Lizzie was just as ready as Nicole to get back to the daily grind. On the way to the airport, she talked about her upcoming finals and the boys she’d missed. Nicole waited until Lizzie had finished, then told her about her visit with her family, including her conversation with her mother.
Lizzie was just as shocked as Nicole had been to learn that the money Tiffany had inherited was actually intended for Nicole.
“But wait a second, wait a second. That old lady is related to you?” Lizzie’s eyes were huge. “Seriously? How’s that possible?”
“I don’t even know.”
“And what about the money? What are you supposed to do with it?’
“I have no idea. I’m going to ask Rebecca next time I see her.”
“Yeah. Let me know when you do. I’m dying to find out what’s going on.”
“You and me both.”
The flight back to Seattle went quickly, and soon enough, they’d touched down. They found their way out of the airport and to Nicole’s car, then Nicole dropped Lizzie off at their apartment. She called Austin and talked to him almost the entire drive back to Moses Lake, a tradition she really enjoyed. He was still in Montana with his family—otherwise, she would’ve stopped by his apartment to see him.
Even though they’d talked every night she was in Texas, it was still good to hear his voice.
Nicole’s car and phone died on the main road, just by Albert’s driveway. He was there waiting with his buggy, his position tense, looking uncomfortable. The minute he saw Nicole, a smile spread across his face, and his entire demeanor relaxed. She could tell it had been a stressful last few days.
“How was it?” she asked, hopping into the buggy, her bag on her lap.
Albert grunted. “I wasn’t able to get to the Gardners, not even once. I have no idea what’s going on at the house. Not only that, but I was paid several visits from city authorities. They heard from the hospital that something is going on out here. I told them everything I knew and they tried to convince Winston to go with them. He gave them a bunch of lies, saying he and his family are moving in here with me . . . but I know it’s not true. It did buy us a bit of time, however.”
Nicole nodded. “We need to get the rest of the family out.” She took a breath. “Why couldn’t you visit them?”
“Winston wouldn’t let me. He said I couldn’t come back unless I brought you. Said you’re a calming influence there.” Albert glanced at Nicole. “I’m not surprised—my visits were never as productive as when you’ve been present, regardless of your cello playing.”
Nicole felt her insides churn as she thought over all that might have happened while she was gone. She knew the elixir wouldn’t be ready for at least a few more days—if Rebecca was right—but that didn’t mean that the human sacrifice hadn’t happened already. She found herself praying that the family was okay.
Only a couple of minutes later, they pulled up in front of the manor, and a young man came out to get the horse and buggy.
Albert sent Nicole a sheepish glance. “I got tired of setting up the horse and buggy several times a day. Hired a boy from Moses Lake to take care of things for me.”
Nicole nodded. “I’m glad. We should’ve done that a while ago.”
Just then, Winston appeared around the corner of the manor, stumbling along the dirt road that led to his house.
His walk was uneven, one foot slightly dragging. The minute he spotted Nicole and Albert, his face crumpled and he started crying, pulling off his hat. Nicole was shocked to see that most of his hair had fallen out.
“Oh, Nicole’s here, Nicole’s here,” Winston said. He hugged her. She stared at Albert, afraid to put her arms around Winston, afraid she’d break him, he was so frail. It felt like there wasn’t anything but bones under his skin.
“What’s the matter, Winston?” Nicole asked, patting his back, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
“Killed all the animals,” he sobbed, stepping away. “I killed ’em all.”
Nicole and Albert met eyes.
“Why?” Nicole asked.
“They’d all rotted. All of them. They was so miserable. It weren’t right, leavin’ ’em like that.” He wrung his hat. “Them cows was all swollen. They stunk so bad. Parts of ’em were shriveled up and chalky. Other parts were bloated. Maggots everywhere, already eatin’ ’em. Them pigs lost their hair and teeth. Even their ears fell off. I feed ’em, and they eat and eat and eat and never are full. Then they vomit it all up and beg for more. All the while, parts of ’em are shrivelin’ and other parts are swellin’. They was in so much pain.”
He took a shaky breath, tears falling from his eyes. “And so, I killed ’em. Couldn’t stand seein’ ’em so miserable like.”
Albert stepped forward and touched Winston’s arm. “Would you like to stay here for a while?”
Winston wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “No. Iona’s not well. She’s been askin’ for Sterling a lot. I don’t want to leave her alone for long.”
“Well . . . would you like a ride back to your house?”
Winston shook his head. “I don’t want to disservice you. ’Sides, I need to think. Need to walk.”
Nicole’s eyes strayed to Winston’s feet. One of his ankles was swollen. It couldn’t be comfortable, walking like that. “It won’t be a problem. Albert’s friend here could take you back.” Nicole pointed to the boy—a teenager of probably fifteen. He wore overalls and a flannel, long-sleeved shirt.
Winston looked at him for several moments before nodding. “Sure. He can take me.”
Nicole wondered if the country-like clothing was what made Winston feel more comfortable.
The boy took the reins from Albert and got up into the buggy while Albert helped Winston seat himself.
Nicole and Albert watched them until they’d pulled around the side of the manor, then Nicole turned to Albert.
“We need to talk.”
Albert nodded and they entered the manor. Nicole put her things away in her room, then met him a few minutes later in his library. They sat in the overstuffed chairs next to the fireplace.
“What’s on your mind, Nicole?” Albert asked, leaning forward.
“Well, I told you about the portal, right?”
He nodded. “How much longer until it’s finished?”
She took a deep breath, then told him what Rebecca had said about a human sacrifice.
Albert’s eyes reddened as he listened, and she saw his hand shake a bit when he raised a bottle of water to his mouth. But he didn’t argue or get upset. She wondered if he’d been suspecting something like that.
“Just let me know what you need, when you need it,” he said.
Nicole agreed to do so.
They chatted for a while longer, Nicole telling Albert about her trip and him telling her about Thanksgiving Days in bygone years. He was especially excited about Nicole being able to Channel with a regular cello.
“Though . . . I guess that means you’ll be leaving soon.”
She nodded. “As soon as the elixir has been delivered. They have assignments for me.” She rushed on, seeing his sadness. “But I’ll come visit. I promise.”
Nicole could tell that made Albert feel much better. They parted ways, each ready to hit the sack.
Right after Nicole finished getting ready for bed, Rebecca visited.
“The sacrifice is well on its way,” she said immediately. “One of the humans has volunteered. It won’t be long now.”
“Vol—volunteered? The Gardners know what’s going on?” Nicole sat on her bed, putting a hand to her throat. “How horrible.” She swallowed. “I can’t wait for all this to be over. I don’t know how much more Albert and I can handle.”
Rebecca sat next to Nicole and put an arm around her. “I know it hasn’t been easy. But I do hope that as things move forward in the next few days, you’ll see how worth it everything has been.”
Nicole took a deep breath and glanced at Rebecca. “So, should I call you Grandma?”
Rebecca laughed. “You’ve talked to your mother, I see.” She patted Nicole’s leg. “Rebecca is fine. I’m just so relieved you know who I am now, and that I can be totally honest with you.”
“You weren’t before?”
The ghost shook her head. “No, obviously not. I felt my relation to you was Tiffany’s secret to tell, since she’s the one who chose to have children. It’s been very hard not blurting it out, though.”
She tilted her head, peering at Nicole. “You have questions, right? What are they? I’d love to answer as many as I can.”
Nicole hesitated a moment, wondering where to begin. “What’s the money for?”
Rebecca nodded. “That’s a good one to start with. Your grandfather and I worked very hard, saving every single penny we had. We knew that whoever ended up helping us destroy the embryonic manipulator would need to have access to large amounts of funds. Not only is the location difficult to reach, but it’s dangerous. You’ll need camping equipment. You’ll need experienced fighters, especially if anyone tries to stop you. You’ll need to purchase the land where the manipulator is located, since everything will be ruined and useless once the machine has been destroyed. It wouldn’t be honest to do that to another person’s property.
“Also, the money is supposed to keep you healthy, housed, and fed so you don’t need to worry about finding work. What we’re possibly going to be asking you to do will be difficult enough without needing to sew dresses or milk cows on the side.”
Nicole smiled at her grandmother’s understanding of what a job would be. Then she thought over Rebecca’s answer. It made sense, so she asked her next question. “How much does my mom know about all of this?”
“Not very much. In fact, we’ve hardly told her any of our plans. She only knows that I’ve been visiting you, getting to know you. She doesn’t even know about the elixir.”
“Okay. And why did you have to wait until I was born to fix the embryonic manipulator? You saw into the future—couldn’t you have done that and then destroyed it yourself?”
“No, we couldn’t have. I didn’t always have the ability to see. That came very late in life. We knew whatever we did would require money, so we started saving up early. But by the time I reached the age when we knew who you would be, I was already an elderly woman.” She motioned to herself. “This body would have needed to be much stronger.
“Not only that, but it took us until only a few years ago—when the journal came into your professor’s hands—to get the Great Ones on our side. Just because we could see into the future didn’t mean we’d be able to prove to them that we were deserving of their help.”
“So, what do the Tarians know about this?”
“Not very much. They know that a leader is being prepared for them. For now, they think it’s someone in Europe. We’ll allow them to continue thinking that.” Rebecca looked at Nicole. “And it might end up being him. What we’d ask you to do is a potentially deadly thing. It is absolutely necessary that you learn to lie and to lie well, because should we deem you ready, worthy, and able, we will put you in charge of their group. And that would be very dangerous. They can’t ever know what we plan to have you do.”
Nicole felt the blood drain from her face. “Why would I have to lead them?”
“Because it is your birthright, first, and second, we believe that if their leader—someone they love and trust—eventually tells them our will, they’ll be more likely to disband and change their ways.”
Nicole frowned. “And they’d just overlook the fact that I’m an Arete?”
“No, they wouldn’t. Not at first. You’d have to pretend to have changed sides. To be in agreement with them. To say that Aretes everywhere need to be destroyed.” She sent Nicole a sidelong glance. “It wouldn’t be hard for them to come to believe that one of my descendants switched loyalties. I mean, I did create a group that planned to destroy Aretes everywhere.”
“I . . . I don’t know if I can do this.”
Rebecca put her hand on Nicole’s arm. “I know, sweetie. This is why we haven’t officially asked you yet. And it’s also why you’d need to learn to lie.”
“My stomach churns just thinking about that.”
“It’s because you are a decent person. The main thing to remember is, never be dishonest with those you care about. And tell as much truth as you can.”
Rebecca tilted her head as if she were listening to something. “I need to go.” She got to her feet and looked at Nicole. “I’ll come visit you and strengthen you when the elixir is nearly here.”
Nicole also stood and gave Rebecca a hug. “Thank you for everything. For answering my questions so openly.”
The elderly woman held Nicole tightly. “Anything for my favorite granddaughter.” She stepped back. “Don’t tell your mother I said that.”
Nicole laughed, then waved goodbye as Rebecca faded, then disappeared.
***
The next day while Nicole and Albert were in the front entry, preparing to head out to the farmhouse, Winston staggered into the manor, stinking of alcohol. His eyes were wild, his mouth opening and closing.
“Sterling’s dead. He’s dead!”
Nicole’s jaw fell. “How do you know?” she asked.
Winston’s eyes passed over her, jumping around the room, not seeing anything, not resting. He looked like a rabid dog. Nicole was almost surprised he wasn’t drooling.
“I went to visit him in the hospital, that’s how.” His gaze landed on Albert and he stumbled over to the older man, grabbing him. “Take my other kids. Take them now!”
Nicole’s eyes teared up. She couldn’t believe Winston was finally asking this, and felt he needed to know the truth—that he deserved it. “We’ve already got Orson.”
Winston froze. He turned to face her, his eyes narrow slits. “What did you say?”
Nicole opened her mouth to repeat herself, but saw the warning look on Albert’s face, so she didn’t.
“I asked you what you said!” Winston roared, lunging for Nicole, grabbing and throwing her across the room. She thumped against a table, knocking off a vase. It shattered on the marble floor next to her, pelting her with shards.
“You dare take my children from me? You dare touch them?”
Winston jumped on top of Nicole, and his hands closed around her throat. He leaned over her, his face only a couple inches from hers and started screaming at her.
Nicole couldn’t hear him—her blood thundered in her ears. She tried to breathe, struggled to push him off. She was vaguely aware of Albert attacking Winston, but nothing stopped the man’s rage.
Suddenly, Winston went silent as he was lifted off Nicole and tossed aside. Nicole choked and gasped, hands at her neck, tears streaming down her face. Albert’s new employee offered his hand to her and helped her to a sitting position.
Winston whimpered, curling to his side, and Albert sat next to Nicole, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, the anger Nicole had seen in his face earlier gone, replaced with fear and concern.
She nodded. She tried to swallow, and cringed at how much it hurt. She glanced up at the young man. “Thank you,” she said hoarsely.
“No problem. And let me know if he tries anything again.” The guy glared at Winston.
“What’s your name?” Nicole whispered, hand still at her throat.
“Lucas.” He nodded to Nicole, then walked over to Winston. “What do you have to say to the lady?”
Winston grunted, glancing at Nicole over his shoulder from where he now sat. “Nothin’.”
“My foot, you don’t!” Lucas grabbed Winston by the shirt and yanked him over to Nicole. “You apologize to her right now!”
Winston stared at the ground. “Sorry, Nicole.” Then he looked up. “You said something earlier. What did you say? Was it somethin’ about my kids?”
Nicole glanced at Albert, hesitating. “I . . . I said we already took Orson.”
“He’s okay?”
Nicole nodded. “He’s in the hospital. He’s going to be fine.”
Winston put his face in his hands and began sobbing. “Oh, thank you, Lord.”
Nicole slumped to the floor, feeling the adrenaline leave her system. Holy cow—she almost got killed just now. Her hands began shaking and she felt tears gathering again. This time, they were tears of relief. She relaxed there for several moments, trying to gain control over her emotions.
After a bit, she got to her feet and helped Winston up. “Come on. Let’s go.”
He wiped his face. “Where?”
“We’re going to get Prudence and Iona. Take them away from the house until all danger has passed.”
Winston swallowed several times, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Okay.” His voice was only a whisper.
Nicole put her hands on his shoulders. “Winston, there is no way you could have known all this would happen.”
He nodded, not meeting her gaze. “I should—I shoulda’ listened to you and Albert.”
Nicole didn’t respond to his comment. She wasn’t about to lie to him and tell him things would be all right, not when his son had just died. He should have listened. “There’s still time to save Prudence and Iona. Let’s go get them.”
Lucas had already pulled the buggy up outside and walked Winston out, helping him sit on the backseat. Nicole climbed up next to Albert, who took the reins.
“See you when you get back,” Lucas said, heading toward the barns.
Most of the ride was silent, with only the occasional comment from Albert on just how far the grayness in the land had gone. Nicole couldn’t stop thinking about Sterling. She couldn’t believe he was dead, even though the doctor had repeatedly said he wasn’t getting better.
Was Sterling the sacrifice? He had to be, right? The only problem Nicole saw with that was the fact that he hadn’t been at the farmhouse for the past two weeks. Was it possible he’d sacrificed himself from that far away?
Winston jumped down from the buggy as soon as they pulled up in front of the house. He indicated for Nicole and Albert to follow.
They walked through the forest behind the farmhouse to a small cemetery with five or six headstones in it. A freshly dug grave was there, along with several empty beer bottles and a spot on top of the fresh pile of dirt that looked like a grown man had sat in it for a while. Obviously, Winston had dug the grave and then drunk himself silly.
Winston started crying again when he saw the grave. “It’s for Sterling. For my boy.”
Nicole and Albert’s gaze met and she knew he was probably thinking the same thing. The other graves here were old—at least a hundred years, if not more. Sterling had died in the hospital. There was no way the city would let Winston bury his son here. Nicole was sure there was a permit for that sort of thing, and Winston most likely didn’t have one.
Winston sat on the pile of dirt and stared into the hole, oblivious to his company. Albert motioned for Nicole to follow him, and they walked back to the house.
“I’ll go through the front door. You go through the back. If Prudence is in her bedroom, stay with her until I get there.”
Nicole nodded.
Prudence was staring at the back door when Nicole cautiously opened it, as if she knew Nicole was coming.
Nicole smiled at the girl and gave a small wave, but Prudence didn’t respond. She just stared at Nicole with her milky white eyes.
“Prudence?” Nicole took a step closer and touched the girl’s shoulder. “It’s me, Nicole.”
Prudence didn’t respond.
Nicole sat on the girl’s bed and waited. Soon enough, Albert came to the room. “Oh, good. She’s here. Let’s take her out to the buggy.”
Nicole knitted her eyebrows. “Should we take Iona first? Prudence isn’t responding to anything I say or do. I don’t want to have yet another Gardner attack me today if it can be helped, and maybe while we’re moving Iona, Prudence will wake up from wherever she is now.”
Albert nodded. “Good idea. Let’s go get Iona.”
He led the way back through the house and to the stairs, taking them two at a time. Nicole wondered again where he got all his energy. For an old man, he was surprisingly active.
All the doors were open except Iona’s. Albert put his hand on the doorknob, then hesitated.
“Something feels different.” He looked back at Nicole.
She closed her eyes, reaching out with her magical senses. He was right. There was something in Iona’s room. A magical presence. A slight pulsing that hadn’t been there before.
She took a breath, glancing at Albert. “There’s a magical source in there with her.”
Albert paled, stepping back from the door. “Let’s make sure we’re ready for whatever it is.”
He turned and entered the room across from Iona’s, searching. Nicole followed, not sure what he was looking for, but wanting to help.
Albert picked up a walking stick, hefting it in his hands, then nodded. “Stay behind me.”
He walked back to Iona’s door. “Keep your magical senses ready.”
Nicole reached out again, making sure to have a firm mental hold on whatever it was that inhabited the room with Iona.
“Ready,” she whispered.
Albert pushed the door open far enough for both of them to see inside.
The room was empty except for a mass of fabric and something squelchy looking in the corner.
Nicole and Albert met eyes, and Albert shrugged. He stepped into the room and Nicole followed. The magical pulses originated from the pile. They were faint.
Nicole and Albert stopped a couple of feet from the mass and stared at it. Nicole gasped, hand flying to her mouth. She recognized Iona’s mangled dress, a wad of her hair. “It’s . . . it’s Iona.”
Albert’s mouth set in a firm line, and they bent over what remained of the woman, inspecting the mound.
It looked like her body had gelatinized, then firmed again in a completely different shape, with only a few recognizable things here and there.
Suddenly, a finger moved. The wad of hair shifted. A moan drifted from somewhere in the center of the pile.
Iona was still alive.
Nicole felt bile rising in the back of her throat. The woman was alive. Was suffering. Was aware of their presence, Nicole was sure of it. How could she possibly have lived through whatever transformation her body had undergone?
And where was the magical pulse coming from?
Albert motioned for Nicole to turn away, tears dropping down his face. She did so, then heard a thump. A moan. Several more thumps.
Then all was still behind her.
Albert’s quiet sobbing reached her ears. “She’s suffered so much, so greatly,” he whispered. “I had to help her. It was the most charitable thing I could do—relieve her. Send her home.”
Nicole turned to comfort him, but he gasped and backed up into her, then grabbed her.
Suddenly, the magical pulse in the room intensified so strongly that Nicole felt her heart skip, struggling to continue beating in her chest. The pressure coming from behind her made her dizzy.
Nicole again tried to turn, but Albert stopped her.
“Don’t look, Nicole,” he whispered. “I don’t think you’re meant to see it.”
He helped her to the hall at the top of the stairs, then, holding her arm, started down with her.
They’d only taken three steps when something entered the hallway behind them. Nicole froze. So did Albert.
Something pushed up against her. Iona? Nicole turned, but nothing was there. Goose bumps trailed down her arms.
The pressure released.
Nicole heard a sigh as something slipped past. One of the steps below them creaked. Another.
The front door jostled. Then everything was silent again.
Suddenly the horse began neighing, freaking out.
Nicole heard a splash of water. She and Albert glanced at each other.
“The well,” Albert whispered.
Neither of them moved. Nicole tried to convince herself it was out of respect to Iona’s spirit, not fear. She wasn’t successful.
The horse finally stopped neighing.
Just then, Prudence shuffled into view, standing at the foot of the steps, staring up at Nicole and Albert. Her eyes were nearly translucent in the dark. Her mouth worked, moved, as if she were trying to say something. A stream of drool splattered down the front of her dress.
“Take . . . me . . .”
Prudence raised her hand for Nicole.
Nicole swallowed, expecting the girl to attack. But she didn’t.
“Ni . . . cole . . .” she whispered. “Please take . . . me . . .”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Nicole rushed down the stairs to her friend, with Albert right behind her. They pulled Prudence’s arms over their shoulders, then helped her outside to the buggy, being careful to avoid the well.
Winston held the horse’s reins. He turned slowly and looked at Albert.
“Iona?”
Albert shook his head. “She’s gone, Winston.”
Winston gave a short nod. Nicole watched him closely, expecting him to cry, but he didn’t. He’d obviously experienced too much already. His eyes were hollow, his face emotionless.
“Take Prudy to the hospital,” he whispered. “Come get me in the morning.” His eyes wandered to the house. “I’ll take care of her.” His voice cracked then, but he still didn’t cry.
Winston and Albert helped Prudence up into the buggy. Albert took the reins and Nicole hopped onto the seat on the back. With a jerk, the buggy started forward.
Nicole watched Winston as they pulled away, and he watched her. His clothes hung off his now-tiny frame. His expression was vacant, his jaw slack, his eyes dark, almost black. She would never forget how he looked right then. Here was a man who’d been completely destroyed in the last month and a half.