Page 14 of The Rebirth
I didn’t want to see who the head belonged to. Otherwise, it would break my concentration. As I focused on Patricia, I could see Maeve coming toward me.
“The blood that runs through your veins is mud,” Maeve chanted.
“No!” Agnes blurted.
Freezing, I zeroed in on Maeve. Her orange eyes glowed brightly, almost blinding me.
I should use mind control on Maeve or tackle her to the ground, but my legs seemed glued to the floor, and my brain had shut down.
“Mom, make it stop,” Patricia cried.
Maeve grabbed my chin and squeezed, repeating the phrase she’d just said.
“Maeve!” Agnes shouted. “I’ll do whatever you want. But don’t use that spell on her.”
Sam grunted, trying to plow through the invisible wall and failing.
Maeve captured my gaze in hers. “The blood that runs through your veins is mud,” she repeated.
“Don’t look at her,” Agnes warned.
It was hard not to. The light in Maeve’s eyes was drawing me in, making me dizzy and a little nauseous.
“The blood that keeps you alive is poison,” Maeve chanted.
As if that last word was a trigger, I felt as though my veins were ready to explode.
“Layla, repeat after me!” Agnes yelled. “Fire boils your blood. Ice freezes your soul. From here to the end, you’ll die a slow death. Say it!”
Maeve traded my chin for my neck and dug her nails into my skin.
I yanked on her wrists, trying to breathe. My lungs were on fire, and dizziness was making me even more nauseous.
“Baby doll, do as Agnes says.” Sam’s voice cracked with panic.
I growled, but it sounded pathetic. This bitch wasn’t about to win.
I dug deep for strength as I closed my eyes and pictured Maeve gripping her own throat and silently chanted,See it, believe it, repeat it.
Suddenly, she released me, swaying as she clutched her neck with both hands.
I gulped in air, coughing.
Her face deepened to dark red as she inched backward.
“Layla,” Agnes pleaded. “The spell. Say it. Fire boils your blood.”
I stared at Maeve, painting an imaginary picture of her lying on her deathbed. “This ends tonight.” I marched toward her. “Fire boils your blood. Ice freezes your soul,” I intoned. “From here to the end, you’ll die a slow death.” Just to make sure I drove home the spell, I said it one more time.
Maeve tripped over the head.
The dead blue eyes and blond hair were eerily familiar. I’d seen him before.
“It’s Matthew Costner,” Sam said.
Patricia tried to rush over to her mother. “I will end you, Layla. Then I will burn your children and vampire lover at the stake.”
Maeve fell to the floor, and Patricia listed to one side before she joined her mother.
