Page 131 of The Puppet Master

“Here.” I toss the hiking bag in front of Zephyr. “Sawyer left this for you.”

Her face scrunches as she leans forward and picks up the bag. “What is it?”

I don’t respond. She doesn’t wait.

The moment she unclasps the front and looks inside, the snake’s fangs find her neck. It happens in a flash, too fast to fully register.

She peers up at me with wide eyes, dropping the bag, letting the snake slither off in search of shelter.

She can’t speak. If it had attacked another part of her body, she might have longer to live, but as it stands, her throat is swelling fast. Her airway is closing. She touches her neck, tears gliding down her blue-tinged cheeks. She collapses onto the ground, grasping her throat, desperate for breath.

I stand and go to her. Towering over her writhing body with true remorse lowering my lips.

“I’ll tell Father that your death was an accident. He’ll mourn you as a beloved daughter, and our people will never know of your betrayal… That’s as far as my compassion goes.”

I crouch; wipe a tear from her cheek. She peers into my eyes with fear I’ll see in my dreams, but I don’t allow myself to look away. I wait with her, my hand cupping her cheek until the last sliver of life leaves her eyes.

With a gentle hand, I caress her eyelids shut, her perfume enveloping me for the last time. “Sleep well, Sister…”

“All is as it’s supposed to be.”