"What did you do?" I yelled.
Justine jumped up, and Sephrina faltered for a moment.
"Nothing for you to worry about," She soothed.
I tried again, "You had something to do with Jadyn."
Justine was looking between us, "Preston!"
Sephrina glanced at her. She levelled her hand in front of Justine. "Quiet," She commanded.
Justine sat down.
Saphrina turned back to me calmly.
"What are you doing to her?" I demanded.
She looked at me perplexed.
"There's a lot you don't know," She said with an edge in her voice.
That didn't satisfy me at all.
"Then tell me," I commanded.
Her demeanour changed, She spoke stiffly, "You may have forgotten, Preston, but around here I am in control." Her hands swept the room. "I shall tell you what I please, and nothing more."
Danger was everywhere in her voice. She motioned me to sit. This time it was not a choice. I walked to the table and sat in a chair. It creaked in complaint.
"There's a lot you don't know about your brother, Preston, and a lot your little friend hasn't told you," Sephrina gestured at Justine.
"Please free her," I said, looking into Justine's empty eyes.
"Not yet," she said. "Did she ever mention me?"
Sephrina stepped toward me, "I wonder? Perhaps paid me tribute? I think not. A far cry from gratitude, seeing I raised her like a daughter."
Shock rolled over me.
If this was true, I shook my head, everything had changed.
"She was halfway to death and madness, wandering the woods after the disappearance of her parents," Sephrina chided, "I found her, and took her in. But she is ungrateful, as you can tell."
Sephrina slumped slightly. I felt bad for an instant. Then I remembered Jadyn.
I took the bait, "What happened to my brother?"
Her face turned gray.
She began to speak, "Jadyn was a very ambitious child. He was also my apprentice."
She closed her eyes slightly, maybe to attempt to relive it.
"Your apprentice?" I asked, I started to stand up. She cast her hand over me, my legs collapsed back into the chair.
"Yes, my apprentice," she sighed heavily.
I glared daggers at her, "You did this to him?!"
"Despite what you might think, we do feel remorse." She paused. "In order to understand your brother, you've got to understand your impact on him."
"My impact?" I answered incrediously.
"He came to find me, not to destroy you, but to get a new life. Your brother was a very bright young man."