xia
in my own life. I didn't try to warn anyone. I didn't feel the frantic
's eyes, any trouble involving Katrina was, by defaul
, I embraced
grey-haired housekeeper, knocked on my door.
er wishes to see you in
rived. The trial w
eps measured and calm. The house felt cavernou
chell, sat behind our father's enormous desk like a
ed inside, she slapped a folded piece of paper onto the
is note. It says you convinced
d handwriting was unmistakably Katrina's. I had to
ved into a panicked torrent of denial
m all day. I haven't
nvenient. Every time Katrina gets into trouble, you sudden
eeks. It was a gesture of submission she expected, o
voice was a sof
have. "You will stay in your room until Katrina returns. You will not h
, Mo
ted. A prison that was also my sanctu
the study, feeling her ho
ed me faded, replaced by a profound exhaustion.
this house who showed me any kindness, brought me a simple t
ispered, setting the tray down. "
. Aaron. My ten-year-old brother. In an
ke care of him," I
But... he keeps crying for Miss Katri
where sympathy should have been. I
hat seeped through the walls. Around midnight, there was a frantic kno
. The doctor gave him medicine, but
e, could you just come see him? Mayb
created. But Martha's eyes were filled with genuine terror, and she looked as if she w
his bed, his face flushed a painful, deep red, his lips cracked
. where...
oth in the basin of cool water. Wringing it
ments ceasing. His eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused and glas
hand to his burning cheek, nuzzling agains
ed, the word slurred
e title he hadn't used for me in ye
appeared in the glacier around my heart. A tiny, unfamiliar warmt
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