Page 105 of Broken & Bound

I cradled her in my arms, trying to comfort her. A broken sob escaped me.

“No, no, no, no.”

Blood coated my hands. My arms. My legs. I couldn’t tell what belonged to Hannah and what belonged to Isabella. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except keeping Isabella here. Keeping her breathing.

I fumbled for my phone, and as I did, Isabella’s eyes rolled back into her head. The sight shattered me and caused my mind to slip sideways.

Once it began its descent into the dark corridors, there was no stopping it. The sheer horror shoved me into the past. Suddenly, I wasn’t an adult. I was ten. Back in the United States.

Back in that ugly castle. Back in that awful room. But this time there wasn’t a wall separating me from Autumn.

“I can hold her together this time. I can,” I whispered through tears. “I’ll sing for you, and it will make it all better.”

My lips moved. The hymn stumbled out of me. I cried as I rocked her. Back and forth. Back and forth. The way I had wanted to do all those years ago. I brought her closer and kissed the top of her head.

“Stay with me.”

Her breathing was shallow, and she trembled in my arms. I tried to infuse my strength into her broken body.

“Please, don’t take her.”

I began the song again. The words of the hymn continued to tumble from my lips.

“Kinsley? Oh my God, what happened?”

My head snapped up.

Diamond? That doesn’t make any sense? What is she doing here in Autumn’s bedroom? She should leave now.

I closed my eyes. That would make her go away. But somehow it didn’t. I heard her speaking.

“Yes, we need help now.”

Help never comes for us. Nope. Not ever. We just have to tough it out.

“I’ve got you, Autumn,” I whispered to the little girl cradled in my arms.

“Kinsley!”

Diamond touched my arm. Startling, I jerked away. My arms tightened protectively around Isabella.

“The operator needs to know what happened.”

The question didn’t make any more sense than her being in my bedroom. The Mask would not be happy.

“I killed her,” I whispered before resuming my rocking and singing.

I sobbed harder than I ever had before. Diamond’s eyes widened in fear, and she backed up several feet. She looked around the room and spoke.

Once more, I heard bits and pieces of her conversation. Strings of words that didn’t reach the depths of my hell.

Three. No four, including me. Yes, I’m sure. Woman. Dead. Knife wound. It all sounded unpleasant, so I shut it all down, slipping further. I could almost smell the scent of mildew in the air.

“You’re safe, Autumn. I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay. We’ll get you all better before it’s your season. Me, Summer, and Winter. Just hold on for us, okay?”

“Kinsley!”

Diamond’s voice cut through, sharp and urgent this time. The tattoo studio came in and out of focus. Tattoo shop. Castle. Tattoo shop. Castle.