Page 99 of Devil's Deal

“Here is what will happen,” I hiss, rounding the table to get right in her face. “You will pack your things, leaving behind all the whispering tools that were in the cottage when you arrived, and you will go. And if anyone asks you why, you will just tell them the truth: that you’re a cheat and a liar!”

She tenses, resistance flashing in her eyes, and for a moment, it seems like the old Czeslawa is back. But in a few seconds, she goes limp and nods. It’s like there is no fight left in her. No purpose.

When she leaves, not having eaten a bite, all energy drains out of me. I want to triumph, but my period pangs are getting so bad, I know I’ll be useless for the next few days. I put on a special belt sewn from soft, absorbent cloth and lie down, hoping like hell no one comes to see me.

The cottage is hot, and I drift in and out of restless sleep until sometime in the afternoon, someone knocks on my door. I crawl off the bed and answer, bent over in half from the pain.

“Straighten up,” Wiosna tells me, but I physically can’t. I’m irrationally afraid if I do, my insides will burst open.

It’s only Ida on my doorstep. She looks upset, her eyes darting around, her lips pinched together.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, immediately alert. “Do you need my help?”

She steps from foot to foot, finally facing me squarely, though her eyes are wary. I am aware of a new sense of distance between us. Her posture is unusually closed-off.

“Did you… Jaga, did… What did you do to Czeslawa?”

Oh. I’m not sure how to answer, because I certainly can’t tell her the truth. I manage a very lopsided shrug. “Is something the matter with her?”

Ida eyes me closely, now more suspicious than wary.

“You look like you’re in pain.”

I nod. “Feminine trouble. The kind herbs cannot help. What is it about Czeslawa? Did she leave yet?”

Too late do I realize I revealed too much. Blast it. It’s all because of the pain. It muddles my thoughts. I really shouldn’t interact with people when I’m on my period.

Ida shakes her head, taking a step back. The suspicion in her eyes morphs into fear.

“You did it to her,” she whispers, bringing her shaking hands to her face. “That’s why you wanted me to spy, didn’t you? You wanted to get rid of her, and now she’s all strange and lifeless, like someone stole her soul, and she’s leaving. And you’re in pain. Like… Like you exerted yourself. You did something.”

I press my hand harder to my abdomen, as if that will contain the throbbing ache. When I shake my head, swallowing thickly to keep nausea at bay, Ida raises her hands as if to ward me off.

“I can’t believe I trusted you,” she says, a sob tearing out of her throat. “When you’re exactly what they always said!”

She turns and runs, stopping by my gate. Without turning, she speaks.

“You helped me, so I won’t tell. Don’t hurt anyone else.”

She leaves, not giving me time to respond or defend myself. I stand in the doorway, looking after her, and now it’s not just my bleeding womb that hurts. My heart feels like it bleeds, too.

I really thought we were friends.

A slow clapping behind me makes me turn so fast, pain stabs through me like a knife. Shadows coalesce in the middle of my cottage, whirling and darkening until they reveal him.

Woland.

“And here I thought she might be your next Bogna,” he says, cruel amusement in his voice. “There goes my plan. But don’t worry. I have others.”

I grimace and walk inside. The door shuts behind me on its own, plunging the cottage into hot, stifling gloom.

“Leave me alone,” I mutter half-heartedly, wincing when every step makes my insides jolt with agony.

If only I can lie down, all of it will go away. I’ll just sink into the pain and won’t have to think or move. It will be perfect. The only obstacle between me and the bed is him, standing so tall, his antlers brush the roof beams. His tail swings from side to side with excitement or tension, and his expression is entirely too gleeful.

I hate his good mood. I’d rather he suffered, just like me.

“Get out of my way,” I bite out, too exhausted to deal with him now.

---