Marissa Holsteins's Arc

Chapter 5 of 10

Angelica locked the door and hooked Marissa to the milk machine. "One last batch," she whispered. "We fill the jar, then we run before dusk." The rounded cups sealed to Marissa's skin. The machine hummed and pulled. Golden milk climbed the clear hoses. Marissa gripped the bed frame and watched the door. She knew Agatha wanted this milk. She knew a witch could return in a breath of purple smoke. The smoke came. It curled up from the floor and thickened into a woman. Agatha stepped free of it, tall in her black and gold gown, white hair falling loose. This was the witch who had lured Marissa to the dungeon days ago and tried to bleed her dry. Her painted lips curved. "There you are, little dairy cow. Hooked up and helpless." She reached for the full hoses. "I'll take the milk and the machine." Marissa yanked at the cups, but the seals held her fast. "Angelica!" she cried. The knight was already moving. Angelica drew her sword and stepped between Marissa and the witch. "Not again," she said. Her red hair swung as she swung the blade. Agatha threw up a hand and the strike shrieked off an unseen wall. Sparks jumped. The witch laughed and grabbed a fistful of hose. "You drive me off once and think it done," Agatha said. "The milk rules this kingdom. It will be mine." Marissa saw the jar was nearly full. That milk was her only bargaining chip, the thing the king wanted, the thing keeping her alive until dusk. If Agatha stole it now, Marissa had nothing. She stopped fighting the cups and grabbed the jar instead. She clutched it to her chest. Agatha lunged for it. Angelica lunged too. The knight drove her shoulder into the witch and knocked her off balance. Agatha's heel skidded on the stone. Angelica hooked the heart-shaped guard of her blade under the witch's arm and shoved. Agatha crashed against the bed, roses scattering across the floor. "You want her milk?" Angelica snarled. "You'll die first." She raised the sword over the witch's throat. Agatha's face twisted. She could not win this fight. Purple smoke boiled up from her gown. "This is not over," she spat. "The king marries me, cow, not you. I'll be back for what's mine." The smoke swallowed her whole. She was gone. Marissa slumped against the headboard, the jar safe in her arms. Angelica ripped the cups from her skin and pulled her free. They both breathed hard. "She said she'll marry the king," Marissa whispered. "She wants the throne, and the milk, and me gone." Angelica looked at the scattered roses, then at the locked door. "Then dusk just got worse," she said. "The king wants you as a wife. So does the witch. And now she knows exactly where you are." She pulled Marissa to her feet. "We run now."