Page 59 of Hair, She Bears
“I don’t recommend jumping,” Mother’s gruff voice replied. One hand shot out of the pile of broken wood. Blood streamed down his arm, staining his skin crimson.
Zenna’s stomach flipped over, tightening as her heart sped into a rapid pace, driving fear through her veins. She was out of time. She yanked the sack from her neck and flung it over her shoulder at the bed, and it landed with a soft thump.
Dragging his body from the wood, Mother clawed his way toward the sofa. When his legs were free of the pile, he flipped onto his back and stared up at Zenna, hatred glowed in his eyes.
“You caused this.”
“I didn’t do anything.” She pressed against the side of the loft, partially hiding.
“Not directly,” he groaned. His hand slid into his pocket and removed a vial. He popped out the stopper with his thumb, lifted his trembling hand to his mouth, and cursed. The vial was empty! Throwing it at the wall, it shattered, flinging glass and bits of deep purple powder across the tower.
“How is that possible?” Zenna mumbled to herself, her gaze dropped to the sparkling powder covering the broken staircase. She had seen the empty vial in Mother’s hand.
“Moira!” Mother’s voice vibrated with ire. A cackling laugh swirled into the tower, carried by a playful breeze that swept through the window and ruffled Zenna’s hair.
Had Moira caused the staircase to collapse as well as turned the Votras Alute invisible? How powerful was she? Mother groaned, drawing Zenna’s gaze. He shoved his fingertip into his mouth, sucking the deep purple residue from his thumb, and a shiver ran the length of his body. Forcing himself to a sitting position, Mother glowered at Zenna.
“You can’t stay up there forever.”
“How do you propose I get down?” she asked, her toes curling around the edge of the loft.
“Jump.”
“Votras Alute will not save me.”
“I will catch you.”
“You’re asking me to trust you?” Disbelief hovered in her throat.
“I’m telling you to jump before I transport myself up there and push you out of the loft.”
Zenna nodded. Her eyes slid across the floor, seeking a spot free from debris. She took a deep breath, closed her eyelids, and stepped from the opening. Wind rushed past her ears as she fell. Her body tensed, anticipating the painful impact and sharp nails.
She crashed into something hard. Her eyes flew open. Mother, his chest heaving, stood in the center of the destroyed staircase, his arms wrapped around Zenna.
“You caught me,” she gasped.
“I’m going to lose thousands while your hair grows back, and I’d prefer you alive for that process.” Mother limped to the sofa and set her on the cushion.
“That’s your own doing. You shaved my head.” She glared at him. “You cannot add that loss to my debt.”
“I can do whatever I want.” Mother leaned forward and trailed his finger down her arm. “I own you.”
An explosion rocked the tower.
Mother staggered and flung his arms out, struggling to keep his footing. Three tiles fell from the roof and shattered in succession behind the sofa, the pieces skipping across the stone floor. Screaming, Zenna leapt from the sofa and ran, her arms covering her head, toward the window. She climbed onto the windowsill and spun around, planting her hands on both sides of the window. Her wide eyes locked on the roof. Four more tiles fell, surrounding Mother in a clay circle of sharp fragments.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Mother scowled at the rafters as if daring another tile to fall. After a moment, he turned and strode toward the window. Pushing Zenna aside, he leaned out and cursed, and Zenna twisted around.
Black smoke choked the sky, rising from—what Zenna assumed—was the west tower. She choked and covered her mouth with her arm. Climbing from the window ledge, she backed away from Mother, who vibrated with rage.
Malik had done it. The plan worked, except for one slight problem—Mother was still in the tower. He ripped the mirror from his pocket.
“Jax, where is Carlyle?”
“I can’t find him, Boss. I lost his trail in the woods north of the compound.”
“Get back here. There’s been an explosion in the west tower!” Mother slammed the mirror shut. Twisting toward Zenna, his face tinged with the promised threat of agony. “Did you know?”
