“Val! What the hell is going on? What are you doing?” Julian cried. When she didn’t acknowledge her brother, he screamed, “Valentina!”
Her head whipped around to regard him curiously. “Oh, right.” She smiled. “I guess I go by that name too.” She turned and took two steps toward us, her icy gaze landing on me. “Though if you want my attention, you’re better off using my real name. Ursula.”
I felt my back hit Julian’s chest as I stumbled backward.
“She’s gone mad,” he whispered.
“Not exactly,” I whispered back, trembling. “That’s not Valentina anymore.”
Ursula responded with a throaty laugh.
Clever witch, Max said. She was ready for us. He still hadn’t moved from his position. None of the dogs had. Surprising. I figured they would have quartered her by now.
“It was exhausting, using my powers and cutting my arm every day for the spell to mask my identity from those canines.” She looked down to Leo and gave his ribs another forceful nudge. “And this relic.”
Max had sensed it all along. He had sensed something “off” about her, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. And I had chastised him for being unkind.
“And thank God this young little thing decided to come into that garden when she did!” Ursula gestured to her body. “I may have had to do housework here if I ended up in one of those maids’ bodies.”
I gasped at that revelation, remembering when Valentina had stumbled, that first day in the atrium. That hadn’t been an innocent stumble; that was Ursula infesting her body! Ursula had been with us from the very beginning.
“Who’s Ursula?” Julian whispered, his tone somber; he realized we were in real danger.
“A bad person,” I whispered back, none too quietly.
Another throaty laugh. “I’m not so bad, once you get to know me. Sofie has filled your head with lies. That’s what she does.”
Run, Evangeline, Max warned again.
I locked eyes with my canine protector. Do something! I silently pleaded.
“He can’t help you,” Ursula said. “None of them can move. I’ve made sure of that.”
“What do you want?”
Ursula chuckled. “Many things. For one, I want out of this godforsaken hellhole, and this bastard won’t give me any clues as to how and when I can do that.” She kicked him again, earning a groan.
“Please stop doing that,” I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes.
She continued on as if I hadn’t spoken. “And then I want to see the pain and suffering in Sofie’s ugly green eyes when she watches me kill you.”
My breath caught in my lungs. I barely felt Julian’s hand settle on my shoulder.
Evangeline, run—both of you. Get as far away as quickly as possible. She’ll need to break her spell to stop you and then we’ll have her. Run.
“Get behind me.” Julian’s voice was barely audible.
All we had to do was run and this would all be over. I shifted my weight.
“Stop!” The shrill scream froze me in my tracks. “Try to leave here, and this place goes up in flames. Everyone dies. Not as poetic as my original plan, but . . . ” her lips curled into a bitter smile, “Sofie will suffer, all the same.”
Everyone would die because of me. I couldn’t have that.
I gave Max my best “what now?” look, wishing I could communicate telepathically to him.
I guess she’s smarter than I gave her credit for. An exaggerated sigh followed. There’s one other way . . . Throw something at her.
What? My confusion must have played across my face, because he continued.
Injure her, and whatever spell she cast will break. Witches can’t hold their spells when they’re attacked. I’ll reach her before she can recast. I hesitated. Look at Leo! He’s too hurt to use his magic to protect himself! Hurry!
My eyes darted to my gravely injured guardian. His eyes were now closed. Was he dead? Desperation washed over me. I scanned the area nearby for objects, and my eyes settled on a jagged antler by my feet. If I could impale her with the sharp end . . . Taking a deep breath and summoning every last ounce of courage, I psyched myself for the drop and the precise throw I’d need to execute, one I doubted I could do with accuracy. I tensed, preparing for the dive—
And went sailing away from my target to land several feet off to the side, broken glass crunching under my weight. I was now level with Leo, lying only ten feet away from me. I glanced back to see Julian charging toward Ursula, a jagged piece of the chandelier held out in front of him.
Her eyes widened in surprise, then immediately narrowed. With a quick glance down at the unconscious Leo, she decided something. Her hand lifted toward Julian, her lips moving.