26

Mikayla considered suicide more than once, but dead, she wouldn't know if Rose survived or not. The mayor had been quiet and wouldn't allow her to see her., but she was too weak to move, and no sound could come out of her dried, chapped lips; there was no moisture on her tongue.

The lamia went toward Mikayla and stooped before her. She raised the young woman's chin with her skeleton hand.

"You are a very brave human," the lamia complimented. "Not many would even think about summoning the mother of devils."

"Y-You're the lamia?" Mikayla stuttered out in a hoarse voice.

"That's right, my child."

Mikayla's eyes widened, "C-Can y-you bring Rose back?"

The lamia snapped her boney fingers, and shortly after, Mikayla heard a knock on her bedroom door, followed by her mother's voice, "Sweetie, come down for dinner; your food's getting cold."