Page 62 of The Rebirth
“I’ve come to a major decision, Layla.” Her tone was melancholy.
I sat on the edge of her bed, facing her at an angle. I had an inkling that whatever she was about to say related to her future.
“I’ve thought hard about what it means for me to have the same blood type as you as well as the idea of me as a witch. You said Icouldbe one because I’m also a Monroe.”
When the topic came up the other day in her hospital room in Boston, she didn’t want to discuss it.
“That’s right,” I said. “It’s not something you have to do. Mom didn’t want anything to do with being a Monroe.”
She rolled back her shoulders. “I don’t want anything to do with being a witch. I like who I am as a human. I don’t want to change that. If, years from now, I have a different perspective, then maybe.”
I was confused by what she was telling me because she’d given me the impression that I would be upset with her once I heard what she’d decided.
“Jordyn, I support that decision,” I said. “To be honest, if I were in your shoes, I might do the same.”
She grasped my hand. “I say this with lots of love. I’ve struggled seeing you go through everything. And while I wouldn’t mind taking a vampire for a test drive in bed, I think for now, I don’t need the baggage that comes with that. Sure, birth control would do the trick, and my experience might not pan out like yours. But I can’t shake the fact that you died giving birth, sis. Your pregnancy wasn’t a walk in the park. Not to mention, Mom had a great life without exercising her witch powers. I can live the same way she did.”
“As we talked about the other day, your dream of traveling around the world should be your first priority. I want that for you.”
She pushed out a breath. “Thank you. I know you support me, but there was part of me that doubted you would.”
“Enough said. When we find time, we’ll sit down and map out your itinerary.”
An alarm blared.
I jumped a mile.
Jordyn froze. “They can’t blame me. I didn’t pull any alarms this time.”
I wanted to laugh at her reference to what she’d done the night she tried to bypass a prison guard to reach Fred Emery. But my brain was focused on what the alarm meant—fire, intruder, or something else.
A voice came over the loudspeaker. “Please stay where you are. Do not leave the building.”
I was relieved it wasn’t gate-crashers, at least. The day we were invaded, the message on the loudspeaker had been “All personnel report to your stations. Intruders have compromised the compound.”
I bolted out of the room and scanned the lab area. Again, no one was around, and Wendy had yet to return. I peered through the window of the double doors leading to the new wing. I didn’t see anyone.
I spun around when the other set of doors, the one Sam and I had used to enter, burst open.
I flash froze in the middle of the aisle as I laid eyes on Rianne—or rather, a hairy beast. The wordrunblared in my head. Yet my legs wouldn’t move. I was struggling with how she’d changed so drastically in a short amount of time. Not only that, but why was she here? How did she escape a prison cell?
“Layla,” Jordyn whispered. “Don’t move.”
My good sister’s command filtered into my left ear.
Rianne swiveled her attention to Jordyn.
The last thing I wanted was for Jordyn to get hurt again. She’d been through enough.
“Jordyn, call for help.” I would like to think I could take on Rianne, but I had no weapons except my witchcraft, and even that wasn’t something I could rely on because I didn’t know many spells.
You have mind control.
Rianne sniffed the air.
No sooner than I lifted one foot, Rianne sprinted in vampire speed down the aisle like a damn cheetah who’d found her prey. I’d barely gotten two steps when she tackled me to the floor. Her canines dripped with blood. Her claws were longer than I remembered.
I crisscrossed my arms in an attempt to block her.
