Chapter Twenty-Three
Phantom
Roxton handed Lillian to Veronica and tentatively raised his hands to touch Marguerite, but was terrified of stirring her. He didn't know what her reaction would be if disturbed. Terror lacing his hazel eyes, he tenderly cupped her cheek and murmured, "Marguerite?"
She jolted, her razor sharp eyes flashing at him and her jaw clenched tighter. He could see nothing in her once radiate orbs except for smoldering loathing. Roxton involuntarily stumbled back a step, his eyes saddening at the shell of the woman he had fallen in love with. She was buried somewhere deep within this phantom of her. "Marguerite," he whispered, his voice quivering. "It's ok now. We can go home."
She looked stiffly away, her expressionless features appearing haunting. Roxton glanced at Challenger and Veronica. Challenger sighed. "I don't know, Roxton. We've never dealt with this before. Yet, I'm sure there's a way to bring her back. She just has to take control of her power."
"How?" Roxton snapped. "Look at her! She's a bloody zombie!"
Lillian began wailing and Veronica helplessly bounced the squalling infant. The three adults jumped when Marguerite snapped forward, grabbing the little girl and narrowing her eyes at Veronica. Veronica gasped. Then she grabbed her head and collapsed to her knees, her eyes searching worriedly into Marguerite's. "Stop…stop, Marguerite!" She cried out, gripping her head harder.
Challenger stepped into the sorceress's line of vision. "Enough, Marguerite. Veronica wasn't hurting Lillian. Lillian is safe. We are all safe."
Marguerite blinked, her features slowly loosing and her eyes softening until they were their normal shade of hazel. She glanced around her. "Help," she whispered before crumbling.
End Chapter Twenty-Three
I know, I know…it's WAY TOO short, but I had to hurry up with this. I had a different Chapter 23 already posted and wanted to replace it. Sorry. I promise the next chapter will be much longer.