Page 13 of Hollowed

Mymother had foundedSleepyHollow.Surely, she would never have had a child if she knewIwould be destined to destroy it.

Shewaved a hand, scoffing. “Yourmother may have coddled you, but your fireisthe most powerful inSleepyHollow.”

Mypanic subsided momentarily at her words, immediately giving way to the red that bled into my vision.Smokedrifted up from my clasped hands. “Ifthere is one thing my mother has never done, it is coddle me.”

Shesniffed, nodding at my hands. “Yourfire is itching to escape and protect you, which proves otherwise.Yourmother let you be complacent in thinking your flames were not powerful and never pushed you to be more.Otherswith fire magic in theHolloware nowhere near your level, and they have trained for years.”

“Whydid she wait?”Iasked. “Ifshe knew my sacrifice would save theHollow, surely she’d have done it long ago.”

Shecocked her head to the side, as if she were listening to something far off in the distance.Fora moment, she was silent, andIalmost repeated my question.Butat last, she straightened her head and turned her unseeing eyes back to me. “Theprophecy has just come to light.Andeven then, we know only a small portion of it.We’recertain there’s more.”

“Thenhow do you know it’s even about me?”Iasked, keeping my hands clasped together to contain the flames.Theywould not burn me, but they would burn everything around me if they escaped. “Itcould be about anyone if you only have a small piece.Howdo you know?Shewould kill me based on supposition.Whatdoes it say?Showme the piece you have.”

“Calmyourself,Katrina,” she scolded. “Thelast thing we need is you burningCiara’snice shop to the ground because you cannot control your emotions.”

Myhands burst into flames asIshoved back from the table and stood. “Controlmy emotions?Iam being sentenced todieover words that may or may not be about me.”

Before, when my mother had made it seem like this was nothing but a need for a more personal sacrifice,Ihad almost made peace with my fate.Butnow, knowing she made this decision based on an incomplete prophecy brought toAdelaide, my ire had pushed itself out of the cageI’dbuilt in my mind.

Mybody was too hot, too tight, and the flames grew, crawling up my forearms and singeing away the fabric there.

Adelaidemerely sat there, sipping her tea. “Areyou finished?Orare you truly intending to burn this shop to ashes?”

No,Idid not want to burnCiara’sshop down or harm anyone… except my mother.Closingmy eyes,Iinhaled slowly through my nose; the smoke stinging my nostrils and settling deep in my chest.Irepeated the process, blowing the breath back out through my nose.Again, and again, and again.Finally, the warmth surrounding my hands receded, andIopened my eyes.

Icould not talk about this any longer.Iwouldleave theHollow.Iwouldlive.ApartfromHenryandCiara,Iwas a no one here.Adelaidewas wrong.Iwas not surprised my mother didn’t investigate the prophecy more.Mylife—and my death—meant little to her.Butthat did not meanIwould stay to accept her decision.Iwould ensureHenryandCiara’ssafety howeverIcould, and thenIwould leave. “Doyou truly believe we need to make a sacrifice to theHorsemaneach year to maintain the barrier?”

Adelaidesighed, setting her teacup down and pursing her lips at me. “Gohome,Katrina.Makeyour preparations for the afterlife.Stopmeddling.”

BeforeIcould say anything else, she stood, leaving the apothecary with a tinkling of bells.Ofcourse,Icould hear those bells.

Seven

Assoon asAdelaideleft,Ciarahurried to the front door, locking it, and pulling the heavy fabric blinds down over the window.Sheturned and took the seatAdelaidehad occupied, leaning forward on her forearms. “Whatare you planning,Katrina?”

“Whatmakes you thinkIam planning something,Ciara?”Iasked, crossing my arms over my chest.

Shegave me a pointed look. “Ihave been your friend since we were schoolchildren.Iknow when you are planning something.Youcame here knowing she comes here every afternoon for tea.Youhad to know something like this was a possibility.”

Islumped backward in my chair, slouching in such a mannerIknew would have earned me a lashing from my mother had she seen it.Ciarawas right, of course.AndIhad known she would ask for details as soon asAdelaidehad left. “Yes,Iam planning something.”

Sherolled her eyes with a scoff. “Ofcourse you are.Tellme what you are planning.”

“Icannot stay here, waiting to be slaughtered,”Iwhispered, sitting up straighter in my chair, and tucking my hands into my lap beneath the table.

Suddenly, my lap was more interesting thanCiara’sall-seeing gaze.WhileIknew she would support me,Ialso knew her feelings aboutSleepyHollow.Thegood ones and the bad ones.Thiswas her home, the only one she’d ever known, and while it was also the place that sacrificed her brother,Iknew she would never leave.Noneof the residents here would ever leave.Mymother had ensured their loyalty to the town and their unending dedication to tradition and safety, above all.

Onlysilence followed.

Iraised my head to see her staring at me, thoughIcould not decipher the expression on her face.Defensivenessrose in response to her studious gaze. “What?”

“Doyou think the prophecy is about you?”Hervoice was quiet and carefully calm.

Ishook my head, reeling back in horror at the implication. “No, of course not.Ciara, you know me.Icouldneverharm this place, no matter whatIfeel about it.”

Ihated my mother.Ihated the sacrifices.IhatedIchabodandBromfor pushing for marriage.Ihated many things about this town, butIloved many things, too.Henryand the pottery shop had shown me true love and had given me purpose.Ciarahad given me companionship, a respite against the meanness of other children.

Icould not destroySleepyHollow.Noteven ifIwanted to.

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