I barely felt the sting of the needle as the doctor gave me a shot to numb my shoulder.
Mom patted my good shoulder. “It’s not too bad.” She thought I was upset and shaking because of the cut.
“I don’t care about the cut.” The burning in my shoulder barely registered. Deep down, I’d truly believed Eve cared about us more than she hated General Winn. I was wrong. Nothing was bigger than her hate.
“How is Persephone?” They’d taken her to another room.
“She’ll be fine. No concussion, just bruised.”
The doctor getting ready to stitch my arm pressed his free hand on my wrist. “Hold still.” I took a deep breath and tried to stop twitching and shaking. As the doctor began the first stitch, I could hear the thread sliding through my skin, but I couldn’t feel it.
“You told her, didn’t you?” Mom asked.
I couldn’t get my mouth to form the word yes, so instead I asked, “What happens now?”
“Someone will go in Eve’s place. They’ll tell the Alioth Eve is sick. The Alioth were very clear about the terms of the meeting, but it’s a chance.”
I kept my face turned so I couldn’t see the wound or the stitching. There was a tray of fresh-baked brownies sitting on the kitchen table beside me. More bribes for Eve. It was too late for bribes.
Another crash in the basement. Eve had found something else to smash.
“What happens to Eve?” I asked.
Mom sighed heavily. “I imagine they’ll take her back to the lab. Or put her in a cell and leave her there until this is over, one way or another.”
Mostly, I felt bad about that. Mostly. She’d attacked us. We’d been nothing but nice to her, and she’d attacked us. And now, who knew what was going to happen?
“Try to hold still,” the doctor urged me. I was trying, but I couldn’t stop shaking.