Page 115 of Bad Witch

He closed the space between us and placed his hand on my chest. I gasped, and my eyes rolled back. I struggled for breath. Oh goddess, my chest was so heavy, like my lungs had filled with fluid. I couldn’t breathe.

I need you. The words were a sharp cry for help. To my coven, to my sisters. Come back. I need you. The Matildas were my family, and I wouldn’t survive this without them.

Oh sweet mother, finally. There you are, B.

I froze as Matilda W’s voice filled my mind, and a tear slid down my face. You left, I said to her.

No, child, you locked us out. That was O.

What’s happening? M said. What causes you so much pain?

I failed you, sisters. I broke the rules. I used Agattealia Pontella to save the sick. I hurt people, and I let them down, and I…I fell in love. I had to confess, to get it all out, because I could feel my heart slowing, my organs shutting down. I might be able to survive longer than an average person, but I wasn’t sure if I could survive Disease’s constant attacks. I’m sorry. I’m going to die, and there will be no one to take my place.

“Why won’t you just die?” Disease snarled, unaware that I was no longer alone, or privy to the conversation going on in my head. “I loved you, Brigid, but you betrayed me. You tried to destroy me!” he roared. “And now you’re trying to do it again. Tell me what you used to defeat my virus. Tell me!”

Disease called me Brigid, not for the first time since he brought me here. It was hard, but I opened my eyes. He was sweating, looking almost as bad as me now. Disease was fevered, confused, and his mind was playing tricks on him. My use of Agattealia Pontella had harmed him. Healing those sick with his virus had weakened him. “I did what I had to do,” I choked out, playing along for now. This could be a good turn of events or a terrible one, but I wasn’t sure he’d believe I wasn’t Brigid, even if I did try to deny it.

Who is this male, what does he speak of? That was Matilda the Strange.

He is Disease, one of the Wraiths of Destruction. They mean to bring about the end of times. I quickly explained what had happened, the reason I had let my guilt and fear overwhelm me so thoroughly that I’d managed to lock them out.

And your mate, he will come? W asked. Her voice tentative, curious.

Yes. Somehow, I knew it. His distress lived inside me, his urgency to get to me. He was coming for me. I’m not sure he’ll make it in time though.

Matilda the Hopeful rushed forward. Let me take your place for a while, child. Let me take the burden.

Yes. Let us take the burden.

This is my mess. I won’t let you suffer for me. I couldn’t bear it.

That is what we do. We protect one another. Let go for a little while, B. Let us carry the load just for a while.

Their warmth wrapped around me. I was so tired and in so much pain that when W’s gentle arms pulled me back, I went, and I let H take my place.

I don’t know how long I floated in their warmth, while one by one, they took turns inhabiting my battered and diseased body, and every time a new Matilda took my place, their power rushed through me, fighting back whatever illness Disease had given me. It enraged him and made him sicker with every switch they made.

But our power had limits, and eventually my sisters were depleted.

Embracing them all, I pushed forward, taking back my place in my body. I’d had some time to recover. Not enough to truly fight, but enough to hold on a little longer.

His eyes burned green fire as he limped toward me. His skin was raw and bleeding, and the stench of his decaying organs filled the space that had once been Brigid’s sanctuary.

“I won’t let you win, Brigid,” he hissed.

Just surviving as long as we had was an attack to his body. We’d hurt him as well, but that wasn’t enough. His mind was weak, and if I had any hope of surviving, I had to break that as well. I stared him down, letting my eyes fill with the rage and hatred I truly felt for him. “I never loved you,” I said, pretending to be Brigid. “How could I love someone so evil, so hateful and cruel?”

“No!” he roared. “You are lying!”

“I hate you,” I yelled at him.

He gripped the sides of his head and screamed as the blow hit its mark, causing him almost as much pain as the sicknesses he was suffering. Lurching forward, he slammed into me, barely able to hold himself up. Still, he managed to grab me by the throat, his grip stronger than should be possible. “I will watch you rot. Do you hear me? You will die in agony,” he hissed.

The fire, M whispered. Use your fire, B. Burn him until there’s nothing left.

Fender

The fastest way to the cliffs was via Hell, the same way we’d gotten here last time. Roman barked and pawed at the ground, telling me to hold up when I ran through the gateway, and I forced myself to slow when it was the last thing I wanted to do. We had to move in carefully, though, and not give ourselves away. Tempest was still alive, I could feel her, but if Disease knew we were coming, he might hurt her even more. Or worse.