Page 47 of Treasured By Them
ILY.
She would never write that. Not in a million years. Not Dani.
Edmund leans forward in his seat. “I will murder every last member of Vorsong Circle.”
“I’ll help you do it.”
He shoots me a glance, surprised. He knows I don’t like the violence that comes with our lifestyle.
“Blood answers with blood.” I quote his father.
He finishes the quote. “Always has, always will.”
There better not be a single drop of Dani’s blood spilled tonight.
The GPS says we’re thirty minutes away.
I slam my foot down on the gas pedal.
Danica
The lake’s cold water shocks my system. It must shock Malcolm, too, because his grip falters.
I wrench away from him, kicking hard behind me. I think I get him in the head, or maybe it’s one of the dock supports. Either way, immediate pain spikes up my leg before fading to numbness.
My body is protecting me, urging me to forget the superficial pains so I can focus on the most important thing: air to breathe.
Already my lungs ache with the need for oxygen. Still, I propel myself down and away from Malcom.
When I don’t think I can survive another second without breathing, I swim toward the surface. Or what I hope is the surface, anyway. It seems lighter in that direction.
Up I go, higher and higher. When will I reach air? My chest feels like it’s caving in on itself. I’d give anything to just breathe. Just a tiny bit. But I know if I do, I’ll drown.
Finally, I break the surface.
“Danica!” Malcolm shouts.
I spin around. He’s searching for me in the opposite direction. He swims toward the shore on the other side of the dock. I made the right call by swimming down and away.
Another deep breath and I go under, pushing myself toward the trees and blackberry vines on this side of the dock.
I don’t dare come up again until I reach the vines. A fallen tree juts out of the water. I cling to it, grateful for the chance to rest. There’s just enough coverage and shadows from the trees and blackberry vines to keep me hidden. Where do I go next, though? I can’t stay here forever—eventually he’ll come out to look for me.
I don’t have to hide forever, though. Edmund and Troy are on their way. I’m certain of it.
Malcolm shouts my name several more times. “Where the fuck are you, you stupid bitch?”
He staggers up the shore, coughing. He falls to his knees, tries to get up again and slips in the mud. He must think I got out of the water and ran.
“Stop right there,” a woman says.
Silently, I move my wet hair out of my face, trying to see better. Is that Zora? Why is she talking to Malcolm like that? Whoever it is, she’s hiding in the trees near the boat shed.
Malcolm raises a hand in supplication. “Zora, help me. Something happened to Danica—I’m worried about her.”
“Did you kill her?”
He freezes. “What are you talking about?”
