Page 84 of Outcast Fae
Patricia took a step forward, her eyes searching behind us. “Where’s Daniella?”
“She’s dead,” I said, my knees nearly buckling under me. “She drowned as these two monsters just watched.”
Gina, her little face twisted in fear, joined Patricia’s side. She scanned the beach, too, then her eyes came to rest on Meadow Song. “Is she truly dead?” Her voice trembled.
Meadow Song didn’t answer. She simply raised her head righteously, though her lip trembled a little. “It was an accident. We will investigate what happened.”
“She’s dead like Chan.” Gina’s words sputtered out through her fear. “Why does this keep happening?” This one brokenhearted question had a deeper effect than any loud accusation could have had.
Meadow Song’s eyes dipped down, betraying her shame. Though it was a short lapse that she quickly erased by thrusting her chin forward. “Only the truly bad ones die here, Gina. Everyone’s punishment fits their deeds.”
Yet, now when she said it, it sounded as if she were repeating something someone else wrote. There was no heart in it. Her eyes were wet, glistening. It seemed as though she might have a heart after all, but what did it matter now? Daniella was dead. I still wanted to bash the witch’s head in.
“That’s a lie,” I said. “Daniella wasn’t bad. All she did was steal some rich man’s magical item. She was good and kind and sweet.”
“And Chan,” Henry said, coming forth, “all he did was vandalize a convenience store with his gang friends.”
Patricia’s brown eyes darted from side to side. “Guys, um… this is none of our business. We get to go home.”
Selfish human! She had probably been the one who had left us to die with the sea serpent.
“I’ll have you know,” Meadow Song said, “that both Daniella and Chan were guilty of murder.”
“That’s not true!” I said.
“Isn’t it, Tally?” Meadow Song said, blinking back the tears and turning her weakness into anger. “How are you so sure? How long did you know these two individuals?”
“As long as I’ve known you, which is plenty enough to tell a good heart from a rotten one.”
Meadow Song flinched slightly but gave little else away. She was playing another game, but I could tell we were finally getting to her.
“Tell them the truth, youfhèinerliar!” I demanded.
“What truth?” Gina asked, blinking up at me behind wet bangs.
I opened my mouth to answer, to tell them everything, but Meadow Song lifted her hands and weaved her fingers in a spell.
My lips sealed closed. My words choked me. My fingers flew to my face and discovered my mouth was gone.
Horrified, I fell to my knees, pulling on my jaw, clawing at my skin as if to make myself a new mouth.
Tears rained down Gina’s face as she watched me in terror. She sidled up to Henry who wrapped an arm around her and held her tightly.
Vaughn knelt next to me. “Tally,” he said softly in my ear. “It’s best if they don’t know. They get to go home. They’ll be alright.”
I glanced from Gina to Henry, their round faces so young and innocent. Vaughn was right. If I told them the truth, they might never be allowed to leave the island alive. I had no right to drag them down with us.
Meadow Song straightened her shoulders and regained her composure. She had won. She always did, I realized. Everything in this place was stacked against us. She weaved her fingers again, and my mouth reappeared.
I gasped in relief.
“You were saying?” Meadow Song asked without looking at me. “Without insults this time.”
She wanted to make it appear as if she’d sealed my mouth because I’d use bad words—not because I’d been about to divulge any secrets. How clever of her to offer me a chance to speak.
“Nothing,” I said, bile burning in my chest.
“That’s what I thought.” Meadow Song put on her most pleasant face and turned to the winning team. “I’m very happy for you three. As we make preparations for your departure, enjoy a feast back at your camp. Courtesy of the New Starts team.”
