Page 126 of The Rebel and the Rose
Nadia came to her knees beside Anouk, and in as gentle voice as she could manage, said, ‘Are you all right?’
‘Of course not,’ huffed Anouk, drawing upon that innate bravery she had had since she was a girl. ‘My own brother is trying to kill me!’
‘Was,’ corrected Nadia. ‘I’m predicting a change of plan.’
‘And if it makes you feel better, Ransom tries to kill everyone,’ said Caruso. ‘He’s Head of the Order of Daggers.’
Anouk grimaced. ‘All hell.’
Nadia threw Caruso a withering look. ‘Against all odds, you’ve actually made it worse.’
‘I thought she’d be impressed.’
‘She’s a fucking acolyte, Caruso. What part of her incredibly pious vocation makes you think she’d rejoice at having a prolific assassin for a brother?’
‘Well, excuse me for trying, Nadia. I’m new to family reunions.’
‘There’s something wrong with him.’ Anouk turned her attention back to Ransom. Her dark brows lowered as she studied him. In her worry, she looked so like their mother. Even more so now she was almost eighteen. ‘He’s in pain.’
Ransom wasn’t in pain. He was in hell. Still thrashing against Caruso, he slammed his forehead against the ground,trying to destroy the worm inside him. Twining his fingers in his hair, Caruso yanked his head up. ‘Seriously, what the fuck is going on with you? You’ve been praying for this moment your whole damn life.’
Chains clanging as she crept closer, Anouk canted her head to study him. When their eyes met again, hers flickered burnished gold. The faint scent of lemon blossoms filled the air, tickling Ransom’s nose.
Sister.
Saint.
Helper.
Understanding softened her features. ‘There’s a darkness in your head, brother.’
Nadia and Caruso exchanged a glance.
‘It moves like a shadow,’ said Anouk, coming closer still, straining against the chains pinning her to the wall. ‘A burrowing sickness that veils your free thoughts.’ She shuddered, clutching at her hollow stomach. ‘I can see it behind your eyes. I canfeelit. It’s a kind of magic.’
Kill her.
Bury her body.
‘Yes,’ Ransom eked out.
‘Is this how your power works?’ said Nadia, peering closer at Ransom. ‘Some kind of magical sight?’
Anouk’s lips twisted. ‘Depends on who you ask. Sister Madeline says I’m a Saint of Ruination. That I destroy everything I touch. But I can mend too. I rebuilt every wall I tore down on this island. I would have put this prayer tower back together if she hadn’t chained me to it.’ Anouk’s voicegrew stronger, her eyes shining with conviction. ‘I can mend. I know I can. She never let me try with Honoria. I wanted so badly to try, but she took her broken body away.’
‘Try now,’ urged Nadia. ‘Fix the wrongness in his head.’
Caruso manoeuvred Ransom closer. This time, when Anouk reached for him, she laid her hands on his head. He felt her fingers twitch against his scalp, searching, prodding… and warmth trickled through his skull. It was a peculiar feeling, like honey drizzled over his mind. Slowly, painlessly, the dark fog lifted, fractured by a creeping golden light.
Find the…
Kill…
Bury…
The voice dissipated. The worm destroyed.
Ransom opened his eyes and was himself again. The world shifted into stark focus, his friends kneeling at his side, his sister looking down on him with such tenderness, it made his eyes prickle.
