"Tie her up and put her outside this room, as a show of faith. Then, in a return show of faith, I'll show you how to communicate with Brendan's ghost. When we're done, Hope will be awake. She'll show you her powers and, if she doesn't, you can..." I swallowed for dramatic effect, "finish with her."
Another look around the gathered faces. Tina's expression stayed resolute--gaze fixed on Hope as she toyed with the matches.
"Don?" May said.
"It sounds reasonable."
The other men agreed. At a motion from May, they bound Hope's hands and feet, gagged her and carried her into the room beyond.
MIRACULOUS
WHEN THE MEN RETURNED a few minutes later, they closed the door all but a crack--presumably leaving it open so they could hear if Hope woke up.
Phase one accomplished.
On to phase two.
"What you were saying earlier," I began, "about needing to kill them horribly. That really isn't necessary. But I suppose slipping a lethal drug in someone's drink wouldn't have the same effect for the group, would it?"
"What--?" May began.
"You're all in this together, right? You watch them die. You each play your part. Share the murder, share the horror and the guilt. A bond that's probably very hard to break. Must have made it really tough to convince them that Murray broke it, huh?"
May's gaze swung to mine.
"You remember Murray, don't you?" I continued. "He's right here."
I described Murray. Several of the group members paled, but May's face remained impassive.
"You don't believe me?" I said. "Ask him something. He can hear you."
"Remind her of the time--" Murray began.
"If Murray says I tricked the others into killing him, he's lying." She turned to Don. "You found that--"
"Realtor's card," I cut in.
"Card?" Murray sputtered. "What card?"
"Or so you told the group, Don," I said. "But there wasn't one, was there? It was May's idea. She convinced you that Murray really was planning to leave the group, but that you needed some solid evidence to convict him."
Don's expression answered.
"They lied?" Murray said. "I was killed for a lie?"
He continued raging, but I focused on Don. "May lied to you too. She wasn't convinced Murray was leaving. She thought he might, but it was only that--a possibility. What she saw, though, was the opportunity to cement your allegiance by making you an accomplice in Murray's murder. And, in killing Murray, she'd prove to the group that the pact was more than idle words. If they didn't believe the group would kill them, now they knew better."
"She'll say anything to save her friend," May said.
She lifted her hand to blow the ash at me. Don caught her wrist.
"Don't bother," I said. "You don't need that to cast magic. Or, should I say, May doesn't. Not that she was going to tell you that anytime soon. Better to keep you working for her, digging for better magic, killing for the group..."
They had all turned toward May. I searched for something else to say, to give that extra shove, then reconsidered before I overplayed my hand again.
So I waited as they moved toward May, blocking her in, que
stions rising, sharp with accusation. Then I began inching toward the door. Get out and lock it behind me.