“That should keep you silent,” she cackled. The sound of her laugh was muffled, but it echoed all around me. My hearing was distorted; sounds seemed to bounce off the walls.The familiar dehydrated sensation returned to me, the burning inside my body. Hunger welled up inside me. I needed blood. I desperately tried to will myself upward, but it was no use. I couldn’t move; my body was heavy and my limbs would not respond.“You did not kill her, mistress?” Edmond asked. “Not yet. Lysander needs to feel she is still alive.”“You are brilliant, my queen.” Edmond’s words, though in praise, sounded more rehearsed than real. His calm face showed no sign of emotion. I wondered if Kallisto’s recent revelation had some effect on his thoughts.Kallisto reveled in her victory over me. No amount of will power, it seemed, could get my limbs to move. I was paralyzed and unable to defend against her taunts and advances. She wiped my wounded neck with her finger and showed it to me, waving the smeared blood in front of my face.I wanted to cry out, but my lips wouldn’t move.
