Page 61 of Hollowed
Whispersfilled the eerily silent night asIexited the other side of the square.Thewords were so soft thatIshould have not been able to hear them at all.Ispun around, searching for the source, but again, there was no one.Themist was undisturbed, having already consumed the square in a thick blanket of gray.
Witha pit in my stomach, my steps quickened, my eyes frantically scanning my surroundings asIpractically ran toward my former home.
Whateverwas lurking in the darkness ofSleepyHollowtonight would not be friendly.AndthoughIdoubted what was waiting for me at home would be friendly either, it was at least a familiar evil.
Bysome grace,Ireached theVanTasselmanor without any further whispers or encounters with the strangely sentient mist.Thoughthe sight of my home laid before me did little to calm my racing heart,Ikept moving forward.Steppinginto the pool of light cast by the lanterns hanging on either side of the entryway,Itook a deep breath to calm my nerves.Theonly way this would be successful was ifIkept my wits about me.Panicwould only benefit my mother.
Oncemy heartbeat steadied out,Istepped up onto the porch and raised my hand to push open the door.Thecreaking of the hinges echoed into the silent night beyond.
Keepingmy steps light,Ifollowed the hallway to my mother’s study.Myfeet hesitated outside of the room, but after taking a deep breath,Ipushed the door open, revealing my mother.Hereyes widened, taking me in from head to toe, before narrowing as she stood and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Whatareyoudoing here?” she asked, lip snarling up slightly. “Youare supposed to be with theDullahanand long dead.”
Thevenom in her voice roused nothing in my heart.Therewere so many thingsIwanted to say, butIsettled on the quickest explanation possible that would get me in the door. “Iwas with theDullahan.Helet me live.”
Shescoffed, moving her hands to rest on her hips. “Youcould not even die properly, could you?”
Myfire itched beneath my skin, but by some miracle,Iheld it back.Noteven smoke escaped from my fingers asIclasped my hands in front of me and dug my nails into my forearms. “Iknow what you are doing, mother.”
Hereyes narrowed further untilIcould barely make out the color of her irises. “Andwhat is that?”
“Youare summoning the sluagh here.Youchoose theRoghnaitheto silence any dissent.”Iwas impressed with my ability to keep my voice steady.Ichanneled the apathetic toneIhad heard from her throughout my childhood and continued, the confidence in my chest unfamiliar yet welcomed. “AndIwill not let you destroySleepyHollow.”
Inan instant, her face changed from the twisted anger to a serene blankness, though the rageIknew simmered beneath the surface shone in her eyes. “Comein,Katrina.Letus discuss these ridiculous notions you seem to have about me.”
Logically,IknewIshould not have come to the manor alone, butIalso knewIhad no other choice.Toget my mother to admit what she was doing, to convince her that the town would not abide this once they knew the truth, that theDullahanwould never allow her to accomplish her task…Thiswas whatIhad to do.
Mybody was vibrating with nerves asIstepped inside the study and followed her to the sitting area by the far window.
Istopped just shy of sitting down. “Whyare you doing this?”
“Doingwhat?” she asked, sitting down once again, her movements graceful and proper in a way mine could never have been.Shelifted the teapot from the center of the table and poured two cups, setting the dainty porcelain onto saucers, and sliding one over in front of the other chair. “Iam simply having a conversation with my daughter.”
Ibit out a laugh. “Ihave never been your daughter.”
“Igave birth to you,Katrina.Surelythat makes you my daughter as much as anything.”Shemotioned to the other chair. “Sitand have some tea with me.”
“Youmay have given birth, but that does not make you a mother.”Isat in the chair roughly, not bothering to force the mannersIknew she wanted me to display.Thepropriety she clung to, that she lorded over me.Here, in society, she was better than me, and she had no hesitations in reminding me.Mylip curled up of its own accord beforeIschooled it back into a flat line. “Yousent me to my death, and whenIwas so close to escaping,Iam certain you are the one who toldBromto stop me.”
Sheonly hummed once more, lifting her teacup to her lips to take a small sip.Whenshe set it back down, the porcelain chimed daintily as she re-crossed her ankles, settling her hands in her lap.
“Admitit.”Iwas not sure what it wasIwas asking her to admit—if it was the sluagh, theRoghnaithe, or that she instructedBromto push me over that embankment.Perhapsit was all three.
“Thisis your legacy,Katrina.”
“Itis my legacy to die?”Iclenched my hands clenched once more, fighting back the sparking fire.Iknew she had only given birth to me to have power, but hearing that she had truly only given birth to me to sacrifice me later was enough to bring the flames out.Smokedrifted up from my fists.
“Yes.Itis.”Sheraised an eyebrow at the smoke tendrils filling the surrounding air, but did not comment on them.
“Irefuse to accept that.AndIrefuse to let you harm anyone else ever again.”
“Havesome tea,Katrina,” my mother said, inclining her head to the teacups she had set out for both of us. “Atleast pretend you have manners.”
“Iam not here for tea with you, mother.Youare trying to destroySleepyHollow, andIwill not allow it.”Istood, my fists erupting into flames.
Shelaughed, a loud soundIhad never heard from her before in my entire life.Asquickly as the sound began, it ended.Hereyes were like ice as she stared at me, all amusement gone from her face.Along finger pointed at me. “Sitand drink your tea.I’llnot converse with someone who has no manners.”
Agust of wind came from nowhere and pushed me into the seat, holding me there.Theabrupt movement quelled my fire for a moment, andIwas able to pull the flames back into my chest.Iscowled at her, and at the teacup in front of me. “Thisis not a time for tea.Whyare you doing this?Thistown was the only thing that ever mattered to you, and—”