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She didn't change expression. She continued to hold that gaze, fix those eyes on me. I tried not to blink, not to look shifty, but she didn't nod or smile or in any way look satisfied.

"You're making a big mistake here today. Phoebe. It will bring you even more pain than this," she said, opening the drawer, taking out the envelope that contained the letter about Mama and snapping it in the air. "You'll be out there alone. The other girls won't help you. You should hear the bad things they say about you. Gia, especially. I know she's lying, they're all lying about you, but it doesn't matter. None of them would be friends with you on the outside anyway, would they? You'll go back to your world and they'll return to theirs. right? Why protect anyone but yourself now?

"Besides, if you care about them, if you have some sensitivity and conscience about it, then assure yourself this is the best way to help them. Just like you fried to help Teal."

"But you let her run off anyway," I said as sharply as I could,

"Of course. I did. So she would learn something, but thanks to you, she was under surveillance the entire time and luckily, too.

After she was stung, she might have wandered into worse places because she can't tolerate pain. She has a very low boiling point, being spoiled so much. Na. you did a good thing then. You did save her life. Do a good thing now

"Tell me exactly, in as much detail as you can, what Gia said about Posy."

She leaned forward expectantly.

"She didn't tell me anything specifically. She was talking to everyone."

"That's what I mean. Phoebe," she snapped, her eyes flickering with heat and ill temper. "Don't play with words with me. We're not in court. Well?"

"I just heard her say something about a girl who was here before."

"Are you going to have me pull every word out of you? What did she say about the girl?"

"That she was a liar." I said. "Made up stories." "And?"

That was it. Now she's gone. I didn't think it was anything to talk about."

She snapped back as if her body were wrapped in rub

ber bands attached to the chair.

"I was mistaken about you. Phoebe. You're not ready for what I want to do for you. You need more time." She put on that cold smile again, "That's all right. Time is something we have at our disposal here. I'm going to give you time to think about today. Perhaps you'll come back to me on your own, perhaps not. It doesn't matter. In the end. Phoebe, you will return.

"You're free to resume your chores." She waved her hand at the door.

I rose quickly.

"Wait," she said when I reached the door.

I turned and saw her open the desk drawer.

"Take this with you It's all she left you, apparently, the news of her unnecessary death." "I don't want it."

It was as if I had refused a valuable gift, insulted her, and disrespected her ancestors all at once. She whipped her head back, tore the envelope in two and threw it in the black metal wastebasket beside her desk.

"Consider that your attendance at your mother's funeral." she said, and turned her back on me.

It was as if my feet were turning to balloons. I walked out, but it seemed more like I floated along. M'Lady One wasn't there waiting. No one was there. My heart was still thumping as I sat and put on my clodhopper shoes. Almost the second I put on my left shoe. I felt it, and it was like no pain I had ever felt before. I screamed and threw off the shoe.

The pink insect with its back end curled up fell out, partly crushed. I looked up in a panic. My foot seemed to be swelling up right before my eyes.

"Help!" I screamed. Where was everyone?

M'Lady One appeared in the doorway. She had to have been standing right there all the while. I thought.

"What seems to be the trouble?" she asked sweetly and calmly despite my cry.

"I've been bitten by that!" I cried, pointing to the dying insect.


Tags: V.C. Andrews Broken Wings Horror