Page 71 of All My Witches
“I have to hand it to you, Aunt Tillie, you’re going all out with this one.” I worked overtime to keep my tone even. “You’re staying in character. You’ve created an elaborate storyline. Everything is coming together for us, isn’tit?”
“I have no idea what you’re talkingabout.”
“How muchlonger?”
“I have no idea.” Aunt Tillie’s grin was impish. “Admit it. You’re having fun, aren’tyou?”
“I wouldn’t call itfun.”
“How can you not find this enjoyable? It’sexhilarating.”
“It’s fun for you. It’s harder forus.”
“How can you say that? Look at everything you’ve gotten to do today. You even gotmarried.”
“Not really.” I swallowed hard. “That was almostpainful.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Aunt Tillie’s eyes sparkled. “It was cathartic for you because you weren’t sure Landon would be there when you turned that corner. But he was there, and that erased any and all doubts you’ve ever had. It bolsteredyou.”
“Landon?” I raised an eyebrow. “I thought his name was Jericho. You just showed your hand, Aunt Tillie. I wasn’t sure until this exact moment if you were real or simply an image you inserted into the storyline. Now Iknow.”
“You think you know,” Aunt Tillie corrected. “You don’t know anythingyet.”
“I know there’s only one way out of here, and we’re not going to allow you toescape.”
Aunt Tillie snorted. “I created this world, Bay. Do you really think I don’t have an exit plan?” She winked before disappearing behind the wall. When she spoke again, her voice was much farther away. “I always have an exitplan.”
“Crap.” Landon didn’t hesitate before bolting up thestairs.
I followed, scanning the empty balcony before fixing my eyes on the door at the far side of the space. It was ajar. Aunt Tillie had clearly escaped throughit.
“I really should’ve seen that coming,” Ilamented.
“Yeah, well, let’s go.” Landon held out his hand. “We have to be getting close to the end. What else could she possiblydo?”
That was a scarythought.
* * *
So she somehow fell undermind control, turned into a serial killer, got possessed by the Devil and is still considered the show’s heroine? Where can I sign up for that gig? I’ve got a fewideas.
– Aunt Tillie on how to be the perfectheroine
Seventeen
We hitthe door that led outside, finding ourselves in another wooded environment. Because it looked as if we would have to start hoofing it, Clove and Thistle stripped out of their terrible bridesmaids’ dresses and found impractical soap outfitsunderneath.
“I would be better off going barefoot than wearing these shoes,” Thistle groused as she glared at her heels. “It’s not as if I’ll be able to run inthem.”
“Aunt Tillie is old,” Clove pointed out. “How fast can sherun?”
That was a question I couldn’t answer. “It’s her world. She knows all thetricks.”
“And she wants us to follow,” Landon said. “The thing is, she doesn’t want us to catch her …yet.”
“So what do we do?” Thistle was at her limit as she lifted a shoe to stare at the icepick heel. “These shoes are all kinds ofstupid.”
“At least you’re not wearing a shirt that completely shows off your assets,” I noted, pointing to mychest.
