Something clattered to the floor. I looked down and finally saw what it was: a small pair of scissors.
They weren't big, and a child didn't have much strength behind them, but they'd absolutely broken the skin on my neck.
I walked over, picked up the scissors, and threw them right back without hesitation. Elliot moved fast, lunging forward to shield the kid.
The scissors didn't touch his skin, though. Neither of them had so much as a scratch.
"Imogen! Have you lost your mind? He's a child!"
Gladys let out an ear-splitting shriek, throwing herself into Elliot's arms as she screamed.
"Elliot, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
She looked him over from head to toe, then dropped to her knees to inspect the kid.
Once she'd confirmed they were both fine, she stormed over to me and slapped me across the face.
I didn't see it coming. She actually landed it.
But I wasn't someone who took a hit lying down. I slapped her right back.
Elliot clearly hadn't expected that a woman reduced to working as a servant would still have the nerve to fight back. He swung his arm and shoved me to the ground.