A crunch snapped her attention to Esme and Maiya who were stirring. Maiya scrambled out of the way, her doe eyes huge. Etta tried not to pity the scared girl who’d been dragged into her parents scheming, and for a moment it worked. Her magic found its target, and a flame rose, spreading toward the two women Etta once counted as friends.
Maiya screamed as the fire engulfed her mother’s body and Etta felt nothing at all. She no longer had to direct the magic, it took control on its own.
La Dame’s laughter slammed into Etta and it was only then she realized what she was doing. The flames extinguished immediately and Esme coughed.
“Yes,” La Dame said, standing still among the shadows. She smoothed her hands calmly down over her black dress before settling her blazing eyes on Etta. “Good, Pe
