Chapter Fifteen

Iris/Crina

Crina slammed Iris’s bedroom door. “Unbelievable. Finally free to do whatever I want and you have to be virtuous.”

You were going to have sex with him. Iris fumed. Give me back my body.

“Poor Iris. Why do you think I’m taking control?” Crina unbuttoned her shirt and slipped it off. “Haven’t you wondered? With each cursed fate I give, the closer I get to ridding myself of you forever.” She removed her bra, running her hands across her flat stomach. “I do like this body. So pretty you are. So young. Healthy. And impeccably clean.”

Don’t touch me.

“It’s not me. It’s us.”

You’re evil and old.

“You hurt my feelings, Iris. I was your age when I died. Already a mother, I was.”

My age?

“Yes.” Crina inspected their shared body in the mirror. “The longer I have control, the sooner you will turn into the curse. And once you do, I know how to extract you from this body and put you into the cards. I will then destroy them, thus you will be dead. And I will live on.”

You’re a monster.

“Perhaps.” She searched the drawers. “I once was a girl like you. In love. But he betrayed me.” She stopped at the drawer that held Iris’s pajamas and held up a tank top. “This is horrible. Don’t you have something more feminine to wear for bed?”

Iris wasn’t going to answer her. They may have traded places, but Iris wasn’t weak. Sure, Crina had taken control. But that meant Iris could, too. She would mess up Crina as much as possible. Hopefully someone would notice.

Daisy. I have to get to her. Hopefully Miri found out a way to get rid of Crina.

Dressed in Iris’s favorite pajama bottoms and tank top, Crina sat on the bed, shuffling through the tarot cards. “Let’s see. Which fate would be best for our next victim? Marsha Simmons. She really is a rotten person. Don’t you think? Well, that’s silly. Of course you think that.”

Part of Iris wanted Marsha to get what she deserved. The bigger part, the one that cared about all living things, even insects, didn’t wish her any harm.

“I must say.” She spoke, glancing at cards one at a time before tossing them on the bed. “The man who crushed me wasn’t as handsome as Wade. Such a wonderful prize I’ll have when I’ve finished exorcising you from this body.”

Iris didn’t want to listen to Crina and her conquest over Wade. She wished she could just go to sleep and wake up the next morning free of the wretched woman. Or girl. Whatever she was, she was a nightmare.

Crina stopped on a card.

The Devil card? Iris didn’t like the looks of that. What will that do?

“She’s a devil, that one.” She rubbed circles on the back of the card until the vines had gone from green to black. “It’s fitting. I am not certain what will come of it. She could suffer any number of consequences from fostering all the cardinal sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.”

Sloth?

“It’s being lazy, either spiritually or emotionally.” She stood and crossed the room to Iris’s backpack on the window seat.

Don’t do it. You could save yourself. We could find a way.

Crina threw her head back and laughed. “Silly girl. I don’t want saving.” Her eyes went to the mirror, and Iris could see herself. She looked like her but different. She couldn’t place her finger on it, but she was different. Were her eyes a darker blue? Her face paler? Whatever it was, maybe attitude, it was dark—evil.

“I want to live,” Crina said.

I want to live, too. Iris was tired. She had discovered that when that happened, she vanished or slept. She couldn’t be sure which one.

The rain hit like cold daggers against Crina’s face and arms. Mud grabbed onto her shoes as if trying to keep her from moving forward. In the distance, the castle was ablaze with flickering lights.

It was a painful memory for Crina, and Iris didn’t want to be in it.

The old woman is wrong, Crina thought. She had every right to seek revenge. Armand had used her and had thrown her away like a rind of an eaten fruit. Armand could have walked away from his duty, but he chose not to. After Crina told this to the woman, the witch helped her create the curse.

Duty.

Every Van Buren heir would suffer for it.

A sacrifice must be made to seal the curse. The woman had told her. Crina wasn’t afraid of what she must do. She was dead already, a corpse walking around without a heart.

The doors to the castle were tall and thick. She had to push her weight against one to open it, the warm light spilling over her. She shivered and headed in the direction of voices—across the foyer and down a wide corridor. The servants were too busy attending the dinner to notice Crina’s entrance into the dining hall.

It was a celebration for Armand. He had turned eighteen. With all the riches around him and the fine fabrics of his clothing, he looked different to Crina. Less of a man.

The first person to spot her was Armand’s mother. The woman would never be a grandmother to Oana, probably hadn’t any knowledge that the baby existed. She pushed out her chair and stood.

“What is this?” Armand’s mother glanced at the servants.

The others at the long table, nearly twenty or so men and women, all looked at Crina.

Armand shot up from his seat. “I will take care of the matter.” He charged over to her, grabbed her elbow, and led her out of the room. “Why are you here?” he hissed under his breath.

Crina tried to yank her elbow free from his grasp, but his grip tightened, strong fingers digging into her skin.

“You betrayed me,” she said loudly, not caring who heard her.

“Hush or I’ll—”

“Kill me?” Crina glared at him. “I’m already dead.”

“Armand?” A voice so sweet, yet commanding, came from behind them.

Crina looked over her shoulder. Coal-colored eyes met hers. It was as if someone had dressed up a sickly girl from the market—she was pale and beautifully dressed. At the sight of his bride, Crina sagged in Armand’s hold. Beaten. Defeated.

Before she realized it, he had her at the front door and shoved her outside. “Now go, and don’t ever come here again.”

Tears burned Crina’s eyes. “You never loved me. What of our daughter? Do you not want to know her?”

“You’re married,” Armand said. “The daughter belongs to your husband.”

“How could you?” she said over a sob.

“Armand? What is happening here?” The girl stopped behind him; her eyes held concern or maybe empathy for Crina, who must have looked like a pauper with her clothes muddied and torn.

Crina almost faltered. The girl was innocent. She had no idea what Armand had done, what he had promised Crina. But the anger on Armand’s face and the hatred in his eyes called Crina into action. She pulled the Death card out of the pocket of her skirt.

“You will know my pain, Armand. Your descendants will feel it for years to come.” Crina held up the card. “I curse you and yours. All Van Buren firstborn sons will die on their eighteenth birthday.” She threw the card. The instant it left her fingertips, it burst into flames and soared across the space between her and Armand. It hit him in the chest, catching his waistcoat on fire.

“Have you lost your mind?” He scrambled out of his jacket, dropped it on the floor, and stamped it out.

She turned and ran, slipping in the mud and falling to her knees.

“Crina!” Armand yelled from behind her.

She got up and sprinted down the road. He was still behind her.

Why is he following me?

It was dark, the moon hidden behind clouds, so dark she could hardly see in front of her. She passed under a Sleeping Willow, tangling in its branches as she made her way to the river.

“Crina!” Armand called. He couldn’t see anything, either.

She tied the hem of her skirt to its waistband, creating a sort of pouch. Gathering rocks, she dropped them into the pouch until it was so heavy she struggled to walk into the water. The river was freezing. With each step in, she sank lower into its depths.

The curse requires a sacrifice. A death. She recalled the old woman’s words. It must be a great sacrifice. The baby would do. But Crina couldn’t kill her baby. The little thing was innocent. Tomas loved her dearly. He was a good man. Crina hadn’t deserved him.

I will be the sacrifice.

The water lapped against her chin and she heard him again. “Crina! Please. I am sorry. I truly loved…love you. I had no choice… Where are you?”

No choice? You had more than one, Armand. And you chose wealth over love.

Murky water filled her ears and nose and stung her eyes.

Oana’s face flickered across her mind—the baby’s chubby hand wrapped around Crina’s finger as she fed.

Crina panicked. She held her breath and tried to swim, pulling her arms through the water, but the rocks weighed her down and she couldn’t move. Darkness closed around her and she inhaled water; her struggle stopped, arms floating lifeless in front of her.

The kitchen smelled like fried bread and fresh oranges. The amount of syrup Crina poured on her pancakes made Iris’s teeth hurt. The bottle farted as she squeezed out the last bit. A look passed between Dad and Daisy. Iris only put fresh fruit or peanut butter on her stacks. She hoped Daisy would get suspicious about all the butter and syrup Crina was using.

Daisy smirked at Dad and then went back to cutting her pancakes with her fork.

Come on, Daisy— Iris stopped her thought, fearing Crina would find out what Iris was up to. Daisy had to see that Crina had gained more control over Iris. She needed Daisy to hurry up and find a way to get the spirit bitch out of her.

Iris tried to figure out a way to trip Crina up—how to take back control. Crina was able to push through. Iris had to figure out how to do it.

“So, Iris,” Daisy said, stabbing pieces of pancakes to make a tower on her fork. “You must be running out of drops by now; we should get more. I can go with you.”

“No, that’s okay,” Crina said and shoveled a mouthful of dripping cakes into her mouth.

Iris was horrified. If Crina kept eating like that, they’d gain some pounds. You know that’s bad for us, right? I’m mean…don’t get me wrong, I splurge at times. But not every day. It’ll catch up to us.

It’s my body now. I’ll do as I wish with it, Crina snapped.

Iris couldn’t see what her dad and Daisy were doing with Crina’s head down.

“Are you sure?” Daisy asked. “You could drop me off and I can run in while you wait. Like we did before.”

Crina looked up. “I’m not taking them anymore. Trying to eat better, so I won’t need them.”

A look crossed over Daisy’s face, one that was a mix between suspicious and confused.

Look away, Daisy. Don’t let her notice you’re scrutinizing her.

As if Daisy heard Iris, she went back to stabbing pancakes. “Suit yourself. It’s your body.”

Crina was amused. She doesn’t know how right she is. It is my body now.

Iris stayed silent. Her heart, or whatever it was that made her feel in this existence, hurt. She was there with her family, but she wasn’t there. Couldn’t talk to them. Tell them her feelings. Couldn’t feel anything physical, really, but her emotions were all over the place.

When Dad got up to get more coffee at the same time Violet came down the back stairs, Crina was distracted, her eyes going from Dad to Violet. From the corner of her eye, Iris caught a quick glimpse of Daisy as she dropped something into Crina’s orange juice.

It had to be Miri’s concoction.

Iris waited for Crina to drink it.

And she waited.

“Wow, a full breakfast,” Violet said, shuffling into the kitchen. “It’s a weekday. What’s the occasion?

“Dad didn’t stay in his hotel last night. He slept over.” Daisy tapped her fork on the table.

Whenever he came to town, Mom would offer him the guest room. But he’d refuse, even when Mom was gone, because his wife would throw a fit.

Guess he’s rebelling.

Dad frowned at her fork hitting the wood. “Do you mind?”

She stopped.

Violet sat down with a plate and a glass of juice. She took a sip. “Oh gosh, this is delicious, Dad. I love freshly squeezed juice.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I’m glad someone appreciates my efforts.”

“I appreciate it.” Daisy lifted her glass and drank down the juice. She had jumped at the opportunity, and Iris wanted to scream, Thatta girl! But of course, she couldn’t.

Crina didn’t want to look bad in Dad’s eyes, so she picked up her glass and took a long sip. “Oh, this is delicious.”

Iris waited for the drops to do their thing. With a full stomach, she wasn’t sure they’d have any effect on Crina.

Dad stood, lifted his plate and coffee cup, and took them to the sink. “Okay, Violet, we have to go.”

“Ready.” Violet grabbed two pancakes and picked up her backpack by the door. “See you at school, Iris.”

“Where are you going?” Crina asked.

“Remember, my therapist is every Friday.” Violet yanked open the back door. “You have to take Daisy to school.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Crina glanced over at Daisy. “What time do we need to leave?”

“We have about fifteen minutes,” Daisy said.

Dad followed Violet out the door.

Daisy got up and grabbed her dishes. “Guess we should clean up.”

“Do you know how to drive?” Crina asked, bringing hers to the sink.

“Are you serious?” Daisy glanced over her shoulder.

Crina swayed a little and grabbed onto the side of the counter.

Iris pushed her way forward, concentrating hard to take control of her body.

“Ow,” Crina whined and rubbed the side of her head. She stumbled to the table and dropped down on a chair.

Daisy went over to her and placed her hand on Crina’s back. “Iris, are you getting a sugar rush or what?”

Iris lifted her head. “That bitch has a sweet tooth, doesn’t she?”

“Is it you you?” Daisy said.

“Yes.” Iris stood. “We have to hurry. I’m not sure how much time we have until she takes over again.”

“How did she take over?” Daisy asked.

“I don’t know. She just grew stronger than me,” Iris said. “Now listen carefully. I have to get to Wade and tell him what’s happening. Find Violet. Her therapist’s office isn’t too far from here. You know where it is?”

“Yes. I’ve been there before.”

“Good,” Iris continued. “Tell her about the curse. About Crina. I need help. Don’t text it. Tell her in person. Has Miri found anything from the hatbox that could help me?”

“No,” Daisy said. “I’m scared for you.”

Iris placed her open palm on Daisy’s cheek. “I know. Me, too. You’ve done great so far. We need a fate changer. Did you get ahold of Aster?”

“No, she wasn’t responding to her texts or answering my calls. I’ll keep trying.”

“Okay. See if you can stay at Amber’s house again tonight.” What would happen if they couldn’t reach Aster in time? Iris swallowed back the emotions building in her throat. She had to be strong for her sisters.

Daisy hugged Iris. “Please be careful.”

“I will.” She squeezed her back. “Do you have any of Miri’s drops left?”

“Yes.”

“Put it in everything you know Crina will eat or drink. Like the syrup. Her water bottle. Anything.”

They released each other.

“We’re going to be okay,” Iris said, faking the most reassuring smile she could manage. “One more thing, never take a tarot card from me. It’s how she curses people.”

“Got it.” Daisy lifted up her bag.

“Good. Let’s go.” Iris grabbed her keys off the counter and her backpack from the bench by the back door. She held the door open for Daisy to go through, then she shut and locked it. As Iris pulled the Bug out of the driveway, she prayed Crina would stay put long enough for her to explain things to Wade.