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Tears welled in Lydia’s eyes. “I’m alive. That’s all that matters.”
Quentin drew a deep breath. He was trying to stay strong for her. “We’ll figure this out together. I’m here for you, babe.”
I pulled Lucas aside and whispered lowly. “I have to meet with the priestesses and convince them to change their minds about our healthcare. They have to at least cover the accident. These people don’t deserve this. They weren’t given enough notice.”
“Where is she!?” someone barked from down the hall.
Nadine’s features paled, and the two of us rushed into the hall to see the three priestesses marching toward us, Sheriff Baker leading the way. Nadine’s features contorted into rage, and she threw herself in front of the priestesses, stopping them in their tracks.
“You can’t do this to these students!” she snarled. “Stripping them of their insurance was one thing, but giving them no notice, no time to come up with an alternative? It’s beyond cruel!”
Priestess Lilian frowned. “We don’t have time for your dramatics.”
“Well, make time!” Nadine demanded. “These people deserve to know they’re going to be taken care of.”
Margaret waved her hand, like a few students were the least of her worries. “We have dozens of people to take care of right now. As far as medical treatment goes, there is little supply and huge demand. We’ll save the ones who can pay.”
Priestess Charlotte stepped forward and got so close to Nadine that their noses almost touched. Nadine didn’t back down, though. “If you’ll excuse us, we have business to attend to,” Charlotte sneered. I’d never heard her speak in such a hostile way. It was like the other priestesses were rubbing off on her. “You can either join us in sentencing the person behind this, or get the hell out of our way.”
The priestesses stepped around Nadine and marched down the hall urgently.
“I’m coming with,” Nadine stated.
The priestesses were in too much of a hurry to care that I followed. They barely noticed me racing behind them. Sheriff Baker opened a door at the end of the hall and led the priestesses into a patient room. I stepped in behind them, and my stomach churned.
Monica sat propped up on her bed, and a cat lay curled next to her. She had her shirt lifted slightly and looked to be inspecting a huge bandage around her middle. I spotted a small line of blood that had leaked through. Her eyes widened as the priestesses marched into the room, and she dropped the fabric.
“Priestesses,” she said kindly. “How may I help you?”
Sheriff Baker stepped in front of everyone, his heavy boots pounding on the floor. “Monica Torres, you’re under arrest for the mass murder hereby known as The Hearse Tragedy.”
Monica gasped, and her cat leapt to its feet and hissed at Baker. “What do you mean? I didn’t do anything! What are you—ow!?”
Baker grabbed her wrist and slapped handcuffs on it, yanking on her IV. He secured the other side of the handcuffs to the bed. Monica broke out into sobs. It all happened so fast.
“Monica didn’t do this!” Nadine shouted. “She was next to us the entire time. What evidence do you have?”
Priestess Margaret pointed an ugly finger at Monica. “This woman is a Mentalist capable of manipulating emotions through music. She was playing piano moments before The Hearse crashed. She hypnotized the driver!”
“We have witness testimony,” Charlotte added. “Passengers say they were hypnotized by her music.”
“But I—I didn’t—” Monica started, but Lilian cut her off.
“Save your prayers for Mother Miriam,” she growled.
“Monica deserves a fair trial!” Nadine demanded. “Have the driver testify! What does he have to say about this?”
“Nothing, seeing as he’s dead,” Lilian said coldly. “And she killed him.”
Clyde must’ve been one of the people who’d died in the hospital. I couldn’t help but think he’d have survived if the sheriff hadn’t stopped him for questioning.
Priestess Margaret held her head high. “We have all the evidence we need. The judge has already met with our witness and sided with us.”
The priestesses created the laws, but the judge carried out sentencing. It was rare for a judge to defy the priestesses, as their job was to simply enforce the laws—much like the sheriff. Even without enough evidence, I was sure they could persuade the judge.
“Who are your witnesses?” Nadine demanded. “I’m a priestess. I have a right to know.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lilian said. “Monica’s execution is set to take place tonight.”
