Free Malice by Amity Hope Page B

step back, into her room. Our bedrooms were considerably smaller than the suites but Mom’s room, especially, was just as tastefully decorated. She motioned for me to follow her inside. I settled onto the edge of her bed.
    Levi had come back not that long ago. We also had guests in another suite, an elderly couple who were just passing through. Mom scanned the hallway quickly before closing the door behind us.
    “You’re right. I have been distracted,” she wearily admitted. “I apologize for that.”
    “It’s fine,” I assured her. Already my mind was spinning, trying to determine how I could work this conversation to my favor. Finally I said, “It’s just that I’ve wanted to talk to you for a few days now. About Magnolia.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. Her tone was hesitant. “What about her?”
    I dropped my head, trying to clear my expression of any guilt that may be lingering. I’d just realized that perhaps I could broach the subject without readily admitting I’d been snooping in Mom’s study.
    “It’s just that I’ve noticed…” I hesitated, not quite sure how to word it. “It’s just that lately I’ve noticed that…she gets her way a lot?” It came out sounding like a question. Possibly because it was.
    Mom sighed as she walked over to me and gently lowered herself onto the bed beside me. “Would you like to elaborate?”
    I had hoped that she’d just volunteer the information. It didn’t seem as though that was going to happen. I was going to have to dive right in.
    “I’ve been picking up on a lot of little things. The other night when she wanted my breadstick, I wanted to give it to her. Tonight, she wanted me to read to her. At first, I didn’t want to. I had other things to do. But there’s something about her that’s just so… compelling .”
    “I hadn’t wanted to worry you with this. I suppose I should’ve realized that you’d figure it out. It probably is best that you know,” she said quietly. “Yes, I believe that your sister has the power of persuasion. It’s especially worrisome because she’s exhibited it for quite some time. Years, in fact.”
    “Years?” I echoed.
    “While it’s incredibly rare, it happens. Your father’s grandmother had the…gift. Or the curse. However you choose to look at it,” she said wryly.
    “What do you mean, curse ?”
    “It can be dangerous. The person who holds the gift can manipulate those around them. What Magnolia can do already is nothing compared to what I assume she’ll be able to do once the gift fully manifests.” She turned to me and for the first time I noted her look of fear. “Samara,” Mom said in her no nonsense tone, “you cannot tell anyone of this. Not anyone. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, of course,” I said.
    “I mean, do you really understand?” She leveled her gaze on me, pausing a moment to let the seriousness of her words sink in. “If anyone knew about this, she could be in danger. There are those who would want to steal her gift. Those that would want to manipulate her into using her gift for their purpose. And those who would want to extinguish it and those people may not care at what cost.”
    Extinguish her gift…at any cost…?
    Mom couldn’t mean…I mentally faltered, not wanting the thought to fully form.
    Mom had no problem finishing it for me. “Her life could be in danger, Samara. That’s how serious this is.”
    Something ugly coiled up inside me. Fear entwined with dread and sorrow.  “I won’t tell a soul. I promise. Does anyone else know?”
    “No,” she flinched the moment the word was out. Then she hung her head. Silence filled the room but I didn’t dare break it. Warring emotions battled across Mom’s features. There was more that she wanted to say. I wasn’t sure if she was going to say it. I knew it was best if I just waited her out. When she looked at me again, her expression was closed-off. “Your father knows. I mean, we weren’t positive, but given a few