Page 31 of A Curse So Vile

“Food?”

“Your sister is wasting away. Once she’s well, she’ll be hungry.” She frowned at the half-lie, but it was better than the truth.

Because Cole was so desperate for absolution, he nodded, figuring it made sense.

She dressed as if she were off to mourn the departed and chuckled to herself as she realized the departed would be her. There was no turning back from what she was about to do, and the wrath she’d provoke from her pack would surely kill her before the curse would take her further into madness.

With a startle, she realized her birthday was less than a week away. She had no time left.

She entered the sick room, gagging at the vile stench.

“What do you mean, we’re going to leave Fiona in her final hour?” Dorthea yelled at Cole as she glared at Brenna. “And you…YOU! How dare you take us all the way out here to let her suffer!”

“Take her away,” Brenna said to Cole, her gaze focused on the small form swaddled on the bed. It was hard to imagine that it belonged to a child or anything that was once living in the last century.

Dorthea continued to resist, but she paid no attention to the Toggler, focusing wholly on the task. Once they were alone, she took a seat on the bed.

The weak girl looked up at her with sickly yellow eyes. “Don’t tell my brother, but I’m scared,” she rasped.

It was enough to break the Dusklander’s heart.

A tear welled in Brenna’s eye, entirely unexpected. “Fiona, I know you’re scared, but after today, you’ll be fearless. Just like me.”

“I don’t understand,” the child said.

The wasting curse was cruel, disallowing Fiona strength. Today, Brenna would put an end to that.

She held up her right arm, and her left finger extended into a claw. She scratched her right wrist and pushed it into Fiona’s unsuspecting mouth.

The child’s eyes grew wide with fear, but after a moment, she began to suckle. Strange gurgling sounds rose from the girl, sounding more beast than human. In a way, the horror unfolding was rather beautiful.

And even if it led to Brenna’s premature demise, she’d figured it was worth it. With less than a week left, she was glad to do one last good thing.

Fiona’s eyes grew eager, her hunger growing savage.

“Easy now,” Brenna whispered, wincing from the pain.

But Fiona was near feral, biting deeply into Brenna’s arm.

Without warning, the door sprang open.

Dammit, Cole…

Brenna looked over her shoulder and saw Dorthea glaring at her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the Gryndari woman yelled, and to Brenna’s horror, Cole stood behind her, mouth gaping open.

She tried to withdraw her arm, but Fiona clutched it tightly, eagerly lapping at the source of nourishment.

“Get away from her!” Dorthea yelled.

“It will save her!”

Dorthea brought her staff over her head and slammed it down as hard as she could onto Brenna.

Her shoulder exploded in pain. For an old woman, Dorthea was fierce and strong.

The Gryndari swung again, connecting with Brenna’s other shoulder.