A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 47

Genevieve 

Marcia's room smelled of burnt sage, and Rosemerry. She said they helped with purification, and rememberance.

There was always some herb or another burning here, cleaning, and protecting her room. It was a calming atomosphere.

Genevive remembered spending endless hours here when she was feeling down, or when she needed a place to hide after a fight with Gideon.

Sometimes they talked. Sometime Thia joined them. Other times when Genevieve wasn't in the mood, Marcia understood, and did her own thing, and let her friend sulk.

They hadn't told anyone yet. It was early morning, around four a.m. They could wait some more. Let the others have one last good night's sleep. Artyom would be devestated. And Jack...Jack would kill Genevieve.

He was protective of Jamie, even before they'd been separated. He'd always been both a big brother, and a father to him, devoted his whole life to Jamie, and to lose him like this... Jack would break because of her.

Genevieve was their big sister. She was supossed to protect them, to die for them, kill for them and now their lives were in ruins because of her.

She didn't deserve her brothers. If only she had never come back. If Jamie died because of her...

"Stop thinking." Marcia told her, lighting a few more candles, and skimming an ancient looking book. "I need you to free your mind of everything." 

They were sitting cross legged on the wooden parket of her room, facing each other, surrounded by a circle of burning black candles. The smell of herbs was making her drowsy.

"Easy for you to say." Genevieve said agrily, and regretted it instany. Marcia was trying to help. "I'm sorry, I..."

Marcia grabbed both sides of Genevieve's fece with her tender hands, looking straight into her eyes. "You can do this. Close your eyes, and let me into your head. Do you trust me?"

"More than I trust myself."

"Let go, and let me heal your mind."

Genevieve nodded. Taking deep breaths, she tried to empty her mind. It was near impossible, but she managed.

"Are you ready?" Marcia's question was a whisper.

"Yes."

"I won't lie to you. This will hurt."

"I can take it."

Genevieve deserved the pain. She deserved some sort of physical punishment for what she had let happen. The mental torture wasn't enough.

Marcia started chanting in old Greek. Her voice was soft, flowing through Genevieve's mind with ease. She wasn't feeling anything.

"I don't think..." Genevieve started.

The pain was so unexpected, and wild, it made her gasp, clutching at Marcia's hands. Genevieve told herself it would pass. It got worse. One minute claws were scraping at the inside of her head, the next her brain was boiling in her skull.

Marcia kept chanting, louder, and louder. Genevieve didn't know how much longer she could stand the pain. Her hands balled into fists, nails digging into flesh. The scent of blood filled the air. She could taste it on her lips, running down her nose.

"Gen, Angelina's grip on your mind is too strong. If I go any deeper it could cause serious damage. I think we should stop for a bit..."

"I don't care. Keep going... I want that bitch out of my head." Genevieve screamed.

She wondered what kind of pain her poor, little brother was going through. She wondered if she would ever see him again. And if so would it still be him or an empty shell.

Just when Genevieve thought she was going to pass out, black eyes filled her head. They were in a public bathroom. She was pressed against the wall, Angelina's hands firmly grabbing her temples.

Genevieve was trying to fight her off but Angelina's magic was too strong. Genevieve couldn't move. The pain, oh God the pain was horrible... It felt like her head was shoved into a pool of acid.

"You will hand James over to me exactly one week from now. Disobey, and Helga pays the price. I'll flay her alive, and send you her beautiful skin. Then I'll take Jack and make sure what I did to Helga feels like stubbing a toe. Do you understand me?" Angelina's voice rang in her head.

Genevieve saw herself nod. The memory faded, and the pain came back with a vengance. She whimpered, hugging herself, trying to stop shaking. It was cold, so cold...

"I did it. I cracked the spell. You're free." Marcia anounced, throwing her arms around Genevieve.

She opened her eyes, and looked around. They were alone. Her head still hurt, but not as bad as before. Marcia's hug made some of the warmth returne.

She might be free, but Jamie wasn't. Would he ever be?

"Thank you." Genevieve whispered, and hugged Marcia back, bathing in her comfort.

"Of course." She brushed her hair with her fingers. "I'm sorry for what Angelina did to you. She violated your mind. It's a big crime among us witches, and worlacks."

"We can't get Jamie back, can we? I signed his death sentence."

The Twin's palace was untracable, unless he was  taken somewhere else. And even then, they might never find him.

"I'll look for him. We can't lose hope."

Genevieve laughed. And then she sobbed. She had doomed her little brother to a fate worse than death.