I was up past my bedtime while Father had her over for a late night meeting. They were discussing whose hair to sneak into evidence to get the police off our back for a crime we’d definitely committed. She looked up and saw me peeking through the crack in the door. I stumbled back, terrified of being caught and outed to Father, but she never ratted me out. I still remember her sneaky, friendly smile.
“What does she have to do with it?” I croak, my throat suddenly dry. My stomach twists at the thought of her having anything to do withChristianand Bert.
“Nothing as far as I’m aware. But she was loyal to me and has gone missing.”
“Missing?” It’s a question I already know the answer to. Many members of this Family have gone “missing,” only to turn up in pieces on our doorstep, delivered via postmen with no idea of the dark messages they carry. My heart breaks over the loss of her, and I hug a pillow to my chest.
“She might be lying low, or she might be with Aleric,” Caden says. “Leon wants me to kill her with my magic before she gives any of our secrets up.”
I look up at him, my eyes wide. “You can do that?” I’ve only ever known a telekinetic to be able to kill those in sight. Father told me how strong of a witch Caden was, but he never went into the details. He just talked about how their family would be a great asset to ours. How our children would all be forces to be reckoned with.
“I have a strand of her hair, so theoretically, yes, but she’sa powerful hypnotist. She might be able to fight off my telekinesis so I won’t be able to use her own body to kill her.”
“Oh.” There are a lot more questions I want to ask, but my eyelids are suddenly real heavy. The disruption to my sleep is catching up to me, and I’ve been so constantly exhausted ever since I woke up from my coma. But there are still so many more questions…
“Now sleep, sweet girl.”
But I don’t want to…
There’s a light touch of his lips on my forehead. My body snuggles deeper into the mattress of its own accord.
I struggle to open my eyes to see him off, at least, but they’re so heavy…so resistant to opening, and as the door clicks shut, I quickly fall asleep.
The screams wake me, loud and shrill, and I try to jerk upright, only to find I can’t move. A weight presses down on me, squeezing my chest closed but my eyes wide as I thrash beneath invisible binds.
Antonio’s goldengazeloomsdown at me in the dark, but I can’t see the rest of him. Can’t smell him. Can’t feel the pain of his claws. I can only suffocate under his bulk as my mind struggles to shift from dream to reality.
Sucking in air to scream, I throw my whole weight off the bed. My breath exits on a hard whoosh and a small gasp as I hit the ground, but I’m so desperately happy to finally be able to move, I don’t care about the bruises. A half-sob, half-whimper escapes me as I crawl beneath the bed. Shaking and terrified, I stare out into the darkness of my room, waiting for a wolf to bend down and drag me out.
But when no wolf comes,when no one comes at all, I finally manage to hear past the poundingof my heart.
The world is quiet.
I’m all alone.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I’m hit by just how real that statement is.
Everyone I love is gone.
That’s not true…
I struggle to make sense of that subconscious thought for a minute before it all comes back to me. Caden loves me, and he’s still here. UncleDavidis too even though we have barely seen much of each other because all mykidswish to spend time with me,and I always end up falling asleep before he’s back.
I’m a mother, I remind myself,drawing strength from that statement, my lungs shaking as I breathe.
I’m a mother.
I am not alone.
Swallowing hard, Ishudder beneath my bed, my cheek pressed against the cold wood of the floor.
I’m a mother.
And thatis when I hear it, ever so softly,ever so muted,a child’s midnight cries.
“Olivia,” I rasp as I finally find the strength to reach an arm out from under the bed. My nails dig into the floor as I pull myself out. “Olivia,” I say again,working my way over to the door. I need to see her. Need to see she’s okay. Need to hold her and give comfort as much as I need to take it.
At the door, my arm shakes as I reach up to grab the knob. I clumsily haul myself to my feet, swaying slightly but my legs solidifying over the sound of another cry.
