Page 74 of Blood from the Marrow

The woman gestured toward the corner with her head. It was hard to see in the low light, but it looked like a huge pot and a bunch of boxes were stacked on a metal table.

“She told us that if we made more Ebonbane, she might consider sparing our lives.” She shook her head. “I’m sure she believed stealing our relic to give it back would make us compliant.” Her gaze narrowed on Elena. “But I can’t begin to guess the machinations of a vampire.”

“Ebonbane?” Marisol asked, relieved that they were all still breathing.

“Darkness’ death,” Zuri answered. “Cute name for a potion that kills creatures of the night.”

“But you didn’t use anything against us,” Marisol said, highlighting the more important point.

“We’re finished bringing destruction on vampires’ behalf.” She puffed out her chest like she was ready to meet a fiery stake. “If you don’t kill us, the other one will. So let’s just get it over with.”

“Gladly—”

“Wait!” Marisol spun around and caught Elena’s hand. “You can’t do this, Elena.”

Elena’s head whipped around, her gaze a cold glare. “I don’t care what they were threatened with, Marisol. If not for them, I would never have lost my sons.” Her black eyes glistened, causing Marisol to stagger backward. “Theydid that. Not me.”

“I can’t imagine how that?—”

“No,” Elena roared. “You can’t.” She turned back to the witches grouped so closely together they were as one. “You took them from me. You made something with the singular design to kill me. To take my family from me. To?—”

“And I did it in a desperate effort to save my only child.” The woman’s voice mirrored Elena’s grief-broken pain.

“And she was killed just the same,” Zuri muttered.

“Can we just take a beat and realize that Sayah is the problem here?” Marisol tugged Elena’s wrist, shocked when she allowed herself to be moved. When she looked at her again with less alien eyes. “Elena, killing these women won’t undo the past. They won’t bring anyone back.”

“It is not called retribution because it changes the past.” Elena’s attention darted behind Marisol and then back to herface. “It balances the scale. It punishes like with like. Only death can pay for death.”

“But it doesn’t have to be like that,” Marisol begged.

“Bambi, no matter the reason… What they did…” Zuri clenched her jaw. “The pain they caused.”

“Elena, if someone took Lib or Sofia and your only way of getting them back was making a weapon you wouldn’t wield yourself… would you really not do it?” Marisol squeezed her hand.

“I would?—”

“Assuming you have no other way to defend yourself,” she corrected. “If your only chance?—”

“It wasn’t their only?—”

“It was,” the witch interrupted. “We couldn’t run or they’d kill her. What coven could we turn to for help? Who was going to help us?”

Elena looked like she considered saying she would have helped, but stopped herself. “What do you want me to do, Marisol?” Her expression softened. “Let them go? Hand them over to Sayah so she can make more poison?”

Marisol shook her head. “Bring them with us?” she suggested even if it sounded crazy to her too.

“Bambi, for fuck’s sake,” Zuri cursed. “They killed Jesus and Robert and?—”

“Not directly.” Marisol reasoned. “I mean it. We can?—”

“I’m sure you do,” Elena replied. “Marisol, think of what you’re asking.”

Marisol turned back toward the witch. “What’s your name?”

“Harriet,” she replied after hesitating.

“My name is Marisol.” She took a deep breath. “It seems to me that we all have a common enemy. Do you want to help us fight back against Sayah?”