Page 12 of Hollowed
“Katrina, dear, come sit with me,” a female voice called from further in the shop.
Weboth turned to look.Adelaide, one of the few female members of theCiallmhar, was sitting alone with a cup of tea.Mystomach flipped and my heart sped asItwisted my hands, sharing a look withCiara.Perhapsthis would be my chance to make my case to theCiallmharto put an end to the sacrifices.Ihad never entertained the notion before, knowing that my mother would have me turned away from theCiallmharhouse beforeIcould even raise a hand to knock.
ButAdelaidewas here, alone.Sincethere were no otherEldersin sight, maybeIcould plead my case without anyone turning me away.Adelaidewas an extremely powerful diviner able to see the future at her will.Surely, she would be the one to help me stop this practice.
“Go,”Ciaramouthed, gently pushing me towardAdelaide.
Slowly,Iwalked over and took the seat oppositeAdelaide.Hermilky white eyes studied my face, scanning up and down.
“Youwish to change your fate?” she asked, setting her teacup down on the saucer.
Ifidgeted in my chair, tucking my hands beneath my thighs and locking my feet behind the legs. “Yes.Ido not wish to die.AndIam questioning—”
“Youare questioning if the sacrifices are truly warranted,” she finished, lacing her fingers together and resting her hands on the table in front of her.
“Surely, theHorsemancannot—”
“Callhim by his appropriate title, child.TheHorsemanis the common name.”
Iducked my head, my cheeks heating. “Yes, ma’am.Imeant theDullahan.”
Ciaracame over, setting down another saucer and teacup in front of me before disappearing into the back once more.
Adelaidenodded her approval, raising a grayed eyebrow as she sipped her tea. “AndIassume you are now questioning our tradition because of your newfound fate as one of those sacrifices?”
Theintensity of her gaze froze the words on my tongue, the retort dying on my lips. “Yes.”
“Andyou think that is not a noble sacrifice to make?”Shesipped her tea, her non-seeing eyes staring through me. “Youthink you are above being sent to theDullahanfor the good of our town?”
“Ithink it is an unnecessary sacrifice.”Themuscles along my spine quivered, forcing me to slouch and wrap my arms around myself.ButIfought against it, keeping my chin high and my shoulders back asImet her eyes.Ifthis was a test to see ifIwas worthy of the truth, cowering would certainly show my worthlessness.
“Howwould you know what is necessary and what isn’t?Youare barely older than a child.Yourparents—your mother especially—have lived in thisHollowfor nearly two hundred years, since before theWarforIndependence.Ihave lived here for nearly one hundred.”Shesipped her tea, setting the empty cup down roughly on the saucer. “Whatmakes you think you know the truth behind how the veil works?”
Ipicked up the teacup in front of me and took a sip, considering my next words and contemplating the best way to make my case thatIshould be allowed to live or at least be allowed to leave.
“Youcannot leave, child.”
Myeyes widened as she answered the thoughtsI’dnot spoken aloud. “How—”
Shetraced her finger around the handle of the teacup, watching me asIstruggled to form words.Hereyes blazed a glowing white as she leaned toward me, her voice like shards of ice piercing my skin. “SleepyHollowwill be destroyed if you leave.”
Theteacup in my hand slipped from my fingers, dropping to the floor and shattering into tiny shards of porcelain.Myheart thundered against my ribs, which seemed to constrict around my body like a corset, tightening to the pointIcouldn’t breathe.Eachheartbeat felt like an eternity beforeIwas finally able to peel my dry tongue from the roof of my mouth and wet my lips to speak. “Pardonme?”
Sheleveled a look at me. “Didyou truly not hear me?Orare you simply hoping that if you ask again, my words will change?”
Bloodrushed to my cheeks, andIfought to keep my head held high.Ihad heard her.Thequiet of the apothecary shop and the ringing clarity of her voice made that certain.
“Youunderestimate yourself,” she said, wagging a finger at me as she pointedly ignored my not answering her question.Hervoice never wavered, and her chin never dipped as she continued. “Yourmother is one of the most powerful witches to ever live.Youwere bred for power.You’reone of the few witches in recent history to have control over pure flames.”
Ishook my head, sweat dampening the back of my dress.Icouldn’t be powerful;I’dbeen told my entire lifeIwasnotpowerful. “Iam not—”
“Bredfor power,” she repeated, holding that same finger up and pursing her lips. “Nottrained for it.Yourmother sees your potential, and she doesn’t want you to usurp her.”Shepicked up her teacup, sneering as she raised it to her lips. “It’sa waste of magic, if you ask me.Butyour mother never does ask for anyone’s input.”
“Usurp?”Iasked, my surprise showing through my voice.Mymother had never treated me as anything but an inconvenience.Couldshe really consider me a threat?Shehadn’t even been willing to train me when my magic set in.Andwhile it was true that my fire magic was rare, it was hardly notable.Elementalmagic was considered basic, and anyone with any magic worth mentioning had achieved their status through spell work and practice.
Adelaidereturned her teacup to the saucer, clearing her throat.Shereached over and patted my hand.Herskin was cool and dry against my own warm, damp skin, andIwas uncertain whether the touch was supposed to be comforting or a warning. “Twomonths ago, theCiallmhardiscovered a prophecy.Itsays your mother must sacrifice her bloodline to save theHollow, otherwise death will destroy us all.”
Mystomach dropped to my boots, my heart racing.Perspirationgathered on the back of my neck and my palms as my throat grew tight.Iclasped my hands together to contain my flames.Myvoice was a hoarse whisper as the room spun slightly. “Icannot destroySleepyHollow.Ido not have the power to do such a thing.”