Page 66 of The Spirit Key
The attitude, the smirk. I was pissed off over his whole bearing. “I’m here to tell everyone that you murdered your friend, Silvanus.”
His eyes opened wide. “Murder? What are you talking about?”
“You stabbed him so you could steal this woman from him.”
Tania leaped up and stood beside Patrin. “What? No, that isn’t true.”
I couldn’t understand how she could defend this monster. I reached for Patrin, but Vano caught my hand.
“Do not do this. You do not know what happened.”
“I know enough! Silvanus told me that—”
Tania gasped. “Silvanustoldyou?”
Patrin slipped an arm over Tania’s shoulder. “No, don’t listen to them.” He glared at me. “Why would you do this? Has Tania not suffered enough? She’s already lost her husband, and now you come and—”
“Husband? But I thought….”
Oh gods, what had I done? Vano was right all along: Silvanus deceived me.
Tania clutched the baby close and buried her face in Patrin’s shoulder. Patrin’s expression was dark, and I truly believe he meant me harm, but Vano stepped between us.
“Please, you must calm down.”
“Calm…. You can’t be serious!” Patrin pointed an accusatory finger at me. “This woman comes here and insults me and disparages my brother’s memory, and you want me to be calm?”
His brother?My heart was thundering as I tried to make sense of what had happened.
“Do you know who she is?”
“I don’t care who she is. Get away from us.”
“This is Sofia Cervenák.”
Obviously my name meant something to them, because they stilled.
“I am sorry that I’ve offended you.” What had I done, and how could I make it right? “You must understand, Silvanus came to us and said—”
“My brother is dead.”
“Yes, I know. His spirit came to us last night.”
“And his spirit told you I’d killed him? Why would he say such a thing?”
Tania stepped from behind Patrin. “Silvanus would never say such a thing. He loved his brother. When Silvanus… died, Patrin took us in. He’s been caring for me and my child, even though we belonged to his brother.”
“No!”
I spun on my heel and found Silvanus there, glaring at us. His energy was darker than before, crackling with malevolence.
“You must ruin him. Kill him. You can’t listen to his lies.”
He rushed at me, but Vano came to my aid. Silvanus tried to get by him, and no one was more surprised than me when Vano gripped Silvanus by the throat. I had never known it was possible to touch a ghost, but Vano did it. His rage was a sight to behold as he lifted Silvanus into the air.
Vano’s lips parted as he sneered. “Why did you attack her?”
“She must avenge my death! He cannot be allowed to have my life.”
