Page 97 of The Magic We Made

But all Ash says to me in reply is, “Umma Bye Bell.” His whole body is tense—which is understandable, given what he’s just been through and the fact that we’re seconds away from death.

“Umma Bye Bell,” Ash says urgently again. Only this time, he repeats himself, enunciating carefully. “Emma Bridle.”

Finally I understand.

“Is there an Emma Bridle here?” I ask, my gaze sweeping the many forms in white robes beneath me, some still kneeling in prayer, but others on their feet and dancing around, trying to stomp out the flames. “Emma?”

One of the smallest girls—and the one with the most absurdly short dark hair—raises her hand, looking timid.

“Th-that’s me,” she stammers.

I recognize her then. All of the dirt and bug bites can’t hide those fine-boned features and absurdly smooth skin.

“This man is your cousin,” I say, placing a hand on Ash’s chest. “He’s been working with your parents to help find you.”

“My... my parents?” Emma looks stunned, though it’s hard to tell if it’s due to the revelation that her parents are looking for her, or the fact that she has a long-lost cousin who she was just about to help murder.

“Yes.” Ash is finally able to speak. Not well, but he’s mostly understandable. He looks down at Emma, and says, slowly, “Your parents are sorry for not understanding how much your spirituality means to you—”

“Because they only want you to believe what they believe!” An angry-looking Haley is pushing her way toward Emma. She’s not going to let any of her followers hear the truth if she can help it. “Which isnothing. They’re spiritually bankrupt, just like him!” She thrusts an accusing finger at Ash. “Don’t listen to a word he says! He doesn’t care about you. He’sGaia’s grandson!”

I’m so over Haley, I’m ready to climb down from this rock and punch her in the face, which is not the most empathetic response for a therapist.

“What aboutyou, Haley?” I demand. “Doyoucare?” I look down at the girls below us and speak directly to them. “Do any of you know, or even care, what happened to your friend Meg? She’s currently being hospitalized for exposure and malnutrition.”

I see shock on some of the girls’ faces as they hear this, but fury on Haley’s.

“See?” She turns to the other girls. “See what happens when you disobey Hecate?”

Emma is the only one who asks, “Is... is Meg going to be all right?”

“Meg’s going to be fine,” Ash says. “But you can see why your parents are so worried about you—”

“Only because they’ve invested so much money in your education!” Haley screams at the girls. “They can’t just let you go; they want to see a return on their investment—”

“Haley would know about that,” Ash says. “Wouldn’t you, Haley? You asked Emma to share the password and login for her college fund—”

“Oh, please.” Haley rolls her eyes. “I ask the same ofallthe girls. They know it’s only a test of their loyalty.”

The other girls around her nod solemnly. They don’t seem to think this “loyalty test” is at all odd.

“Except,” Ash says to Haley, “you used that information to withdraw thirty-five thousand dollars from Emma’s college fund, then transferred it to your own offshore bank account—”

Haley’s face darkens with fury. “That money is for our future,” she insists to the girls. “I’m making sure we’ll be taken care of in Hecate’s new era!”

“Oh, like the money you’re demanding from my grandmother for my safe return?” Ash asks. “Do your followers know that you care more about cash than you do about their safety? All you’ve ever wanted is the money you can squeeze out of their loved ones... and mine.”

Haley has gone as pale as the bone she still clutches in her hand. “You entitled piece of shit,” she breathes. “Howdareyou tell such lies? I’ll kill you!Bothof you!”

Her eyes wide with rage, Haley lifts the knife she’s clutching,and races toward the altar we’re still standing on. I tighten my grip, ready to pull Ash to safety if I have to....

But I don’t have to, because Emma reaches out and seizes Haley by the wrist as she shoots past, stopping her in her tracks. Haley whirls on the other girl.

“What are you doing?” she shouts. “Let me go!”

“No, Haley.” Emma’s voice sounds different than it had just a moment ago. It’s stronger somehow. I watch, amazed by what I see next. “Is what they’re saying true?”

“Of course not!” Haley tugs on her arm. “How could you believe I’d ever do such a thing? Let me go—”