Page 40 (1/2)

"Celia, it is going to happen It must" Isaac squeezed my hand

"There has to be a death, but it doesn’t have to be one of the strength

"It has to be a e"

He thought I was planning on sacrificing h for one of theht actually work "What about Connor Finn What if he dies?"

"Celia…" His voice was stern I knew just fro about hu ical backlash Finn plans to use a blood curse on Michelle toht" I paused, then said, "If he can’t kill her--"

Isaac sat up a little straighter "His own ic will double back on him"

"And while he ured out a way to shield himself froic" Isaac’s smile was cold, hard, and just a little anticipatory "It’s siant But can you do it?"

"Do I have a choice?"

27

The drive back was ot home, I called Kevin to make sure he had his laptop He did So I used Skype to contact Michelle at the safe house

"No I won’t"

I counted to ten, slowly, trying to keep my temper in check I’d expected Michelle to ju the death curse Instead, she was balking

"Why the hell not?"

"This isn’t a hospital I a to have aroo to try a death curse? You don’t Not really You’re just assue on the screen She was still very pale, but her jaw thrust out stubbornly, and her eyes were flashing

"You sahat happened at the hospital If we hadn’t gotten you out of there ahead of time, they’d have captured or killed you"

She flinched "Yes"

"We’re doing our very best to protect you"

"I know And I appreciate it But--"

"But what?" I didn’t shout I very carefully did not shout But she flinched anyway

"Michelle," I heard Kevin’s voice co off to the left "You have to trust us This is e do If Celia says they’ll try it, they will And I know the doctors Celia’s hired They’re the best in the business They’ll take good care of you"

"You’re sure?" Now that Kevin was talking to her, she avering Irritating, but useful Maybe it was that he was male Or maybe it was just that she’d spent rateful

"I trust Celia absolutely" He said it without any hesitation "She’s saved my life before"

"If you’re sure" She turned back to the screen "I guess I’ll do it"

"Good I’ll see you soon"

I ended the session ood So I took a hot bath, drank some comfort food, fed Minnie, and tried to rest for a couple of hours Chris would be calling so delivery of the equipment and supplies necessary to make Michelle not "herself," at least for a while I needed to be ready when he did A nap wasn’t a lot of recovery considering the kind of life I’d been living lately, but it was better than nothing

I really wanted to sleep, but unfortunately,into dead ends, like a rat in aobvious I knew it I just couldn’t see it I tossed and turned so ave up the attempt after a half hour Instead, I covered myself with sunscreen, put on rabbed the beach umbrella, and went out to sit onthere when Emma stopped by on her way home from work She stood on the deck and called my name When I looked over, she waved at lasses A bottle of wine dangled fro her Soon she was picking her way across the rocks and da