Frieda: The thrilling second volume of 'The Woman and the Witch' trilogy (The Woman and the Witch Trilogy Book 2) by Amanda Larkman

Author:Amanda Larkman [Larkman, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17 – The Sigil

‘It’s a sigil.’

‘A what?’ I was grateful for Daphne’s familiar ruddy face and solid body as Lilith sat, raw with shock, in the sitting room in front of that terrible painting.

She recovered quickly. A mouthful of brandy remained in the glass Daphne had poured for her and as we spoke she drained the last of it, tipping in another shot from the bottle at her elbow.

‘So. I was right,’ I said. The realisation gave me no satisfaction. Lilith’s response had been sobering. I’d shown her the painting hoping she would dismiss my fears, tell me I’d mistaken it for something else, someone else. She carried the knowledge of generations of women in her head, far more than I ever had. I’d left before she’d finished her teaching, brash and stupid – thinking I knew it all. What a fool I’d been. But now it seemed I had learned enough to know what was in front of us.

‘Please tell me what’s going on,’ Daphne’s voice cracked the silence. Lilith looked up and I was appalled to see the skull grinning beneath her tissue-like skin. Hollows blackened her eyes into holes; she looked as if she was about to crumble into dust. I struggled to smile encouragingly at her.

She glanced at Daphne whose face was a mask of worry and I watched as, with a tremendous effort, she rubbed her face to pinken and plump her skin. She looked less like death but still dreadfully haggard.

‘Do you think you could get me a glass of water, dear?’ she said at last. Her eyes closed for a moment; the skin of her lids had the translucency of a dragon fly’s wing.

‘Of course, stay there, I won’t be a mo.’

I turned expectantly to Lilith, thinking she’d sent Daphne out to talk to me in private, but she remained still, her head tipped back, her eyes closed. A gentle glow rose from her skin.

‘Let me,’ I said, standing and moving towards her. ‘I’ll be much quicker.’ I reached for her hand, but she brushed me off before I could touch her.

‘You’re always too rough,’ Lilith said without opening her eyes. ‘It’s like being electrocuted with a cattle prod when you try to replenish. You never did learn to be subtle.’

‘I could say the same about you,’ I said, trying to smile, but the thought of what was to come was too oppressive.

‘Here you go, Lilith,’ Daphne bustled in holding a glass. ‘I’ve put some lemon in it and ran the tap for a while but it’s still not very cold I’m afraid.’ A headache-inducing vibration of anxiety zipped from her.

‘So,’ she said, sitting in the upright chair against the wall. ‘Can one of you please tell me what’s going on? My nerves are completely shredded, and my father will be back before too long.’

I looked at Lilith who gave a small nod. I was relieved to see she looked a little better. ‘Lilith and I …’ I cleared my throat with a cough.

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