𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 - 𝐄 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗗

𝐗𝐕

𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘍𝘐𝘍𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘕

(the cursed witch, act two)

DEMETRI LEFT THEM IN THE CHEERFULLY OPULENT RECEPTION AREA, WHERE THE WOMAN GIANNA WAS AT HER POST BEHIND THE POLISHED COUNTER. Bright, harmless music tinkled from hidden speakers.

"Do not leave until dark," He warned Edward and Alice.

Edward nodded, and Demetri hurried away. Gianna did not seem at all surprised by the exchange, though she did eye Edward's borrowed cloak with shrewd speculation.

"Are you all right?" Edward asked under his breath, too low for the human woman to hear. His voice was rough—if velvet can be rough—with anxiety. Still stressed by the situation, Nina imagined.

"You'd better make her sit before she falls," Alice said. "She's going to pieces."

It was only then that Nina realized she was shaking, shaking hard, her entire frame vibrating until her teeth chattered and the surrounding room seemed to wobble and blur in her eyes. For a moment, Nina thought she might have been turning into a wolf again.

She heard a sound that didn't make sense, a strange, ripping counterpart to the otherwise cheery background music. Distracted by the shaking, she couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Shh, Nina, shh," Edward said as he pulled her to the sofa farthest away from the curious human at the desk. "I think she's having a panic attack. Maybe you should slap her," Alice suggested. Edward threw a frantic glance at her.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Definitely don't do that."

Then Nina understood. Oh. The noise was her. The ripping sound was the sobs coming from her chest. That's what was shaking her.

"It's all right, you're safe, it's all right," He chanted again and again. He pulled her onto his lap and tucked the thick wool cloak around her, protecting her from his cold skin.

Behind her eyes, where the tears could not wash the image away, she could still see the panicked face of the tiny woman with the rosary.

"All those people," She sobbed.

"I know," He whispered.

"It's so horrible."

"Yes, it is. I wish you hadn't had to see that."

Nina rested her head against his cold chest, using the thick cloak to wipe her eyes. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

"Is there anything I can get you?" A voice asked politely. It was Gianna, leaning over Edward's shoulder with a look that was both concerned and yet still professional and detached at the same time. It didn't seem to bother her that her face was inches from a hostile vampire. She was either totally oblivious or very good at her job.