abin. The door slammed shut, the heavy bolt scra

, his voice muffled but clear. "Just a we

for you to let me out of here

ack. "Cassandra loves him. She deserves him. You're j

ld, deliberate. H

mbarrassing the family by clinging to an engagement that was meant for Cassandra. Just agree to break it off, and

found me. They promised a loving family, a real home. All I got was

st like our parents, Richard and Eleanor, obsessed with their perfect public image. Cassandra was the daughter they

bilt, or be left here to rot. Julian knew about the squatters, the dangerous t

r, the crack of a bottle breaking outside. My heart hammered against my ribs. T

there," a grav

lammed against it. Then again. And aga

yes darting around the filthy room. The

wn once told me, a piece of local Creole folklore she'

drew a crude symbol on the floorboards with my blood. My voice wa

words tasting like ash and fear. "To the Gen

figures filled the doorway, their faces cruel in

s shut, bracing f

never

ns freezing on their faces. A shadow detached itself from the corner

, then a wet, sickeni

ng left was the chilling silence and the faint, sweet smell of magnolias and damp ea