Outside, a frantic howling filled the night, followed by the yips and whines of puppies in fear. I looked out the window, but couldn't see anything through the torrent of rain flooding the world. Wind ripped through trees, tearing off branches as it abused the land in its rage. Sandy joined in the howling and scratched at the front door, desperate to check on her babies.
"I should go see what's going on and make sure the puppies are okay. Can you keep digging?"
"Sure."
Sandy followed me to the kennels, slipping through mud and water as we dodged the debris of the storm. I felt around with my magic to see if anyone had broken into our property again, and a sudden wave of nausea overwhelmed me. I bent over and vomited out all the lovely Italian food Derek had bought me. "Oh no. What's happening?"
I picked up my speed, running through the dark with Sandy, who had gone unnaturally quiet.
As suddenly as the barking had started, it stopped, which filled me with even more fear.
Rounding the corner I burst into the area where the puppies were kept and froze, rainwater dripping down my face.
Oh God. No. This can't be happening. This isn't possible.
Bending over, I dry heaved until my body had nothing left to give in its emptiness. My tears came in harsh sobs, mingling with the rain, and Sandy howled and whined and paced around the kennel, uncertain about what to do.
All five of her puppies lay in the kennel, cut in half from head to tail.
I didn't hear anyone approaching until they grabbed my arms from behind, squeezing my stitches.
"No!" Mother gasped as I winced and pulled away from her. She turned to me. "What happened here?"
"I don't know." My words came between hiccups and sobs. "I heard the puppies barking and came to make sure they were all right. I found them this way."
I turned to leave and she grabbed me again. Blood seeped through my shirt and onto her hand. "Why are you bleeding?"
"I… I cut myself on a gate earlier. It's nothing." I tried to pull away but she wouldn't let me. I had to get out of there. Out of that room and away from that gruesome sight.
Jasmine came in, her face pale and tears in her eyes. "She's lying. I heard her talking to Ocean. She was on a date with a boy and was attacked."
Mother turned on me. "Is this true, Rose? Did you disobey my orders and go out with a boy?"
I tried to summon my courage, tried to be more like Ocean, but it had fled at the site of those poor puppies. "Yes."
"You've put everyone here at risk. Do you understand that? Being a part of this coven means following the rules. If you can't do that, then you will no longer be welcomed here. From here on out, you're not allowed off this property unless accompanied by me, or someone I appoint from the coven, and it certainly won't be Ocean, who's on thin ice with us as well. Are we clear?"
Lacking any will to fight, I would have said anything if it meant getting back to the cottage and away from this horror. "Yes." In the back of my mind, in the place that existed before this tragedy had occurred, I wondered about Derek. The thought of not seeing him again penetrated the fog inside me, bringing with it even more pain.
"Go back home and stay put while I deal with this. I'm very disappointed in you, Rose."
Sandy didn't want to leave her puppies, but finally walked away when she saw me leaving. As I walked past Jasmine I frowned at her. "Are you really so jealous of my relationship with Ocean that you'd betray me like this?"
She had the grace to at least keep her eyes down in shame as I stormed out and then ran back to my house.
When Ocean saw my face, she pulled me to the couch. "What happened?"
I told her everything and she stared at me in horror. "Rose, this may not be the best time to tell you this, but I think it's important."
I wasn't sure I could handle anything else, but I nodded numbly.
She pulled out a piece of paper she'd printed, and I looked at it, not totally comprehending what I was seeing.
"This picture was taken 25 years ago at a charity event. That's David O'Conner, head of Rose Botanicals." She pointed to a man in an expensive suit. He reminded me of Derek, but probably any good-looking man would remind me of him just then. I was so tempted to call him and beg him to come over and get me out of here, but I couldn't leave Ocean.
There had to be a way to be with him and protect those here as well. Mother's new rule had to have a loophole, but I couldn't see it through the horror of this night.
"Rose, look! The woman he's got his arm around, do you recognize her?"
I looked more closely at the grainy black and white photo and my heart stopped.
My mother stood arm and arm with our enemy, and she looked very much in love.