\u201cI need your help,\u201d Neve said as she stared into the mirror, more at the reflection of Marin in it than her own.\u00a0 It was easier to look at the other woman\u2019s reflection\u2014Marin didn\u2019t look like death warmed over twice.<\/p>\n
Her companion very carefully set down the brush she\u2019d been using to tame Neve\u2019s dark hair and met her gaze in that mirror.\u00a0 \u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything,\u201d Neve said, momentarily giving in to despair.\u00a0 \u201cHell, it shouldn\u2019t be me doing this tonight.\u00a0 It should be one of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time we tried, I\u2019m not so sure how well it worked.\u201d\u00a0 Marin frowned a little.\u00a0 \u201cThe ghosts are still here and everything seemed to start going sideways after we did it anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n
So they really did try to do it once before.\u00a0 That wasn\u2019t just Phelan making up stories.<\/i>\u00a0 Neve blew out a quiet breath and shook her head a little.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure how well it\u2019s going to work this time, to be honest.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t\u2026I haven\u2019t done this in so many years\u2026\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s something you never forget, I suppose, but that doesn\u2019t make it any easier to face this.<\/i><\/p>\n
Gods and monsters, I don\u2019t want to do this.<\/i>\u00a0 It would bring back too many painful memories of times long ago and people dead or otherwise lost.<\/p>\n
It was just going to hurt too much, injuries nonwithstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wish he hadn\u2019t asked you to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told<\/i> me to do it,\u201d she said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cHe didn\u2019t give me a choice in the matter, Marin.\u00a0 I have to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound like Phelan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know him as well as I do.\u201d\u00a0 Or for as long.\u00a0 You\u2019re still learning what he\u2019s capable of doing when he feels like he has to.\u00a0 It\u2019s not all noble sacrifice\u2014sometimes, it\u2019s well-applied force and leverage.\u00a0 He learned from Seamus and Father far too well when it comes to that.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, maybe not.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled wryly, putting away the brush and the smattering of makeup she\u2019d use to help lighten the circles under Neve\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s he told you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat should<\/i> he have told me?\u201d Neve asked softly, half twisting with a wince toward her companion.\u00a0 What does she think she knows that I don\u2019t?<\/i><\/p>\n
Marin shook her head, not quite anwering the question. \u00a0\u201cJust that I know more than you think I do\u2014about how he is, how he could be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d Neve said softly, reaching for her crutches.\u00a0 I can dig more later.\u00a0 More than enough time for that, since we\u2019re staying here for a while, at least.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cBut maybe you don\u2019t know everything yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing his cousin, I\u2019m guessing you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to think I do, anyway,\u201d Neve said as she rose awkwardly from the chair.\u00a0 \u201cI want to teach you what I\u2019m doing tonight, Marin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo sing the dead home to their rest?\u201d<\/p>\n
Neve nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve as much right to learning as anyone.\u00a0 I should\u2019ve tried to teach Kira, but I never quite thought about it and now it\u2019s too late.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cYou seem to be the next best thing.\u201d\u00a0 Especially if Phelan\u2019s right, if Teague\u2019s right, if my flipping gut is right.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAm I?\u201d\u00a0 Marin moved to help her, apparently aware of how awkward it was for Neve to try to maneuver with the crutches in her borrowed dress.\u00a0 It was blue, dark and heavy, trimmed in black and silver\u2014someone\u2019s festival dress, Marin had said, though she hadn\u2019t mentioned whose.\u00a0 \u201cYou could teach one of the others\u2014one that\u2019ll be around for the long haul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neve blinked and looked at her.\u00a0 What\u2019s that supposed to mean?<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t think you\u2019re going to be?\u201d<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Marin just sighed and shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u00a0 No, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI need your help,\u201d Neve said as she stared into the mirror, more at the reflection of Marin in it than her own.\u00a0 It was easier to look at the other woman\u2019s reflection\u2014Marin didn\u2019t look like death warmed over twice. … Continue reading