“How so?”
“She keeps coming and going. Flashing in and out. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
After just one more moment of hesitation, Cash looks us all dead in the eye.
“Don’t touch anything. Nothing.”
He opens the door, and we all file in behind him, frantically searching the space.
It’s a fucking mess.
“The smell,” Daphne says, covering her nose with her hand. “Oh, hell.”
“That’s a lot of death,” I agree. We scout out the first floor and then make our way upstairs where Cash stands in a wide, double doorway. Both doors are open, and the scene beyond looks like something out of a horror movie.
“Don’t go in,” he says quietly. “We’re too late.”
I look over his shoulder and curse ripely.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I push my hands through my hair in agitation. “They’re still bleeding, Cash.”
“I see.”
“We could have saved them. My God, we could have fucking saved them.”
“No.” Millie puts her hand on my shoulder gently. “He made sure that we couldn’t.”
“We have to be sure,” Brielle says to Cash. “We have to check them. What if someone isn’t dead?”
With a grim face, Cash nods, and we carefully make our way around the room. It’s difficult to avoid stepping in blood, but Cash reminds us all again not to contaminate the scene.
My stomach jolts as I cross to a woman with red hair. She looks so similar to Daphne, it makes me nauseous.
When I reach down to touch her neck, just past the gash over it, she suddenly opens her eyes and gasps for breath, sitting up to my absolute shock and horror.
“Fucking hell,” I exclaim and jump back right into a puddle of blood.
“Holy shit,” Cash cries out as all three girls gasp. Lucien’s eyes narrow.
The woman’s blue eyes bulge. Her fiery red hair is full of blood, and she’s coughing, clutching her chest as she gasps for breath.
“This is insane,” Daphne whispers and reaches for my hand.
When the woman stands, as naked as the day she was born, she narrows those eyes and walks through the bodies lying around her, toward us.
And that wound on her neck is closing. Healing as if it was never there.
“Who are you?” Brielle asks, stepping forward.
“Lucinda,” the woman replies. “Lucy.”
She pushes her hand into her hair, still looking around at the mess around her.
“I knew I recognized you,” Millie says. “From the missing persons poster. You’re Lucy Finch. From Salem.”
“I am,” Lucy says. “And I’m naked.”
“And surprisingly calm,” Daphne points out.
We hear footsteps below, and Cash turns to us.
“The cavalry is here. I’m going to be here for a while. Lucy, I need you to stay so I can ask some questions.”
“I know,” she says. “Can I cover up?”
“I have a blanket in the car,” I offer and run down past the cops to my vehicle, retrieving the throw and hurrying back up with it.
Then the five of us are ushered out while the police take over.
“At least Cash is in there,” Millie says. “So we know what’s happening.”
“Who is Lucy Finch?” Daphne asks her sister. “And why did she miraculously come back from the dead, scaring the shit out of us before our very eyes?”
“She’s a witch—a powerful one from what I’ve heard. I’ve never met her. She’s related to some of the witches in Baton Rouge. They must have invited her to come join us for the eclipse. I have no idea why she’s here-here, or how she didn’t die.”
“Maybe she did somehow die and then came back to life,” Brielle adds. “Because she’s the one who was blinking in and out.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Lucien says. “Also, I found Andy.”
“Where?” I demand as I turn to him.
“He’s in the bathroom upstairs. Dead. Missing his eyes. I told Cash on our way out.”
“Why didn’t you say something before?” Brielle demands.
“Because you three don’t need to see that,” Lucien says softly. “There’s no need. You already have enough terror in your minds.”
“He’s right,” Millie says. “I don’t want to see it.”
“Me, either.”
Cash comes outside, escorting Lucy, who’s wrapped in the blanket. She doesn’t look freaked out. She looks…pissed.
“I don’t need a hospital,” she insists.
“Your throat was slashed,” Cash says.
“It’s not now. Look.” She points to her neck. “Not even a scar. I want to talk to you all. I can help you.”
“You need a shower,” Millie says. “And some fresh clothes.”
“Damn right, I do,” Lucy agrees.
Cash doesn’t look convinced.
“I promise you. I don’t need a hospital. I also promise that I have no intention of hurting any of you. I came here to help. I wanted a fun trip to New Orleans and to help you all at the same time. We can see how that worked out for me.”
“Did he know?” I demand. “Did he know what you are?”
“No. I never let on. I promise I can tell you everything. But I’m sure you can understand why I’m anxious to get the hell out of here.”
“Let’s take her back,” Millie says. “Get her cleaned up—physically and spiritually.”
“If you’re fucking with them,” Cash says quietly, “this will end very badly for you.”
Lucy’s face softens. “You love them. Of course, you do. You’re the six. I wish you no harm.”
Cash takes a deep breath and then nods. “Okay. I have to stay here for a bit longer, but I’ll meet you at the house. I’ll catch a ride with one of the guys.”
Lucy rides with Daphne and me. She’s quiet, curled up in the back seat the whole way.
When we pull up to Millie’s house, she smiles.
“How lovely.”
Before we leave the car, Daphne turns to Lucy.
“How do I know that you’re not him? That you’re not Horace, worming his way into this house to hurt us?”
“Horace can’t get inside of that house,” Lucy says calmly. “I understand your concern. I’d be wary, as well. When you found me, I was pretty much dead.”
“Are you immortal?” I ask her.
“No.” She smiles again. “I’m just a woman with magic. I promise you, I’m not your enemy. I will not hurt you.”
I look at Daphne, and she nods. We escort Lucy into the house where Miss Sophia, Ruth, Oliver, and Miss Annabelle are all waiting.
When they see Lucy, there’s a frenzy.
“Oh, you poor child,” Ruth says as she reaches for Lucy. When she touches Lucy’s shoulder, Lucy jerks.
“What is it?” Millie asks her.
“Oh, ma’am,” Lucy says as tears fill her eyes. “I’m so sorry for what was done to you. I’m so, so sorry.”
“This is Lucy Finch,” Lucien explains. “She was being held by Horace. Managed to live through it and came all the way from Salem to help us.”