"It's Ethel," Sheila said, scooting away from her.

Ruby rose, gripping the edge of the table. "Get out of her, you treacherous witch! Your fetch is not welcome in this house! I most certainly do not invite you!"

Norma's eyelids stopped fluttering and her eyes regained their focus. "What just happened, Ruby?"

All of the fire left Ruby's eyes then. Her shoulders sagged and she slumped back into the chair.

"Bugger. I should have known they would turn on me. There won't be much time now, Norma. You must get to the basement. In the furnace, among the ash, you'll find them. Six objects made of silver. I tried to burn them but the filthy beggars wouldn't melt. I'll protect your mind from them, but you must be swift!"

Whether out of fright or distrust, Norma didn't move.

"Haven't I always been good to you, Norma?"

Norma nodded. "You have."

"Then trust me. One last time."

Norma eased herself up from the floor and moved in a crouch across the kitchen, slipping on the pool of blood, then into the foyer.

They heard the basement door latch click. The creak of the hinges. Norma's heavy footsteps thudding down the steps until they were gone.

"Where's Norma?" Helen called. "Ethel can't hear her thoughts!"

"She's fainted dead away!" Ruby called back. "You've done the poor woman's heart in, so you have!"

Out in the street, Helen had lain Clarabelle at her feet. Geraldine held the rifle in both hands, apparently trying to figure it out. She finally managed to pull the bolt and ejected the empty shell casing, chambering the next round.

"Get out of the window, Martin," Ruby said.

Geraldine raised the weapon and aimed down the barrel.

"Martin," Ruby hissed.

He ducked just as Geraldine pulled the trigger. The bullet caught the drapes and smashed the china tea kettle on the far counter.

"Send out the boy and his whore now, Mother!" Helen said. "This is your final warning!"

"Or you'll do what? Shoot me?" She uttered a derisive chuckle. "You'll have to do better than that!"

"Ruby," Sheila said. "Please. You have to let us go."

The old woman favored her with a sad smile. "All I ever wanted was a human grandchild of my own. Someone to pass on the family name. Pass on our legacy. All that led you to those stones was my doing. The child within you is as much a part of me as the two of you. Promise me you'll bear this child. Promise an old woman that much, and I'll make certain they don't harm a hair on your heads."

There was no time to discuss it. Norma returned from the basement then, the silverware jingling musically in a pouch she made with her sweater, her hands black with soot.

"I've got almost all of them. Couldn't find the second needle. Must've fallen through the grate. Everyone okay?"

"We're all fine, Norma. And what you've brought will do. You're a loyal friend."