Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (41 page)

             
"
When I was in the cave I thought there was another powerful being in there with me, but I couldn’t see him. So he is here. And he has been meddling with Mary’s mind since before she was ever in their lives. Which means, Cole has been planning this for a long time, and we had been going right a long with his plan.
"
Aylin sighed.

             
"
What happens to Mary? What is Finn talking about punishment?
"
Owen asked.

             
"
I could think of a few things,
"
El said with a hint of excitement.
"
I have the least ties with her. Gosh, I don’t think she’s said more than hello to me anyway. I could take care of her.
"

             
"
No,
"
Blake said with authority.
"
You won’t harm her. We will send her away. Roberta’s?
"
He looked to Terra.

             
"
Do you think it’s a good idea?
"
Terra asked.

             
"
I think it’s our only option right now. We can’t have her anywhere near us. I don’t want to see her again. Roberta will take care of her.
"

             
"
Who is Roberta?
"
Aylin asked.

             
"
Her sister. She lives in Alabama and they don’t like each other much. Roberta is very opinionated,
"
Terra said.
"
All right. Let’s tell Finn.
"
She turned to le
a
d them back, and was startled when Owen appeared at her side, and grasped her hand. He didn’t look down to her, but the tightness of his hand on hers brought a new wave of tears. He was going to be her rock even if he didn’t fully understand her anymore.

             
Aylin stood between Blake and El, and held both their hands. No one would be left out. When they came back to Finn he stood over Mary, who seemed to be unconscious.
"
She fell asleep?
"
Terra asked, surprised.

             
"
Not at all.
"
Finn looked up.
"
I am many things, but for people like her I have very little patience. She wanted forgiveness when she does not deserve it. I merely suggested that her sleeping would benefit us both.
"

             
El’s lips twitched with amusement.
"
Nice job.
"

             
Terra looked down at the sleeping old woman. In her sleep she looked harmless and even kind.
"
We’ve made a decision. We want to send her to her sister’s in Alabama. Far away from us, from here.
"

             
"
Let me wake her.
"
Finn laid a hand on her forehead and said two words and her eyes fluttered open.
"
Mary, you are going to your sister’s.
"
He looked back at the five.
"
I will take care of it. I have a few friends that can keep an eye on her down there, to make sure she doesn’t try to come back.
"

             
"
Fine.
"
Terra nodded.

             
"
Terra!
"
Mary shrieked.
"
Please, it was him!
"
she cried.

             
Terra closed her eyes and turned her back on Mary. Owen squeezed her hand and led her away from Mary.

             
"
No! Please! I can help you! It was him. He made me do it!
"
Mary was sobbing.
"
Don’t send me away!
"

             
Blake let go of Aylin’s hand and bent down to look Mary in the eye.
"
Were you under an influence?
"
he hissed.

             
Mary’s lips quivered and she didn’t answer.

             
"
I didn’t think so. Don’t ever speak to Terra or me ever again. We’re being generous with you now, but if you make us regret it we will punish you.
"
He straightened and turned his back to her.

             
"
She will be in punishment,
"
Aylin said quietly.
"
She will be tortured for the rest of her days by her nightmares.
"
Blake nodded and they continued to walk.

             
Aylin looked back at Finn. He was crouched over Mary, whispering chants, putting her back to sleep. He looked up and nodded to her. He would return to them soon. He would be back to teach them to fight, to heal, and to win.

             
As they walked through the forest toward their home Aylin silently wondered the possibilities of their future. To win. Could it be possible they could defeat the witches, and now, what about Cole? She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Finn to watch his own brother, his own flesh and blood, turn into a vicious monster. If she were in his position, would she be able to kill her own sister or brother? She knew she would never be able to answer that question until she was in that position.

             
Is it ridiculous to feel hope now? She bit her lip in wonder. They had a chance, a real chance to rid the threat to The Rune and to live the rest of their lives in peace.

             
She let her eyes wander up Blake’s arm to his face. She could hear his heart slowly breaking over Mary. It sounded like stone cracking under pressure. Mary had betrayed their trust, and had killed their mother. She didn’t deserve to be sent to her sister. She deserved the same fate that she gave their mother. It would be a long time before he would be able to talk about it. She heard the doors slamming shut in his head, locking away the misery that he felt now. They were all overwhelmed with this new turn of events.

             
Blake looked down at her, catching her stare.
"
All right?
"
he asked roughly.

             
She nodded and put her head against his arm.
"
I’m worried about you.
"

             
"
I know.
"
For a moment he was quiet and when she looked up at him she saw his eyes were red and rimmed with tears. It made her heart ache for him. He glanced down at her and blinked away the tears.
"
Just let me have some time. I can’t talk about it now,
"
he admitted to her.

             
"
I can, but don’t shut me out. I can help.
"
She squeezed his hand.

             
"
I won’t.
"
His eyes softened.

             
"
What about Terra?
"
she asked as they broke through the edge of the trees into Terra’s backyard.

             
"
I don’t know Aylin. She was close to Mary with the store and everything else. I don’t know.
"
Blake stopped and looked up at the house. The gray weathering of the wood of the deck matched the gloom he felt in his heart. The house had orange light shining through the windows, making it warm and welcoming.

             
Aylin stepped in front of him. He suddenly looked exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions that they had all been on for the last week.
"
We have a long road ahead of us. We’ll take it one step at a time.
"
He brought her palm up to his lips. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, knowing that he teetered on the edge of losing control over his despair. But he had said he wasn’t ready yet, and she would let him be for now. Instead she lifted the edges of her mouth into a slight grin.
"
Come on, let’s see if Terra is okay,
"
she tugged him up the steps.

             
When the door opened into the kitchen, Aylin knew they were going to be okay. With the feeling of the heaviness of the day’s events on their shoulders, El’s laughter carried them inside, with a feeling of hope.