Don't Tap!

- 23 -

There, on the floor of the closet, was the mutilated and stabbed body of my father, turning blue and looking entirely drained of blood. He's tied up and dressed in some black cloak.

"Oh god." I finally manage to look away and step back.

"What? What?" Allen pushes past me and he's caught in the sight too. "Shit!" He gasps. "Mom said he left us. Mom said he –"

"Mom is a liar. She tried to kill us, if you can't remember." I hiss at him. My face is a bad mixture of tear and snot. I can't get the image of my father's dead contorted corpse out of my head. "We have to find the book, call the cops and go."

"I don't think so." Her tone is sing-songy and we all turn to see my mom standing in the doorway. Her face sports a smile, like she knew we were here. She probably did, now that I think about it.

"Mom." Allen begins nervously. "I thought you were at work."

"They let me off early." My mom shrugged. She switches on the light in the room and I notice that half of her face looks younger – not in the plastic, botoxy way – but actually, naturally younger. "I thought I told you to stay away from my closet." She suddenly snapped. "Oh, little Ally. I heard you joined the church. Didn't even tell your lovely mommy?"

"Shut up, Anna. Don't talk to me." I spat the words at her. "Why would you do this?" I point to the closet.

"You want an explanation?" She raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise. "Okay. I'll give you an explanation." She rubbed her hand over her face and walked over to the closet. All 3 of us kept our distance, not tearing our eyes off her and moved away as she snickered and closed the door of the closet. "Have you ever heard of the cunning-folk witches?

"They're like witches – but better. More powerful."

"So?" I frown at her.

"I joined a coven. I was always born with talent. Abilities unexplainable by science..." She turned to me sharply. "You stole my youth!" She pointed an accusing finger at me. "I was so beautiful. So young..." She touched the wrinkly half of her chin. "My coven told me I could gain my youth back...

"A small sacrifice, they said. I needed the bones and blood of the father, and the body and soul of the virgin he fathered. Plus points if that virgin was my own, first-born." She snickered again. "The devil likes strange things."

"Why did you send that demon after us?" I cried out in anger.

"I'm new to the ways of rituals and sorcery. Yes, it's sorcery. Not witchcraft. That stuff is for wannabes. Black sorcery is the real deal. Anyhow, I was new to the world I discovered. It was beautiful. I summoned my first demon to keep as first-in command to my whims. It turned out to be an idiot, of course. Only after I slit your little friend's throat did I realize – oh, she's not my Ally."

"Oh my god..." I burst into tears again. She killed my bestfriend. She killed her.

"So I only received half the youth I deserved. Now I'm stuck like this unless I find a way to extract more blood from your daddy's stinking corpse." My mom – or Anna, as I prefer to call now – walked over to the bed and sat down at the foot of it. "Can't say I miss him. I'm going to have a lot more men lined up once I complete the ritual again." She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a puff slowly.

"You're evil, you know that?" I scream at her, wiping away my tears.

"Oh, I do." She smiled.

"Where is the book?" I demand.

"With the same person who told me you would be here tonight." She seemed unbothered by my anger. "Who is also the same person who let me into the coven."

"Who?" I ask softly.

"Me." We all turn towards the doorway and the figure standing there comes into view. I've seen that face before... I know that face...

"Sister Paula..." I gasp. "From the church..."

--

Well I guess we can all see just how patient I can be. I just could not wait to share this HUGE plot twist. Hope it hit you in the face.

Poor dad :/

And good god, two antagonists in one chapter? Can't say I warned ya either haha. Hope you liked them tho. 

But yes. Tomorrow, I will be posting the last and final chapter. You all were very supportive and I am super thankful for that!

I'm thinking of joining the Wattys this year with this one. What do you guys think?

Again, let me know how this plot twist made you feel.

Ah I like it.

Also, I hope most of your questions have been answered but if you guys have any more questions regarding me or the book, feel free to ask. I'm a friendly person, I near never bite :v

Hope to see you tomorrow with the update!

Toodles!

-Iff~