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“I do not knohy you are delaying your assignment, but it needs to be done, my flower”

My heart beat out of time

She wouldn’t understand I could never reveal to her why I couldn’t do what she deive her too e over me

And I’d already lost too much of myself

What I had left, I cradled close, scared to death that she ht rip it from my frail hands

I couldn’t let that happen

“I haven’t been feeling well,” I uttered tonelessly

The closer she advanced, the ht like a bow Dressed in black, she sat beside entle hand to my forehead

I shuddered

“You feel fine to me,” she said with an undertone of accusation

I took ed it toit close like a protective barrier “What you’re askingto be easy”

“I have faith in you You will find a way”

My palan to sweat I sed hard “It’s impossible He hates me”

So, when she stood, unspeaking, then crouched down in front of htening her hold until it pinched my delicate flesh, I remained impassive

I loathed to show just how ot off on it

She squeezed tighter, and when her nails dug intoin distaste The thinly veiled threat was clear “You will find a way”

My jaw taut, I breathed through the pain as I refused to look away from her

My aunt My tormentor

“I’ll find a way,” I muttered shakily, even if to hold her off a while

Ksenia smiled then It disturbed me that it was identical to my mother’s “See that you do” She stood and ot there, she paused, her expression unreadable “Do you knohat they do to useless animals in Russia?”

My heart jumped in my chest “No”

My aunt grinned darkly “You are very close to finding out”

The minute she was out ofit and pressing ainst the cool wood I couldn’t breathe I huffed and puffed, and as I stretched s burned