Page 100 of Heart of a Witch
“Don’t be naïve, son. I brought you up better than this. Bleeding from the eyes and nose are not symptoms of tuberculosis.”
“The doctor said some experience strange symptoms. He’s seen them,” I replied.
“Nothing I say will help you see the truth.” He sighed, drooping his head, and dropped the crystal. “You leave me no choice. You may not always understand the choices I make, but I’m doing this for your own good.” He reached into his pocket with his free hand and slowly pulled out a small knife.
I ran cold.
Her eyes glossed. “Elijah.”
My heart skipped a beat. He pressed the sharp side against her throat. A trickle of blood appeared in a curve, and I moved faster than I knew I could.
I still had my own knife in my hand, but I never thought I’d have to use it, especially against my own father.
I slammed my hand into his arm, knocking my fist between the inside of his elbow. The knife slipped from his fingers, dropping between Victoria and me. His startled gaze climbed up to mine. Breathless, I pushed him back into the wall behind him, knocking the air from his lungs.
“Run.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she replied, standing at my side. She picked up Father’s knife from the ground and took a step forward.
I placed my arm out to stop her. “Don’t.”
Her lips parted. A tear struggled from her eye and down her cheek. “He was going to kill me!”
“I know. The lawyers already agreed for the estate to be handed to me.”
She arched a dark eyebrow. “So he is no longer head of this household?”
“You’ve done what? I am not insane!” he shouted.
“You are. We can all attest to it. Even the high priest has seen it.” My heart felt ten times heavier in my chest, and my stomach felt as if it had turned to lead.
Father angled his head. “The high priest thinks I am insane?”
“Yes.”
He looked at Victoria. “This was all you. I’m going to kill you.”
I pushed him against the wall before he could hurt her. “Don’t touch her. I mean it. I will choose her over you if I have to.”
He shook his head. “You fool.”
I let him go, and he rubbed his arm. I looked toward the door, hearing voices approach from down the hall.
“Good, the doctors are here.”
“I’m not mad,” he said, his eyes wide. “I captured the demon in that crystal. I trapped her this morning. My mind is fine now. Son, please.”
I escorted him out into the hallway, spotting the straitjacket and chair. “Take him to the east wing. There’s a room secure there.”
Chapter Thirty
Victoria
I waited until Elijah escorted him into the hallway before I picked up the crystal from the ground and pocketed it. I could feel the succubus’s presence inside of it, dark and thrumming with power. I had to give it to Damian. He was a damn good hunter, but not quite good enough.
“Saves me one job,” I said under my breath, and I felt the succubus’s anger pulse through the dark object. “I’ll be putting you somewhere safe.”
I walked out into the hallway, watching Damian get wrapped in a straitjacket. I let myself smile behind Elijah’s back when no one was looking but the hunter. He wrestled harder, screaming “witch” and “demon” as he was carried upstairs. I followed Elijah and noticed a man in white robes, surrounded by others with blue robes, watching. He must have been the high priest. They all placed their hands over their hearts.
