Davis stood with the sharp, monstrous tooth pressing into Echo's neck. Miriam's hands clenched into fists so tight her own nails were cutting into her palms. She had given him that tooth.

"The way I see it, you have three choices. The first is that you order me to stop. We both know I have to do what you tell me to."

Miriam snarled at him.

"Echo will be fine," he said, "but you'll have to say it loud enough for me to hear. You might be heard by one of them. They aren't that far away, Mir."

He paused, let that sink in.

"Stop this nonsense!" said Caleb.

"The second choice you have is to make the wish, and I let her go. You don't have to do it loudly. You could just whisper it, wouldn't make a difference."

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"Foolish boy."

It was no use, Davis was ignoring Caleb. He was staring at Miriam.

"The third choice is that you try something else and I cut her open."

Miriam was used to being given choices. The people giving them always made them seem like they were the only options, but they never were. She reached up to the earring.

"That's no use," Davis told her. "You can't order me without actually speaking."

Miriam took the earring off, dropped it. She put her foot on top of it.

"Hey," said Davis. "What are you doing?"

He increased pressure again, made Echo make a pained noise. Miriam began to put her weight on the earring.

It was his turn to make a noise of pain.

"What are you doing?" snapped Davis.

"Isn't it obvious?" said Caleb, glaring at him. "You hurt the girl, and she crushes your light and kills you."

Davis stared at her. He mustn't have liked what he saw in her eyes because he lowered the tooth and released Echo.

Echo turned around and punched, flooring him. He looked up at her, rubbing his face where she had hit him. Echo stuck her tongue out at him and then ran to hug Miriam, who was bending to pick up the earring. She put it back on, looked down at him.

She shook her head in disappointment and turned away.

"Guess I know know why Ichabod chose to bring you here," said Davis. "He always had a thing for ruthless girls."