Chapter Twenty
There was not a proper word in English that could possibly describe how bloody terrified Hermione was the moment that her supervisor entered her flat. Something in the back of her mind kept her from believing that Gemma Farley and John Dawlish would be able to carry through with their dastardly plans. After all, neither of them really possessed a strong enough grudge against her personally to justify murder. Matthew Kettletoft on the other hand was a completely different story.
The smirk fell off of Matthew's face only moments after his arrival. He was all business and his features had a seriousness to them that Hermione had never witnessed before. She did not understand what was going on, but she was more frightened than she had ever been in her entire twenty-eight years on the planet. Matthew was the type to hold a grudge. Was he also the type to kill?
"Silencing spell?" Matthew asked when he saw Hermione try to speak but no sound came out. A devilish grin crossed his lips at the realization that his nemesis could not utter a single audible word. "Fucking genius! I've been wanting to use one on the bitch for eight, long years."
"Why are you late?" Gemma demanded, quite literally stamping her foot in exasperation. "We almost had to start without you."
"You always have been the impatient sort, haven't you, love? Nothing has changed."
"Shut up, Matthew!"
The unit supervisor for the House-Elf Placement Office closed the distance between the front door and Hermione's bound form on the couch in mere moments. He sneered down at the woman before roughly pulling a handful of her hair.
"Oh, I am so going to enjoy this. Eight years was too fucking long to see your face day in and day out."
Matthew released her hair, knocking her head backwards in the process. He had the nerve to wink at her when she narrowed her eyes. If only looks could kill! She desperately wished she was free to attack him. In that moment, Hermione was all but certain that she could rip his face off with only her bare hands. At the very least it would be fun to try. Just when she thought it was impossible to hate him any more than she already did, he proved himself up for the challenge. Slimy, homicidal git!
"So what's the plan now that we're all here?" Matthew asked the others gathered in the flat.
"It's simple," Gemma retorted. "You kill her with your bare hands and then we kill the Death Eater. Stage the crime scene and get out. I thought we'd already made this clear."
"You could get a knife from the kitchen. Might make killing the witch a bit easier," suggested Dawlish.
Matthew ignored the auror to turn his full focus on Gemma.
"Not really my style. Besides, that's more of your forte, isn't it, Gemma? You've proven you like to carve up your victims."
Gemma huffed at the remark. She placed both of her hands on her hips in a scarily accurate impersonation of Hermione that made the younger witch rethink ever touching her hips again. She was unaware of how ridiculous she must have looked with flaring nostrils and red cheeks. No wonder her boys always did what she asked when she stood that way. They simply wanted her to stop.
"Well, someone had to kill Towler and John was too squeamish."
"You also enjoy parading around as Rowle?" asked Matthew, smirking once again. "That must have been fun for you. All those years of your unrequited love for the dangerous man. You diddle yourself?"
He raised a single eyebrow at the infuriated witch. Gemma's cheeks were blazing red. Hermione might have been afraid she was at danger of having a stroke if she cared.
"Shut up, Matthew!" Gemma demanded.
Matthew simply laughed at her discomfort. It was apparent that he was enjoying his Sunday afternoon immensely. Hermione wished she could reach out far enough to kick him.
"We are wasting time!" screeched Gemma.
"Seems to me we've got all the time we need," Matthew replied. "You've got her pet Death Eater stashed somewhere, I'm sure. John is the auror on duty for the next several hours. The only man Granger can find willing to touch her is locked up right now. She doesn't have any friends that will just drop by unannounced."
Gemma's frustration was steadily growing higher.
"What is your point, Matthew?"
"I think we should tell Granger why we are all doing this before we kill her. It's only fair and I'm certain her curiosity is about to drive the pesky swot mad."
Hermione's ears perked up at Matthew's suggestion. She could not deny that she was very interested in knowing just why these three were so intent on ruining and possibly even ending her life. But a niggling thought in the back of her mind disturbed her more than anything else. Just why did Matthew care if her curiosity was sated? He never showed any inclination in the past to take her feelings into consideration. The more she thought about it, the more Hermione realized she simply did not care what his motivation was. The longer they could keep talking, the more time she had to hope that Blaise would show up. She was trusting that when Zabini failed to see an auror stationed outside her door, he would be suspicious. Slytherin nature and all.
"Fine! I'll tell the little bitch," Gemma conceded.
The bound captive sat up as straight as she possibly could with the magical ropes still threatening to cut off her circulation. She wanted to know why anyone cared enough to frame Thorfinn for a crime he did not commit.
"I heard Thorfinn was going to be paroled about a month before it happened," Gemma explained. "The Minister really should sweep his office for eavesdropping spells more often. It's almost embarrassing how much I've heard over the last several years. Entirely too many floo calls between him and his husband, that's for certain."
Gemma cringed at the memories. Hermione smiled to herself, ignoring the petulant woman. Kingsley and Ryan were very sweet. Still very much in love after almost twenty years. The irate witch replaced her cringes with another sneer.
"I've always hated Thorfinn," she continued.
"Except when you were desperate to shag him."
"Fuck you, Matthew!"
Kettletoft's laughter rang throughout the entire flat. The sound felt foreign and out of place. Hermione hoped to never hear it again in her home.
"We've already been there and done that, love. Many times. That's John's job now."
Hermione was not surprised in the slightest to hear that there had once been at the very minimum a sexual relationship between Matthew and Gemma. Her supervisor was known throughout the Ministry as being something of a cad, always seducing women and dropping them before they got too serious on his end. Hearts had been broken on just about every level of the building thanks to the man's attractive looks. His affairs were a running joke. Hell, they had even cost him his marriage after all, but it seemed like the poor woman he married was better off without him.
John Dawlish was extremely annoyed by the discussion. He did not appear to want their line of conversation to continue. Hermione couldn't help but laugh to herself. Must not be easy for him to be stuck in an unhealthy relationship with an unstable slag. Unfortunately, Gemma spied her laughing silently. The back of the older woman's hand came crashing across Hermione's cheek before she was aware of the movement. Tears filled up Hermione's eyes at the blow. She could only remember being struck that hard a handful of times in her entire life. Satisfied that her hostage was no longer amused, Gemma continued her story.
"When he got out of Azkaban, I went to his disgusting little flat to visit."
"That was very kind of you, Gem," Matthew teased. "Did you take him a housewarming present or did you just show up starkers under your coat?"
Gemma's cheeks blushed a deep crimson yet again that day. John was furious, but judging by Matthew's loud chortles, he was highly amused.
"Oh, Gemma! I was only joking, but I guess that is an old favorite of yours. She ever show up on your doorstep wearing nothing but her coat, John?"
Dawlish was sputtering in his rage. He could not seem to even form an adequate response. His girlfriend's entire body was shaking due to a combination of anger and humiliation. Neither Matthew nor Hermione even attempted to hide their amusement. Needing some kind of outlet for her wrath, Gemma slapped Hermione again. When she failed to knock the smile off of her face, Gemma hit her three more times with every ounce of strength she possessed in her body. Hermione's face was burning painfully from all of the blows.
"Nothing to be ashamed of, pet. As I recall, that led to a rather enjoyable evening for both of us. How did Rowle take it? Did you finally get inside his trousers?"
"That's enough, Kettletoft," warned Dawlish. "We do not need to discuss this any further. Let's just kill the witch and get out of here."
Ignoring his warning, Matthew laughed again.
"Oh, that's priceless. He rejected you again? What was his excuse this time?"
Gemma narrowed her eyes at her former paramour.
"Doesn't matter. John and I went back over there later to obliviate him."
"John, mate, I know relationships are hard to find, especially good ones, but are you really so hard up that you're willing to actually cast a memory charm on a bloke that your witch tried and failed to seduce?"
Dawlish rushed towards Matthew with a fury in his eyes. His fists were clenched. For a moment every person in the room assumed that the auror was going to strike the world's worst Hufflepuff. Even Gemma managed to put herself in between the two men to prevent any violence. She attempted to calm the current man in her life with soothing words and soft touches. After just a few moments, it seemed to be effective. Hermione could not believe what she was witnessing. She felt like she was stuck in the middle of some terrible drama unfolding on television. If this was the tripe she was forced to watch, she would have just changed the channel. She could not even begin to guess what was going to happen next.
"I bet you are just dying to know why we killed Towler and framed your Death Eater boyfriend, aren't you?" demanded Gemma.
"Let's just set the record straight on this one please," Matthew interrupted. "I am not responsible for Towler. In fact, I recall telling you quite clearly, Gemma, that this was all a terrible idea."
"Then why are you here now?"
Matthew spun around to face Hermione once more. An almost feral smile on his face caused every muscle in Hermione's body to tense up. He stared at her as if she was some kind of prey he was anxious to attack and devour. Steadily her fear was growing ever more stronger.
"This is all about Granger now," he answered. "But please, continue with your story before the swot's head explodes in anticipation and I miss the opportunity to strangle her with my bare hands."
"He doesn't deserve to live outside of Azkaban. None of those fucking Death Eaters do. Personally, after that horrible year the Ministry was under their control, I would've loved to get Yaxley instead. It was a shame they put him at St. Mungo's.
"Thorfinn deserves to die behind bars. When John told me that he was found naked in your flat, Granger, I could not believe it. Accused him of lying actually. Wasn't until the next day when I heard it straight from the Minister that I actually believed it. Oh, it was just too perfect. Owled Rita Skeeter with the juicy details. Thought it would be fun to discredit the haughty best friend of Harry Potter with the news she's been fucking a Death Eater. Honestly did not expect Towler's reaction to the news. Now that was priceless."
"We'd already been planning a way to make it seem like Rowle broke the conditions of his parole," added Dawlish. "I nicked some polyjuice potion from our training room and we stole some of his hair right before we obliviated him. When he heard about Towler physically attacking you and then Kettletoft gleefully informed Gemma about Rowle's threat to kill him, we made a hasty plan."
Matthew's arms were crossed during their story. He did not seem pleased by the words coming out of their mouths. Hermione thought his behavior a bit odd. It was obvious that their actions upset him in some way. She wondered if there was more to his portion of the story. The clock on the mantle began to clang the hour noisily. She began to wonder where the hell Zabini was just as Gemma began speaking once more.
"John made a large mess down in one of the courtrooms on Level Ten. We knew Thorfinn would be stuck down there for hours cleaning it up. John stayed down there with him to stop him if he tried to leave.
"I drank the polyjuice potion and became Thorfinn. Most bizarre hour of my life even I don't count the murder. Did you know that you don't just take on the appearance of a person with polyjuice but also their strength? I had no idea Thorfinn was so bloody strong. Killing Towler was easier than I ever thought possible. I don't understand why he doesn't kill people more often. It's intoxicating.
"I cornered Towler in the lift. He didn't expect me to be able to disarm him, of course. He put up a respectable fight. Hardly even begged for his life. I actually rather enjoyed stabbing him. Who knew Muggle brutality could feel so cathartic? Once he started bleeding heavily, most of the fight leaked out of him. Snapping his neck was nothing with Thorfinn's muscles. He must feel so powerful all of the time."
Hermione was absolutely disgusted by how aroused Gemma seemed by the violence. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing heavier and she could actually see her hardened nipples through her blouse. It was horrifying to realize just how unstable the woman actually was. Both of the men were visibly unnerved by her as well. Matthew shook his head before asking a question that had been weighing on Hermione's mind as well.
"What was the purpose of cutting his hands off, Gem? That was fucking brutal."
Gemma shrugged her shoulders at the inquiry. Hermione had been horrified to know that Kenneth's body was mutilated long after he was already dead. Why was it necessary to remove his hands? Was his bloody murder not enough for the crazed woman?
"It seemed appropriate. Towler dared to lay his hands on Thorfinn's witch. Cutting them off had a kind of poeticness to it."
If Hermione had had the ability to snort while under the silencing spell, she would have. As deeply as she cared about Thorfinn, she knew he was not one swayed by pretty words, symbolism or poetry. He could be a vicious killer when the blood lust was on him, but she could not imagine him disfiguring a corpse. He would have more respect for his enemies than that. Gemma obviously did not understand the first thing about the man whose life she was trying to ruin.
"What did you do after that?" Matthew asked. "You told me that you went into Hermione's office afterwards? Why?"
"I wanted people to see me in Thorfinn's body covered in Towler's blood. It wasn't a difficult task. Several people were still working on your level when I walked in. Once I went inside Granger's office I stripped down…"
"Of course you did. Needed to see Thorfinn Rowle in all his naked glory, huh?"
Gemma glared at Matthew, but despite just hearing a sordid tale of her ability to commit homicide, he was not frightened. Simply laughed at her once more. Hermione found his obvious disdain for the woman amusing. She just hoped that whatever he was doing keeping her talking would continue to work. She just needed a little bit longer. Surely Zabini was on his way.
"I left the bloody clothes in there as evidence, and considering Thorfinn can't even physically do magic, I thought that performing several obvious cleaning spells and leaving a magical trace all over the room would make it seem like Granger was involved. It was a last minute addition to the plan that John certainly appreciated."
"Why is that, John?" Matthew asked. "Why were you so keen on Hermione being arrested as an accomplice?"
Dawlish blinked several times before he finally managed to squeak out a coherent answer.
"I've been an auror for many, many years," he stated. "Long before you were even in school, Granger. Once upon a time I was respected. There were many who believed I would one day head the auror office, maybe even the entire DMLE. But after all of that mess with Dumbledore and then with McGonagall, my career trajectory changed."
Hermione knew that he spent several years as the butt of several jokes because of his seeming inability to perform the duties of his job. He had been cursed several times by very powerful wizards and witches in the last few years of the war. Once it ended, he was all but pushed aside in the department for the sudden arrival of the Chosen One. She could understand his bitterness. No one would ever take the man seriously again.
"The child is now the Head Auror and I am stuck guarding a worthless chit of a girl. Thought it would be interesting to see what would happen when his best friend was arrested as an accomplice. No doubt he would use all of his power to keep her out of prison. Once that was discovered, he would be discredited. Might not put me back in the good graces of the department, but at least I would feel a small sense of vindication."
"So Gemma killed Towler and made it look like Hermione helped just so you could feel better about the fact that you haven't had a promotion in over ten years?"
Obviously Matthew was not impressed with the story that was told. Neither was Hermione. John Dawlish was a petty man. While she could feel a bit sorry for him because of what life had handed him, all sympathies ceased when she realized that he not only was willing to allow the wrong man to take the fall for a serious crime he did not commit, but he was actually willing to participate in at least two more murders to cover up his first tracks. She got the feeling that the answer to the question of who it was that cursed her in the back was staring at her with his perpetually blinking light gray eyes. He made her sick.
"That's the most pathetic excuse for a murder I've ever heard of, mate," Matthew laughed. "At least Gem was willing to commit murder because she was a scorned woman. There's a precedent for that. A shite job, not so much."
"Shut up, Matthew," Gemma hissed. "What was your motivation for getting involved?"
"Gemma, love, how many times do I have to answer that? I had nothing to do with Towler's murder. If I had, I wouldn't have bollocksed it up. I'm only here because you were stupid enough to tell me what you did and you asked me for help getting rid of Hermione."
He turned his attention back to the woman still seated on the sofa. She was growing weary of the entire situation. Either Zabini needed to hurry up and get there or the idiots just needed to hurry up and kill her. She was quickly getting to the point that she didn't care which.
"Naturally the thought of killing the pain in my arse from the last eight years is extremely appealing," Matthew mused. "So, is that all of the explanation you want to give before we do this? Anything else we are missing? Some bit of knowledge that might make her last few minutes alive easier?"
Neither Dawlish nor Gemma spoke. They had already given a thorough account of the events leading to Thorfinn's arrest. Too bad no one else was witness to their confession. If the right person had been listening, Thorfinn would be exonerated of all charges and allowed to finally come home. It was a bitter realization for Hermione to swallow.
Matthew moved closer to Hermione. Despite no sound coming out of her mouth, she could tell that her breathing had grown heavier. She struggled to keep her nerves under control. If this was going to be the last few minutes of her life, she was going to meet death with the same amount of strength and courage that Harry did the day of the final battle. No one would ever be able to say that she met death weeping and begging for mercy. She was a Gryffindor after all. That had to count for something.
The point of Matthew's wand poking into her cheek caused her to jump. Angry with herself for the unexpected reaction, she blinked away the tears that were blurring her vision. Her boss simply laughed at her discomfort. He did not say a word, but a tingling sensation began in the spot where his wand was still pushed into her skin. Unlike the night she was cursed, this radiating numbness was almost pleasant in its gentleness. Her face and neck swiftly grew numb.
"No magic!" reminded Dawlish. "She has to be killed with your hands or a knife. It has to be done without magic."
"Yes, and make it look good," added Gemma. "It has to look like the Death Eater attacked her hard enough to warrant her killing him in self-defense. We don't want too many questions."
"I do understand the point," spat Matthew.
"Fine, it's just a suggestion," she continued. "Punch her in the face a few times. Grab her arms. Maybe make it look like an attempted sexual assault. Hell, actually rape her if you want. It will only make it look that much more real."
Matthew's face erupted into a deep scowl at the very idea of taking Hermione against her will. In the moment that Gemma suggested such a depraved act, their hostage could hardly breathe. A rape would most certainly give her enough of a reason to try to kill an unarmed man. She once was held closely to the body of a man who threatened her with rape. Or rather he wasn't so much a man as an evil monster. Fenrir Greyback took the opportunity he was provided at Malfoy Manor to terrify his intended victim with promises of what was to come once Bellatrix was finished with her. Just thinking about the werewolf's foul breath on her neck made her entire body erupt into terrified goosebumps and a slight tremble shook through all of her limbs.
"I would never put my todger anywhere near that cunt," Matthew declared. "Just the thought of it makes him go all soft."
"Fine. Just get on with it," she snapped. "We don't have all day."
Matthew turned his full attention back to Hermione. She was determined that no matter what happened, she would keep her eyes on him. Maybe it would make it harder for him to follow through with his plan to kill her. At least that was what she was hoping. Matthew switched his wand to his left hand. Fisting up his right, she saw it coming for her jaw long before it actually made contact. Her head was thrown back at the impact, but because of the numbness she was experiencing, she did not feel a thing.
"Nice one," Gemma said. "Give her a few more and then get on with it."
Instead of another punch to her face, Matthew switched his wand back to his right hand. With his left, he grabbed her throat. She knew he was touching her, but again, she could not feel a thing. Even as the pressure increased, there was no pain.
"You know, Granger, I have always fucking hated you."
In one swift movement, Matthew used his hand on Hermione's throat to pull her down onto the ground. He covered her body with his. A muttered 'protego' from his wand encompassed them both. Before she had a chance to even think about just what the hell he was doing, her front door was blasted into pieces. Curses flew out of at least half a dozen wands. Gemma and Dawlish tried to put up a fight, but they were no match for the aurors bursting through the hole in the wall of her flat.
"Gemma Farley, you are under arrest for the murder of Kenneth Towler," stated Head Auror Potter in his most officious tone. "You are also being charged with unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, impeding an auror investigation, resisting arrest and probably about a dozen other charges we will no doubt uncover when we get you back to the Ministry. I'm sure the Minister will have some charges he would like to add regarding your violation of confidentiality."
The woman attempted to argue with Harry, but much like Dawlish had done with Hermione, Gemma was under a powerful silencing spell before more than a word or two was uttered. When she attempted to kick at the aurors in the process of detaining her, they placed her in a full body bind.
"John Dawlish, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, impeding an auror investigation, theft from the auror department and likewise, I am certain we will be able to tack on more charges when we continue our investigation," Harry announced.
Dawlish went much quieter. A silencing spell was not even required. He stood there defeated in the middle of the flat just waiting for the arresting aurors. While he was being led from the room, Matthew climbed off the floor. He released the silencing spell and incarcerous spell still plaguing Hermione's body. When he offered her his hand to help her off of the floor, she just stared at it. Everything had just happened so quickly she was still unsure what she had just witnessed.
"Hermione, take my fucking hand," Matthew said, impatiently holding it out in the air.
She allowed him to help her to her feet. The flurry of activity around her flat was hard to take in. Zabini and Yaxley pushed through the crowd of aurors in the space where the front door used to reside.
"Kettletoft, thank you for your help," Blaise stated, shaking her boss' hand.
"Where's Carrow?" demanded Yaxley. His eyes were sweeping the area, no doubt expecting to see his comrade's body shoved in a dark corner somewhere.
"Bedroom. Right, Hermione?" Matthew said.
All she could muster was a nod of her head. She watched Yaxley disappear into the bedroom with an auror she did not recognize. Harry met her eyes from the other side of her sofa. Kingsley stood just a few feet behind him. When both men came rushing in her direction, she could not stop the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. As long as she was not dreaming and they were both actually standing in her flat, she was saved.
"Are you all right, 'Mione?" Harry asked. His hands brushed against her still tender cheek. The numbing spell Matthew placed on her was slowly disappearing and the pain was making itself known. "Do you need a healer?"
"No," she muttered. "Please tell me what just happened."
Blaise stepped forward to answer.
"Simple really, Granger. Kettletoft has been working with me for the past few days," Blaise explained. "When Gemma contacted him to tell him her plans for today, he informed me. I contacted Potter. We set up a surveillance in the empty flat below yours again."
Hermione caught Iain's gaze over the crowd and felt immediately guilty about their exchange that morning. He also felt guilty if the immediate lowering of his eyes was any indication.
"Why would Gemma tell you what she was planning?" Hermione asked Matthew.
"Simple. She's an idiot," he retorted. "I mean, she's intelligent, but she doesn't have a good grasp on common sense. Wants everyone to know when she's clever or has a great idea. No doubt she could not bear for no one to know how she pulled off framing Rowle."
"But you wanted to kill me?"
Matthew actually seemed offended by her question.
"Just because I hate you, Hermione, doesn't mean I want to murder you."
"Wow, Matthew, that might actually be the sweetest thing you have ever said to me."
They both started chuckling quietly to the general confusion of the others gathered around them. Zabini blinked a couple of times before continuing his explanation.
"Thankfully Potter and the Minister were more than a little interested in setting up surveillance downstairs when they knew you were involved, Granger. Kettletoft volunteered to enter the flat and keep them occupied. We wanted a solid confession before the aurors burst in. Guilty parties tend to stop talking once they're arrested. Thanks to Kettletoft's quick thinking, we were able to capture their entire confession. They will be going away to Azkaban for a very long time."
"And Thorfinn?"
She spun around to face Kingsley and Harry. They both had matching grins on their very different faces.
"Would you like to come with us to the Ministry when we release him, my girl?" Kingsley asked.
"Of course!"
"We will also be needing your official statement, 'Mione. Would you like to give it today or would you like to come to the office tomorrow?"
"Give the lass a chance to breathe!" stated Yaxley as he entered the living room with a dazed, but perfectly whole Amycus just steps behind him. "Let her go get her wizard and give them some time alone before you start demanding statements from her."
Hermione felt her cheeks burn at his words. Yes, some time alone with her wizard would definitely be welcome. She focused her attention on the activity that was still happening in her flat. Both of the prisoners were gone, most likely already on their way to Level Eleven. She would have loved to have seen Thorfinn's reaction when he witnessed the two of them escorted to cells near his. Iain was putting the last touches on her repaired door. She sincerely hoped that there would be no need to blast her door off of its hinges any time soon.
"I want to see Thorfinn," she announced.
Yaxley shook her hand one final time before he claimed he was heading home for what he hoped would be a quiet Sunday afternoon with the missus. Before Amycus left to catch a train back to Kent and to the woman he was smitten with, Hermione wrapped her arms around him for one of the first hugs he had likely had in years. She promised that very soon she and Thorfinn both would come to visit him. Maybe even get a chance to meet his Joanne. He exited the flat with reddened cheeks but a small smile on his lips.
"Thanks for the numbing spell," Hermione said to Matthew. They were the last two to leave the flat. Harry, Kingsley and Iain were just a few feet ahead of them in the corridor.
"Had to make it look real," Matthew replied. "And unlike my piece of shite cousin, I don't hit women."
The bitterness in his tone was unmistakable. It angered Hermione that Smith's family knew what he did within the privacy of his own home, but had done nothing to stop it. She was grateful once more that Pasha had been able to smuggle Reina and the girls out of the country. They had been spared the worst of the drama.
As they passed the door to Pasha's flat, a shimmery figure up against the wall jumped out in front of Hermione. Startled for a moment, she reached for her wand. Realizing that she never got it back after she was disarmed by Dawlish, she was completely defenseless when a recognizable figure removed his Disillusionment charm and shouted a curse.
"What the fuck did you do with my family, Granger?!"
Moments after the curse struck her right in the chest, she saw Iain and Matthew both tackle Zacharias to the floor of the corridor. Kingsley began muttering the countercurse immediately. The last coherent thought she had as her limbs began to stiffen just as they had the last time she was cursed in the back was that at least they finally knew who was responsible for almost killing her the first time.
Author's Note: I just couldn't leave this story on that horrible cliffhanger from yesterday! See what all of your awesome, encouraging reviews motivate me to do? This story is coming to a close. Maybe only a chapter or two left. Let me know what you think!