Free Unchanged by Heather Crews Page A

inaudibly, "Nearly every night . . . I am violated against my will. It's been happening two years now. I don't see a way to escape other than to kill myself. I don't know how I've borne the shame so long. I don't know how I can tell this to you—especially you. This is the first time I've ever spoken of it."
    "Your stepfather."
    She opened her eyes to see his bright and shining with anger. Eve nodded, feeling unclean. She could see his jaw muscles clenching. Often when she'd caught him looking at her she'd thought he was angry or hated her, but she had never before seen such an abhorring blaze in his eyes.
    "There is an escape for you," he finally said. "Something other than suicide."
    "What?" Eve asked breathlessly. This was it—he was going to tell her he wanted to take her away.
    But when he spoke, it was to say something entirely unexpected. His eyes gleamed darkly as he whispered, "Murder."
     
    ~
     
    The sunlight through her window the next morning was strong; she had woken hours later than usual. She could hear her brother talking downstairs. She wished she could stay in bed all day but she forced herself to rise and dress. In the hall outside her room she paused. For a moment she stood without moving, unmotivated and disheartened, but then managed to carry herself to the bedroom where her mother rested.
    This morning she was out of bed and reading a book by the window, her frail frame haloed by the sun. She looked up when Eve entered and smiled with soft delight.
    "Hello, Daughter."
    "Mother," Eve replied. She moved to the plain wooden chair she often occupied during her visits. "How are you feeling?"
    "Very well, actually. I don't have quite enough energy to venture downstairs, I'm afraid, but I'm happy to be able to read by the window." The woman's gentle smile faded and she looked at her daughter with concern. "Eve, what troubles you?"
    "I'm . . . in love," Eve said, "and it's terrible."
    "Terrible?" her mother echoed incredulously. "Eve, dear, please explain. You look as if you feel absolutely wretched."
    "I do. I am. The man I love hates me, I'm sure. I can't tell him how I feel."
    Her mother's small white hand fluttered to the base of her throat. "That doesn't sound very . . . healthy."
    "Moreover," Eve continued as if her mother hadn't spoken, "he's asked me to do something rather . . . dubious. And I want to do it, or at least part of me does, because I know it would help me. But another part of me wants to refuse because the deed could only elicit bad results."
    "My dear, I am certain you will only do what is right."
    "I suppose," Eve mumbled, unconvinced.
    She left the room and went downstairs. She crossed the foyer to the parlor. The paneled door was already partially open and she slid it the rest of the way to reveal Jocelyn and Ahaziel. Jocelyn stood in the center of the room, pontificating on something or other, while Ahaziel sat in an armchair, staring darkly into the middle distance. He wasn't listening to Jocelyn, but Jocelyn clearly didn't realize that.
    Eve barely glanced at him as she entered the room. She forced a smile onto her face and sat in a rosewood chair facing her brother, her back to Ahaziel. She remained silent as Jocelyn continued to talk, though now he was encouraging input. She had nothing to say; she hadn't been listening. She was too busy thinking about the word Ahaziel had said to her.
    Lost as she was in thought, she didn't notice he had risen from his chair until he leaned closely over her shoulder, his long hair brushing her cheek. Jocelyn didn't notice either; he had left the room and expected Ahaziel to follow him. Eve held her breath. He said but one word, dark and low.
    "Soon."
    Then he left.
    Eve closed her eyes for just a moment and felt her blood grow cold.
    "Eve?" a dreaded voice called from down the hall. "Eve, come into my study, won't you?"
    What now? she thought.
    She went reluctantly, always loath to be alone with Esmond Havelock, but once in his study she saw a