"What good does a golem do you?" Paul demanded.
"Don't you know what it's for, wizard?" Cynthia replied. "With the proper care, I can animate this figure."
"What use would you have for a golem? They aren't intelligent - they're just animated clay."
"Unless there's a human soul in them."
"You mean to bring Nicholas Pierson back from the dead," Senna said. "Why?"
"I loved him. My parents hated him, but I loved him. I didn't care that I was promised to a richer man. Then, my parents killed him; made him disappear. I wasn't strong enough to do anything about it at the time, so I waited. When Niamh Pearson's son died, it was the perfect opportunity. I set up the séance with Geneva. My parents never gave me a second look when I was disguised as our maid. I intercepted Geneva's communication so that my Nicholas took her. And I let him kill them all. Now, I just need to get a little stronger before I can bring him back. Then, we can be together."
"And you plan to do this with black magic?" Anise asked.
"Wouldn't you if you had the power?" Cynthia replied. "Our love can transcend death if we have the courage to reach through the veil."
Paul wrinkled his nose. "Courage or foolishness?"
Cynthia barked a laugh. "The only foolishness I see is that anyone would try to stop me."
"Give me your body." Geneva's voice rang in Anise's head. "Let me repay her for the damage she's done."
Closing her eyes, Anise let Geneva take over her body. A shiver ran down her spine and she fought to stay upright.
"You murderous bitch!" Geneva cried, hurling Anise's body toward Cynthia.
Before Cynthia could react, Geneva had grabbed her hair, pulling her backwards and off balance. The pair crashed into the table. The golem fell to the floor, breaking into pieces. Cynthia managed to throw a punch, knocking Geneva sideways. Paul moved to restrain Cynthia, who appeared to have the upper hand.
"No!" Geneva yelled, clawing for Cynthia's face. "Let me have her!"
Paul recognized that this was no longer his cousin. Instead of assisting, he set to work dismembering the golem. Senna shrank away from the chaos as the other women continued to battle.
Geneva managed to get Cynthia beneath her, hands wrapped around her throat. The pair locked eyes and froze.
A garbled scream ripped from Cynthia and the light went from her eyes.