“What?” Lizzie’s mother stood up from her chair, the color draining from her face.
“Why don’t you come inside, and we can talk some more?” her father asked, stepping aside to let the large man in.
Old Jake shook his head, saying, “The less I’m seen here, the better for us all. I just came to warn you that the council has somehow become aware of your daughter, and I’m not sure how.”
Lizzie felt panic run through her blood and looked at her mother. Her mother stared at Old Jake with a panicked look on her face.
“No!” she whispered. “How could they have found out?”
“I’m not sure,” he said, then asked, “Have you had any strange people coming around?”
Her mother turned to look at Lizzie, who thought for a moment before her eyes grew wide.
“You don’t think it’s Deon, do you?” s
