Page 113 of Last Witch Attempt
And they were coming, I had no doubt about that.
“I’m a part of Tillie,” she explained. “I have her memories. I know who you are. I know who your mother is. I should feel something for all of you.”
“You don’t?”
“You’re not my family. You’re her family.”
She was insistent, but what bothered her became clear. She was right. We were Aunt Tillie’s family. She might not want to feel something for us, but she did.
“Listen, Millie.” I was tired of her attitude. “I gave you an out. I think you want that out. You’ll never get a better chance for a new beginning.”
“That’s true.” Millie was grim. “But I’ve already struck a deal with Gregor. I can’t go back on my word.”
“You can if he’s a liar.”
“What has he lied about?”
I was exasperated. “He’s not the hero in this story. If he hadn’t used his magic to work those men into a frenzy, the naiads would’ve gone on their way. He created this whole mess.”
“You sound bitter about it.”
“That naiad didn’t deserve to die. Her sister is only on a revenge kick because of what he started. All they wanted was to find a way to open that plane door and find the rest of their family. Your freaking warlock made sure that didn’t happen.”
“How do you know he wasn’t afraid for his life?”
“I’ve met her. I know.”
Millie’s forehead creased in concentration. “You don’t think he’s really going to hold up his end of the deal, do you?” she asked.
“He’s using you.” I shifted my hands again. I was making headway. “I don’t know what he’s promised you, but he’s not powerful enough to open a plane door. He has us here because he’s going to trap the naiad. What do you think he’s going to do after he gets her?”
Millie frowned. “I don’t…”
“He can’t open the door for you,” I repeated. “He tapped you because he knew you were the one witch in the area who mighthelp him balance the scales. If you have Aunt Tillie’s memories, you know that he has delusions of grandeur.”
“He’s a man,” she snorted. “They all have delusions of grandeur.”
That was definitely something Aunt Tillie would say. “He’s using you. My guess is he plans to use you as fodder when he enacts his real plan. He’ll throw you in front of us so we’ll have no choice but to kill you while he does whatever it is he’s going to do.”
Millie worked her jaw. I was starting to gain ground, so I pressed forward.
“He’ll sacrifice you to get what he wants,” I insisted. “I need to know what he really wants if I’m going to stop him.” Something occurred to me. “He didn’t take the job here on a whim.” My eyes moved to the water. “He wants access to that plane door too.” Now I was talking more to myself. “There’s something on the other side he wants.”
I fervently wished the naiad would show her face so I could ask her a very important question. I hadn’t asked what the plane on the other side of the door was like. Now it seemed important. “Crap,” I muttered as the final pieces started melding. “Crap, crap, crap.”
Alarm rippled over Millie’s features. “What is it?”
“There are planes that are full of magic,” I replied, licking my lips. “Magic and the sort of riches that could set up a warlock for life here. There’s a reason they’re difficult to access.”
“People here would take advantage,” Millie muttered.
I nodded. “The nicer the plane, the harder the access. From what I understand, the naiads have been drifting toward a specific plane as their wants and needs diverge from those of humans. They love nature and the magic associated with it. They love water.”
“And humans are ruining this environment,” Millie added. “They’re destroying the natural spaces and giving no thought to their future.”
She was getting it. “Somehow the warlock found out about the plane door. He wants to pop through, gather what he can, and then escape back to this side. The resort project gives him the perfect cover for being here.”
“Do you think he knew about the naiads?” Millie looked invested in what was to come.
