Witch Hunt by M. H. Johnson

Author:M. H. Johnson [Johnson, M. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-13T23:00:00+00:00

41

“Really, Jess? Practicing bladework in professorial robes, and you're going to wear that at your hip all day, I bet,” observed an elegantly attired Apple offhandedly allowed admittance when Jess sensed her presence beyond the door. The marks upon her neck, sadly, were still evident, though her silken scarf concealed the wounds to flesh and dignity quite tastefully, which Jess was all too happy to point out.

“Thank you, Jess. And I see you've healed up remarkably well as you always do, for all that you are no longer a Delver?”

The last, almost like a question.

Jess smiled. "Quite so, little sister, though Twilight assures me that dreams have a refreshing effect upon myself, perhaps more so than most, though his analogy to a little death was a tad unsettling."

Apple's expression turned grave. “That bastard really did come close to killing you. Frankly, I'm surprised you didn't off him when you had the chance.”

Jess grimaced. "Not too long ago, I would have. But more than ever, I can appreciate the long term repercussions of my actions, no matter how unfair the dynamics. He is obviously a royal inquisitor, which gives him a tremendous degree of protection. Every madman and sadist's dream job, really."

She gave a frustrated shake of her head, still disturbed by her odd inability to read him. "In any case, he serves the Crown, and so I spared him. Hopefully, the Crown will look at us with equal clemency, and if Prince Ulric would just return soon, well, that would be one nightmarish headache avoided."

Apple nodded solemnly. "You are right, Jess. Mother and I agreed. Had you killed him, we would have all looked horrible, and you like a coldblooded murderer who had indeed arranged the prince's death, ruthlessly killing to clean your tracks. The fact that the six royal cavalry members who had accompanied him down to the cellars with you their captive are now currently missing, well, since no bodies are to be found and Captain Franken lives, it is plausible enough to assume they left in disgust. Not daring to interfere with a Crown agent, but wanting no part of his madness." She paused to gaze carefully at Jess who maintained a deliberately blank expression.

“In any event, in sparing Captain Franken, you looked to all the world like the unfairly accused and assaulted girl strangled to within an inch of her life that you were, and he appears the monster.” She gave a wry shake of her head. “Frankly, sis, since his six cohorts are conveniently gone, it really is a good thing that you didn't take him out as well.”

Jess flushed at that. “I'm not saying I killed them, Apple.”

Apple flashed her sister a look far beyond her years. Nothing innocent about it. She deliberately stroked her own neck, where her captor could have easily slashed her throat clean open with the slightest tensing of his wrist. “Good. You should never say a word. Now come, sister, breakfast awaits.”

And as easy as that the warm, innocent

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.