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“Don’t pressure me,” Adriel snapped back, overwhelmed by the trusting innocence that radiated from the woman. “This feels wrong.”
The woman stepped back. “Are you solicitors?”
“No, ma’am. We’re not selling anything. We’re looking for a place to stay.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, but this isn’t a hotel.”
Juniper caught Adriel’s arm and hissed, “Do you want to die, Adriel? Did you forget why we came here? He’s coming for you. I’m exhausted, and I can’t hold this spell much longer. We have no money. If we want to rest, this is our only option, so set aside your moral hang-ups and do your thing.”
She looked up at the brick walls, certain they couldn’t save her from Cerberus. What if she was just putting one more person in danger?
Glancing back at the little old woman, she dropped her gaze. “I can’t.”
“What?Why the hell not?” Juniper’s words trembled with desperation. “You have to. We came all this way. I helped you get this far. You can’t just give up.”
“I’m not giving up. I’ve been defeated. He’ll find me. There’s nothing I can do to stop that. But that doesn’t mean I have to involve or endanger others.”
“I’m already involved.”
“I told you that was a bad idea, but you at least made the choice for yourself.” She looked back at the confused woman. “She isn’t choosing this.”
“Please.” Juniper grabbed her hands, her eyes pleading.
Heat rushed up Adriel’s arms like a bolt of electricity. It had been so long since anyone touched her the contact startled her, but then a wave of protectiveness washed over her as Juniper’s desperation overwhelmed her with empathy. It could only be magick. She didn’t typically have such a strong response to others.
“I have nowhere else to go, Adriel. My home is a pile of ash. My aunts are dead. We made a deal. Don’t make me regret trusting you. Please do this. I swear, nothing will happen to her. We can help her.” She looked back at the little old lady. “Wouldn’t you like that? We can sit with you and keep you company.”
“Oh, I do enjoy having visitors.”
“See,” Juniper argued. “We’d be doing her a favor.”
Adriel looked regretfully at the sweet woman and sighed. “Invite us in, please.”
Any reluctance drifted away as she stepped back and opened the door. “Please, come in.”
“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Juniper passed the woman and immediately started inspecting the dated kitchen's interior. “Yikes. Look at this place.”
Maroon laminate tile, mustard yellow countertops, and brunette wooden cabinets darkened the space. There was only one small window over the sink and a buzzing light that hung like a pendant over the chrome-trimmed table and vinyl chairs.
Adriel looked apologetically at the wrinkledwoman. “No one is going to hurt you. We’re friends.”
Juniper locked the deadbolt. “Tell her not to answer the phone or door. Convince her that we’re her distant relatives from out of state—her nieces—and we’re staying here for a while.”
Adriel looked into the woman’s eyes and repeated back everything Juniper said.
“You must be Agatha’s girls.”
When she looked back at Juniper, the witch shrugged. “Sure.”
The woman wrung her hands, the delicate bones of her knotted knuckles pressing against her crepe-like skin. “Did I know you were visiting?”
Gently resting a hand on the woman’s frail shoulder, Adriel reassured her. “Yes, you were expecting us.”
“Oh, dear, that’s right.” Capturing Adriel’s hand between her cool, withered fingers, she softly squeezed. “I’ll show you the guest rooms so you can get settled.”
Adriel glanced over her shoulder and scowled. “Juniper!”
“Go on. I’ll be right behind you.” The witch hushed her and shooed her off as she continued digging through drawers.
