Page 88 of The 13th Daughter

"I know. I read your diary," I nodded. "I thought you meant this, the curse."

"No," she shook her head. "What I saw is still coming. It's dark and truly evil. That's all I'm allowed to tell you."

"But..."

"No question. You have to figure it out yourself."

"That's not fair, Ems. You can't give me some cryptic warning and expect me to not ask questions!"

"You're a smart cookie, kid. You'll figure it out," Emily smiled. "I have to go now, Cassie Jayne."

"Now? You have to leave now? But Dad..."

"I already saw him for a minute. He'll be okay."

"I miss you so much, Emily." I couldn't stop the tears. "All the time."

"I miss you too, little sister," she whispered. "I love you, Cassie Jayne."

"I love you too, Emily."

She smiled at me one last time and walked away and into the silver light Ethan had come through.

I buried my head in Ethan's chest and cried.

"Shh, Cassie, it'll be okay," Ethan soothed.

"I know," I hiccupped and looked up into eyes the color of the fog after a rain. They were so serious, but full of joy.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I know you were scared, but I had to act like I was going to let them kill you. If I'd taken you and run, it wouldn't have helped. They would have tracked us down. There was only way to stop the curse. I had to taint the ashes. The only way I could get near the ashes was to let Martin believe I was on his side and for that to work, you couldn't know I was working on a way to save you. It almost killed me to let you think I didn't care, that I wanted you dead."

I shivered, remembering the look of ice in his eyes, remembering how he hadn't moved to help me when Mr. Martin hit me. I understood he only acted that way to try and save me, but it would be a long time before I forgot it.

"Don't you ever try and keep me safe by not telling me something again," I told him. "I will forgive you this time, Ethan Matthew Warren, but never again. Do you understand me? I won't go through that ever again."

"Cassie, you heard your sister. Something is coming. I'll do whatever I have to if it means keeping you alive and safe."

"Never again, Ethan. I mean it. I'll leave your ass sitting here right now. I have to be able to trust you."

"Cassie..."

I glared. This was not something I was going to back down from.

"No more lies, Ethan...or should I say Matthew?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Call me Ethan. Matthew died a long time ago."

"The night Sara died?"

He nodded.

"Why didn't you stay with Sara?" I had to know.

He sighed. "I loved Sara, avenging her death became my soul purpose in life. It gave me strength, but it filled my heart with hatred. When you came along, Cassie, you made me feel something other than hatred. You made me feel alive and whole. You gave me strength through your love. I loved Sara, I did, but I don't think I was ever really in love with her. You taught me what it means to be in love with someone. I have lived hundreds of years, and was never truly alive until I met you."

"How did that happen anyway?" He wasn't a ghost, but he was something.

"The curse basically gave me immortality. I've been alive since that night."