Inside was a dead dove that had been stuffed and stabbed with seven long pins. Alba gasped at the ghastly creation. “What is that?” “This you will place in your room. It’ll repel any evil thing that tries to crawl through your window.” “She placed scissors under the bed and they rusted in one night,” Valentín said. “This is stronger, better,” she said as she carefully slid out a pin from the dove’s body. “Stab your finger with it and slide it back in.” “Why would I ever do that?” Alba replied, disgusted. “Blood has power. It’s why they drink it. The blood of someone who is gifted like you is
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