Page 72 of Malcolm

She laughed, taking the bread. “Yes, sir.” Taking a bite, she hummed as she always did when she ate.

He watched her with heavy eyes. As she took another bite, she felt her strength return. “I only have one question now.”

“Yes?” she said, licking butter from her finger.

“Did something happen before you returned to Morgan’s cabin?” His green eyes stared into hers, waiting for an answer.

A flash of red hair appeared in her mind’s eye. Eliza's chewing slowed as she wondered whether she should tell Malcolm about the strange man. Something told her she shouldn’t, not when he held a key to her past.

“Do you know my friend…Phen.”

“I can’t remember,” she whispered. She didn’t want to involve him in her problems. She’d deal with him herself. Malcolm had enough on his plate already. “I remember going to your cabin and then leaving. The next thing I can recall is feeling horrible as I entered the bathroom, and from there, nothing.”

He watched her for a minute before he gave a short nod and stood. “I’ll tell Lilly and Morgan they can see you.”

“Malcolm?”

He stopped and looked down at her.

“Yes?”

“You know I would tell you if I remembered, right.” She even sounded like she was pleading to her own ears.

He nodded, turned to face her fully, and, slightly bending, pressed his lips to her forehead.

Turning around fully, he walked over to her, bent at the waist, and pressed his cool lips to her forehead. “I know.”

Straightening, he cupped her cheek, gave her another heavy look, and turned and left.

As she watched him go, a part of her felt he knew she was lying. But she couldn’t tell him the truth. She knew she was selfish, but if he knew, he’d put himself up against an enemy she knew was ruthless and could expose her secrets. Eliza didn’t want to see Malcolm look at her with disgust; the thought made her nauseous.

The witch who’d been worthless to others was now a monster. She looked in the mirror. Reaching up, she pressed a hand to her face. She didn’t even look the same anymore.

“You’re my greatest creation.”

A cold hand on her skin drew her closer to Phen, who watched her with greedy eyes. The nurse pulled her along as she shakenly walked towards the lead expert.

He placed his clipboard aside and walked towards her. “I made you beautiful and powerful; you are a perfect replica of what his lordship wishes for.” He reached out, pulling a piece of her hair to his lips. “After a few more tests, you’ll be perfect for his cause, and my vision will be made real.” Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her cold cheek.

Drawing back, the sick love in his eyes was fully exposed to her. “Isn’t that right, Eliza?” he paused and shook his head with a chuckle. “No, you’re not her anymore. You are more than that trash witch. You are my Muse…My masterpiece.”

The sound of children’s laughter outside brought her back to the present. She closed her eyes, trying to center herself. Her secrets were building, and she needed to figure out how much that male knew about her. She couldn’t let this place that had become her oasis be destroyed.

Eliza refused to lose her safe haven or…Malcolm.

Pain flared at the thought of losing him, and she could hardly hold back the sob that escaped her. She covered her face, why couldn’t she have met him before this? Before, she’d become nothing more than a doll for a megalomaniac.

The world's weight was on her soul, and she only wanted to return to the carefree days of working at the Shade with other witches. She looked at the food, and finally she picked up a grape. Taking a bite, she tasted the sweetness that filled her mouth. But she could also detect a small bit of bitterness. She didn’t bother to wipe the tears from her eyes as they fell silently.

Malcolm

Malcolm knew Eliza was lying to him, but he wasn’t sure why.

Ever since the day she’d awoken in his apartment, he knew she had secrets that would take time for her to reveal to him. Even now, she rarely offered up any information about her past, especially when it came to the ones who’d kidnapped her and experimented on her. Malcolm took it as a blessing when she started sharing her childhood and general past with him.

He wanted to know more about her.

But he would be patient or as patient as possible, knowing that Tiller would soon arrive. He’d bet on the bad relationship between his people and the Council to bring that cunning fox to his door. The way the two typically ran each other mad with bureaucracy was well-known.

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