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And then I realized what Hanna had said "You’ve been here five years? And your son?" I glanced over at the cage where the silent boy lay sleeping

"Kjell has been in that cage for five long years Heit’s been a while since he said anything to er talk I don’t even know if he understandsto him" Her voice low, she cocked her head to one side, and silent tears traced down her cheeks

I wanted to cry with her For Hanna For Kjell For the dozens of women Hyto had murdered For s of the world But the enor, and I sluht I need to sleep"

Hanna led me over to a pallet--much softer than the one I’d woken up on

"Sleep Here, drink this Five drops of it will deepen your rest but won’t y when you wake up" She handed me a little bottle "The Master would beat me if he knew I had this, butI use it when I can’t stand being here, when I can’t face myself or what I do for him"

I took the bottle and didn’t even hesitate I needed the rest I sed five drops of the bitter liquid "Did he everhas he raped you?"

She shook her head "He needs me too much to subject me to that The women he has capturedCamille, he not only abuses theon form The first, he tried to molest in his natural forain--he likes to play with his food before he eats And it’s no fun if his prey dies so quickly I’hten you, but to warn you"

"I know all about him," I said "Remember? He’s my husband’s father And I know that unless I escape, the minute my husband comes here to savehe can do to intensify the pain, he’ll do I understand"

And with that, I slid under the thick quilt that Hanna tucked over me and closed my eyes A moment later, I felt her lips on my forehead, and it was likeI didn’t say a word, but snuggled under the cover and i in a long, narrow tunnel that wound through the labyrinth for what seemed like forever So on the astral in an to look for any sign of life--anybody whoA shadow looht be Hyto, I darted fro for some cover, some place to hide But the shadow stayed apace with me, and after a while, I turned to find that it was merely a reflection of myself

"What do you want? Who are you? Why do you look likeatself "You knohat I want," I foundfro to stand in your oay"

Blink, and back to myself An ache stirred in my heart "No, I don’t want to think about it I just want to get out of this dreaed "You can’t, not until you reclai Not until you reclaim me Think about it, Caon I didn’t want to face it--didn’t want to admit it

"IWhat do you wantbe honest withbreath "Fine You want honest? This is all my fault"

"Ho the hell did you cause this?"

"If I hadn’t let Vanzir fuck uht hold of er surprised me "If I hadn’t enjoyed Vanzir, this wouldn’t have happened Somehow--if I could have hated hireeable"

"You mean if Vanzir had raped youor if you had killed hi for you? Or maybe, if you had let Vanzir feed off your mind, none of this would have happened?"

Apparently, I was really good at needling ry at uht This is all et it out of your head Would you tell that to Delilah? Did Menolly deserve what she got because she couldn’t hold her position and fell right into the ry now, furious that those words could even find their way intoit--I lashed out

"No! She didn’t deserve it Nobody deserves it And those women Hyto killed didn’t deserve it, either And neither do I!"

"Then why are you harboring the secret fear that you do deserve it?" My alter ego was softer now, al my head "I don’t know Maybery at, soainst Hyto If I can’t scream at himso who the hell can I scream at? Not at Hanna--she’s my only hope for help And it’s not her fault, either How can I deal with all this anger and fear and pain if I can’t get it outside et you’re a witch You’re a priestess for the Moon Mother Doesn’t that count for so?"

A cool wind rushed overin a wide barren field I was on the astral--in spirit, but abovedoith her glittering touch to wrap listened in the sky The proto the drea to the strands of possibility

I held on to her proicwhat spells could I cast that ood--especially not without Morio--but perhaps