I grabbed him, glaring into his eyes. “Bring. Me. My daughter.”
He exhaled and then chuckled. “When Gigi saw you on the news, she reacted the same way. She wouldn’t calm down until I promised to bring her to you.”
I didn’t say anything, waiting. So, Ethan kissed my forehead and got up, moving to the door. When he left the room, I relaxed back onto the pillows. Then I realized he’d left me in the room with the woman who had put me in this position. When I turned my head to look at her, she sat in the corner, carving an apple, no longer looking at me.
I smiled. “Good…you feel guilty.”
She paused mid-peel, and her brown eyes snapped up to glare at me. “Guilt? I have none. I acted to protect my children. And I have no regrets about it.”
“Moms… always… have…regrets,” I replied, knowing first-hand about that. I regretted bringing Gigi into this chaos, allowing her to grow up near those monsters, for not being strong enough to kill them all before she was born. I regretted a lot. But then again, would I ever confidently be able to admit that out loud? I had my reasons. She had hers. But I was still a bit petty anyway. “I’m patient. I’ll get an apology…and a thank you—one day.”
She didn’t reply, simply because she didn’t want to, and because Ethan returned with my daughter dressed in mermaid pajamas. He brought her over to my side and put her in bed next to me. Exhaling calmly, I placed my hand on her head, brushing her hair slowly.
“Thank you,” I whispered to him before closing my eyes again.
CALLIOPE—AGE 17
“Your first assignment is him,” she said, giving me the picture of a teacher in his early 40s, with dark hair and slim frame, standing at the blackboard.
I nodded, taking it. “When do I need to kill him by?”
“After he’s fallen in love with you,” she said, sitting back in her chair, watching me carefully.
“How long does it take to make someone fall in love with you?” I asked, not sure what that timeframe was.
She laughed. “Calliope, that’s up to you and your skill. Some men like conversation, and others prefer sex. Whichever it takes to get it done.”
I looked down. He wasn’t the ugliest man for my first time. But then again, I guess that didn’t matter.
“If you prefer, you can pick one of the men here to get you adjusted to the feeling and then—”
I shook my head, looking through the photos of him.
“He looks like a loner. He might fall for an innocent girl faster,” I replied, rising from the chair. “Is there a reason why he needs to be in love first?”
“That’s what the client wants.”
I nodded, turning to leave. “Understood, I’ll get it done.”
“Calliope.”
“Yes, Grandmother?”
“You get more people to approach when you aren’t so cold and direct. Especially men. What did I tell you about that mask?”
“Never take it off until the kill,” I said with a smile on my face.
“Better. Go on. I have faith you won’t disappoint me.”
CALLIOPE—PRESENT
When I woke up, the room was brighter.
Gigi was no longer at my side. I could hear what sounded like a televi
sion outside the room, but it was drowned out by the water coming from the room beside me. I was about to call out, but before I could, Ethan came into the room, holding a bowl of water, soap, and a washcloth.
“You’re up again,” he said, coming beside me and putting his hand on my forehead. He nodded to himself before he dipped the washcloth into the basin, washing my face gently.