Sylph froze.
As did everyone else in the Warehouse.
“Sylph…” Glima tried to move, but she was too weak from the poison. She looked at me. "Can I talk to my daughter?”
Rix jumped down and undid the knot on Sylph’s hands.
“Wha…”
“You’re going to be the death of me…” Rix interrupted. She turned to Glima. "You have one minute, then it’s lights out.” She pointed at The girl. "She stays out here.”
Glima nodded and looked at her daughter. I took my hand off of her mouth, but tried to hold her. The girl sank to her knees.
“MOM!”
“It’s okay…” Glima looked at me. "These people are going to take you out of here to someplace safe.”
Sylph was a mess of tears and my heart was starting to break as Glima continued.
“You remember how we talked about how some day, Sipher was going to do something bad and you were going to have to run? And that he would make me try to stop you?” She choked back her next few words and had to start over. "And that as much as I wouldn’t want to, I’d have to try to hurt you anyway?” The older woman looked like she was in pain. "Today is that day.”
“NOOO!” Sylph sobbed as she struggled in my arms.
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“You have to run now. Run as fast and as far away from here as you can.” Glima took a breath to try to compose herself. With her hands tied behind her back, there was no way to wipe her face.
The bald Summoner looked at me. "Promise me you will look after her.”
“MOM! NO! DON’T DO THIS! I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE YOU! DON’T MAKE ME LEAVE!!!” Sylph began thrashing.
Rix took her from me and started moving towards the door. “Fifteen seconds. Wrap it up.”
“I love you baby!” Glima fell against the cage.
Rix stopped at the door and turned Sylph to face her mother.
“I lo..ve.. love… you.” The older woman repeated.
“Say it.” Rix shook Sylph.
“NO!” The blonde girl screamed in her face.
“Say it or you’ll hate yourself for the rest of your life.” Rix focused Sylph’s face on her mother.
“NO! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!” Sylph struggled to turn her head.
“Because I didn’t say it.” Rix’s voice was hollow and full of pain. She brushed away a tear with her shoulder and readjusted Sylph. "Say it.”
“MOM!” Sylph sniffed and tried to catch her breath as the sobs began to take over. “I LOVE YOU! DON’T DIE! DON’T KILL MY MAMA!”
I watched Rix drag the girl out of the Warehouse. "Time's up! Let’s GO!”
Glima’s face was full of tears as she turned to me. “If you kill me, he’ll know.” She wiped her face on the bars the best she could. "Promise me you'll keep her safe.”
I walked over to the bars. "You have my word.”
Glima sagged against the bars. "I’ll try to resist as long as I can, but you need to be out of the bunker before I get free. I can summon something at the door from here.”
“Good to know.” I nodded at Gesai to use the last stinger. “We’ll come back for you once he’s dead.”
Gesai shoved the stinger into the other woman's side.
“Don’t come back.” She looked at me. "We’ll all die with him.”