Mara

Bitterness churned within me as Lucas welcomed Heather back so readily after all the grief her disappearance caused. She had stolen his affections from me long ago with her bewitching powers, and now the spell was cast anew despite my warnings. Lucas was blind in his obsession once more.

I would not let her destroy my son again. Since reasoned arguments proved futile, more duplicitous means were required. I slipped tiny portions of monkshood tincture each day into Heather's wine at dinner, under guise of graceful hospitality. Just enough to make her sickly, not draw suspicion. 

Soon parallel symptoms began appearing in my soft-headed son as well - fatigue,...