Page 11 of Unholy Masks

“You saved me. But where’s the next clue?” Enzo asked.

“Could be inside the coffin.” Irene rose to her feet, the resolve in her eyes barely masking the tremor in her hands. “I’ll go check.” She walked away, and I took a quick look at Enzo and Ryden.

“Go. Talk with her.”

“She’s still angry,” Enzo said. “I tried to talk with her, but she…”

“I know.” I rubbed my hand against my pants as I jogged toward the cremation chamber.

My stomach sank as I took a hesitant step toward Irene. Every instinct told me to stop, to leave this wound untouched, to not rip open the barely covered wounds, but I had to. She was… my last tie to Kat; she was my last tie to humanity. If I lost her now, because of the Strangler, he would truly win. I wouldn’t let him.

She’s your sister, Yara. Kat said.

I don’t know anymore. She stopped loving me, Kat.

She could never.

If only I could trust that voice in my head.

Irene whirled around when she heard me. Her lips went flat, and her face grew stony.

“Re…” I stopped myself. “Irene, I—” I had always been good with words. But now, there were no excuses I could give, no words that would soften her anger.

“I know it’s not your fault, Yara, but I still blame you,” she whispered, her voice so quiet that it was lost in the wind as soon as she said it. “I don’t know how not to do that.”

The weight of her words settled between us like a cold, soaked blanket.

“Oh!” That was all I could muster.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stop blaming you.”

I wanted to hurt her back, but I kept the barrage of emotions inside.

The chasm between us had grown too big, and I knew it would only widen if I didn’t bridge it now, but there was nothing left in me. No excuses, no words that could heal this wound.

“I know you have every reason to hate me. But you’re all I have.” She ignored me, ignored my desperation.

“There’s something inscribed on the inside.” She pointed to the coffin.

The ride with your demons begins here.

“That was the first clue,” I whispered. “I solved that. Oh.” Fuck. “She was there all along. She was there,” I whispered, staring at the coffin.

“Where?” Irene whispered.

“In the old garage. Where the sedan was.”

“Oh. OH.” Irene’s eyes widened. “Yara…” Her eyes was soft for a second.

“I don’t know what else to do, Irene. I can’t change the past; I can’t bring Kat back, but I’m here for you, and I don’t want to lose you. But if you’re hell-bent on losing me…” I shook my head. “I must go.”

“Go find Sister Serena first.”

“So? Nothing will save this?” I stared. She didn’t say a word. “We’d be strangers then?”

“Wouldn’t it be better?”

“Perhaps. Take care, then, Irene.”