Imposter

Chapter 46

The rest of the house was asleep and Jericho was pacing on the front porch, trying to forget his latest nightmare.

It was warm and humid out, his hair plastered to his forehead and his t-shirt damp with sweat.

He needed to find a way back to Terial. Viviane needed him to take care of her.

Skies, Retha's taking her time.

He wanted Karel to pay now, not an eternity later. He needed to be with Viviane, to make sure she was doing okay.

Maybe their mom had already abandoned her. Shipped her off to an asylum and left the town to start a new family.

A family that wasn't broken in a million pieces.

"The anger boils deep in your heart, my little fanatic," Retha said, stepping outside. "Do you care to talk about what's keeping you up?"

"You said Karel would pay," Jericho said, clenching his fists.

"I did not say when," Retha said coolly. "First you must help me. Then, and only then, will you get your revenge."

"If you've lied to me—"

"Why would I do that?" Retha asked, arching an eyebrow. "I don't need to lie to make you help me, boy. But I wanted you all to come willingly."

"You didn't fucking tell me he'd be here the entire time!"

"But isn't that what you wanted, Jericho?" Retha asked, her eyes wide and innocent. "To watch him spiral down?"

"I haven't seen a damn thing change!" Jericho shouted at her, his face growing hot.

She lifted her hand to silence him. "Silence, little fanatic. All things take time."

"I want him to pay for what he did," Jericho seethed. "He ruined my sister, he—"

"Yes, I know it all," Retha interrupted calmly. "And Karel will pay. Not with his life, but with something far, far worse."

Jericho quieted, but his fists remained clenched at his side.

"He'll have to live with it forever," Retha said softly. "Is that revenge not sweet enough for you? Or would you rather his pain end quickly?"

"I want him to suffer," Jericho said, swallowing hard. "I want him to suffer for the rest of time."

"And he will," Retha said, her turquoise eyes unreadable. "This journey will transform all of you, and Karel. . .even he won't be able to recognize himself."

********

"I don't need any of this."

Retha slapped his hand. "Nonsense. You are going home, nephew."

Mason stared down at the jewelry that sparkled in the light. "It was never my home."

"You may have hated the people, but Celeste itself was a good home."

Mason looked up, and stared at his aunt via the mirror. "They won't accept me."

"Let me take care of that," she begged. "Please?"

He averted his eyes.

Retha kissed his cheek, tousling his hair like he was a little boy.

"King Aron announced me dead," he said stiffly. "Celeste will not take me back."

They never wanted him in the first place.

"Oh, I have a plan," Retha said brightly. "I'll say he sent you away to get. . .fixed, announcing you were dead on the chance things didn't work out."