Chloe’s laugh was sharp. “Do you know what I did with your mother’s corneas? I fed them to vultures.”
Something snapped. I slapped her so hard it echoed. She doubled over, then she grabbed her cheek and screamed.
Jason burst in, face white with fury. He seized Chloe and drew her close. “What is your problem, Amber? Why are you bullying Chloe after we made peace?”
“She came to kill Jane!” I spat.
Chloe threw herself on Jason like a wounded animal. Big, dramatic tears. “Please, Jason,” she wailed. “I was only trying to help her sister. I can inject myself with this injection to prove it’s not lethal.
I glared at Chloe, daring her, “Go ahead!”
Chloe whimpered as she held the injection but before she could inject herself Jason ripped the syringe from Chloe’s hand and smashed it under his shoe.
“Chloe is a doctor, she was only trying to help Jane and you aren't even showing any remorse. You haven’t learned,” he growled at me, “I’ll teach you a lesson.”
He ordered his men to grab me as they hauled me outside. My coat dragged, my boots skidding on the stone.
They pulled aside a sheet in the yard. My mother lay there, white and still under a plain cover. My throat closed, my legs turned to jelly at the sight.
“This is your punishment,” Jason said, and pushed a torch to the sheet.
The flames rose fast. Heat hit my face. The smell was raw and terrible. I screamed and lunged forward but the men tightened their hold on me.
“Jason stop this!” I begged.
“Your mother will be buried with no honor, a pitiful way to send her into the other world,” he sneered.
I tore away, ripping free, and dove for the sheet. The flames bit into my hands and sleeves. Pain flared like a hot brand. My skin broke. I felt the hot sting, then the shock.
“Amber, no!” Jason shouted, as he ran toward me.
I gripped at the burning sheet, tearing it off. My fingers left smoking cloth. Everything blurred and I blacked out.
—
I woke up in a hospital room. White lights flickered and I felt bandages on my body.
My body ached all over. My lower body was wrapped tight. My hands were stiff and raw. I tried to move and a wave of pain hit me.
Jason sat in a chair, dishevelled, like he had slept there. When he saw me open my eyes, his eyes widened in concern.
“You’re awake,” he said, relief in his voice. “I haven’t left your side. Two days you were unconscious. What were you thinking jumping into a fire?”
“Get out,” I whispered.