Free Birthright (Residue Series #2) by Laury Falter Page B

Nastis.”
    He’d almost remembered the names correctly. Either way, it didn’t matter. Jameson and I knew it was Frederick and Anastas ’ disappearance that the Vires were investigating.
    “What did you tell them?” prompted Jameson.
    “The truth. Can’t give them information on people I don’t know anything about .”
    That seemed to make sense to Jameson, whose only reaction was a sigh of relief. “And the second time they came around? Any idea what they were asking about then?”
    Mr. DeVille shrugged carelessly. “Don’t know. I’m sure they stopped in on us. Did it with everyone. But we must have missed ‘em while we were here trying to help Olivia.”
    Jameson didn’t speak for a few minutes, absentmindedly watching Mrs. DeVille as she unintentionally taunt ed Olivia with her incense stick, scaring her more than healing her. “So the Vires made visits yesterday, asking about the rope and their missing friends. But Mrs. Gaul returned today… with her own crew…arriving around noon…casting hexes on anyone she locate d .”
    “That about sum s it up,” agreed Mr. DeVille.
    “The reason for the second visit…” Jameson paused, visibly aggravated. “I-I just don’t understand why she’d hit the same people twice. There’s nothing to gain from it.”
    As the two men were working diligently to solve the mystery, another scream shrieked from Olivia. I’d been watching the entire time , and the extent of Mrs. DeVille’s healing capabilities were to wave an incense stick around and chant something unintelligible. Now , Olivia violently started clawing at her face, leaving red gashes down her cheeks, and by that point , I’d seen enough.
    “All right,” I stepped forward.
    “Back!” Mrs. DeVille warned, yet again.
    I ignored her.
    As it turned out , Mrs. DeVille was all bark and no bite , because when I reached her , there was no physical effort on her part to prevent me from getting any closer.
    I vaguely noticed the conversation had stopped behind us ; as I crouched down in front of Olivia, she was staring back at me with hollow, frantic eyes.
    “Olivia,” I said softly.
    Her nails were still embedded in her paper-thin skin but at least they’d paused at her jaw line. Now her fingers hung there, at the end of five rows of red trenches, despite the blood streaming down and dripping from the ends of her elbows.
    I slid out of the way of the pool collecting below her and started again.
    “Olivia, I’m Jocelyn Weatherford. You and I… we met once before…” While I was speaking, part of my attention shifted to my left hand , reaching for the remnants of a crystal candle holder.
    As my hand came to rest on it, I saw Olivia’s fingers uncurling and readying herself to strike . Without hesitation, I gripped the candle holder and swung my left arm overhead , sending it flying across the room.
    It crashed against the opposite wall and shattered, sprinkling shards across the floor.
    My plan worked. Olivia’s head spun around, following the clatter, which distracted her just long enough for my free hand to land on her ankle, the part of her body closest to me.
    The words “Incantatio s ana ” flew from my mouth faster than they ever had before . Then I turned my focus on back ing up , because Olivia’s attention returned to me.
    Snarling, she lashed out, nearly catching the edge of my forearm. She’d have reached me , too, if it hadn’t been for Jameson, who pulled me out of harm’s way.
    “Did she get you?” he asked in a rush, already inspecting me for injury.
    “No…” My heart was pounding in my ears.
    “You didn’t have to …” I said, regaining my composure.
    “I know. You can heal yourself. I just…I didn’t want to see you need to.”
    I smiled my appreciation , drawing his attention to my lips.
    “You’re welcome,” he said , tenderly.
    By then, Olivia was coming to , her fearful expression being replaced with confusion.
    “Oh my…” she groaned, n oticeably