ensive linen sheets of the bed. Her neck ached from tension, not a

ket, identical to the one she had used from the first-aid kit. It was a message. A reminder of t

k at her was young, unscarred, and terrified. But as she wa

aned c

s sta

ed her expensive face creams with Urushiol-the oil found in poison ivy. For years, Cleora had been

time," she

Mer jars, the serums, the toners-thousands of

ervice tablet. Her finge

al. Antihistamines

. She mixed the baking soda and oatmeal into a thick paste in a crystal gla

d two antihi

ship's horn blasted

gh-necked dress to hide the non-existent bruise Clemente had left, a phantom ache that

d off the

ine. Elena was wearing a wide-brimmed hat,

opening her arms. "We were so worr

smooth as water. Elena's

leora said. She s

ore snapping back into place. "Oh, you poor

ead in the eye. "I had a nightmare about

on her phone, looked up.

am," Cl

leather interior smelled of

iver pulled away. "The board will be there. It's important y

a swollen, weeping face. She had been medicated and confused. She had caused

there," C

ed her a travel

l blend, Mis

carried the distinct, sickly-sweet scent of bitter alm

g to look out the window, she spat

e handkerchief

the Hart estate. It looked like a castle,

. She pulled out her sketchbook. She didn't draw

d 'X' over th