Page 35 of Night Fall
Mya loosened her grip around the girl’s neck slightly, then looked her over. She was young, with long blonde hair that was tangled and matted. She had bruises, dirt, and blemishes all over her skin, marring her otherwise cream complexion.
“Please,” she begged. “I’m not like them. I’m not, I swear!”
Mya had been fooled before, and no matter how abused this girl might look, she did not want to be fooled again. “Tell me about the children,” she ordered, hoisting the girl higher against the wall.
Her eyes bulged, but she made no move to defend herself or remove Mya’s hand from around her throat. “They’re children the blood witches had with immortals!”
“It’s rare for immortals to have children. How are there so many?” she hissed.
The girl shook her head frantically. “These children aren’t from normal births. The witches, they do something to immortals, then they sleep with them and kill them. Once they give birth, and the child reaches a certain age, they brand them and teach them blood magic.”
The girl held her wrist in front of Mya’s face. “Here, this is where they brand those that are taught blood magic. See? I don’t have a brand. I’m not like them. Please believe me,” she cried.
Mya’s eyes narrowed. “And who’s to say you’re not branded elsewhere and this isn’t all a ploy?”
“I know who you are! I know what they did to you, Mya, and to Erik.” Her panicked voice dropped to a whisper when Mya tightened her hand around the girl’s neck again.
“Do not ever mention his name to me. You have no right!” Mya screamed.
The girl whimpered and her hand gripped Mya’s begging her to loosen her hold. “I didn’t kill him! But I know what they did, and I know why you’re here. If you need to kill me or the others, I understand, but please leave the babies. They didn’t do anything wrong.”
Mya didn’t loosen her hold, but she didn’t tighten her grasp either. “Others? What others?”
“Th-There are other girls like me who take care of the babies. We were all shackled, but I was the last one to look over the children, so I was free. None of us are blood witches.”
“And after you’re done taking care of these children, then what? What do you get out of it?” Mya snarled.
The girl looked down, so Mya shook her, drawing her gaze back.
“Death,” she croaked as tears clouded her eyes.
Mya’s eyes widened. She let the girl go and watched as she dropped to the ground on her knees. “Explain.”
The girl was shaking. Whether it was from fear or weakness, Mya didn’t know, but after several gulps of air she finally spoke. “They don’t change us into blood witches. They abduct us, normally from traveling colonies, and then they make us take care of their children. Once we’ve served our purpose, they kill us.”
The girl shook her head and looked up at Mya, her big green eyes now filled with determination. “It doesn’t matter if you kill me. I’m dead already, but those children didn’t do anything.”
Mya reached down to the girl, but she shied away, cowering against the wall.
“Please, I-I can give you more. They were going to after your brother, Greg, and Luke. Please believe me!”
Mya drew in a sharp breath. Her heart beat frantically at the thought of losing her brother and cousin. The pounding was so strong it felt as if it would come out of her chest. Her whole world flipped, faded, and crashed on its side.
Get it together! Now isn’t the time to fall apart.
Mya grabbed the girl by the chin. The sudden move made her gasp, and Mya leaned over her. “What is your name?”
“E-Elaine.”
“Elaine, if you’re lying to me about any of this, I will take my time with you. I will break every bone in your body, heal you, and do it all over again. Do you understand?”
Elaine gulped and nodded.
Mya straightened and dropped her hand from her. “Are there any more blood witches?”
“N-No, not here. But there are wards in the cemetery. If any of the witches escaped, they’d go there.”
“And do you have what you need here to free the other girls and prepare the children for travel?”
