Page 14 of Hollowed

“Ihave seen what your powers do when your temper is out of control.”Shehuffed a small laugh, though there was no amusement in the sound. “Andyour temper is not exactly whatIwould classify as stable.”

Ileveled a look at her.Mytemper, while notoriously volatile, was under my control, despite what many thought.IchabodandBrommerely had a way of bringing it out more than others.AndIcould not fathom my temper ever becoming so volatile thatIwould destroy my home. “Iwill not stay here to die.”

“Yourparents and theCiallmharknow better than anyone what is best for the town,Katrina,”Ciarasaid, worry creasing her forehead.Hereyes glazed over, as they often did when she was thinking aboutTorin, her brother who had been in my place just years ago. “Itis not wise to question them.”

“Noone has ever questioned them.TheHorsemanhas never tried to attack us.”Iwrung my hands together, desperate to get someone to see my side.Ciara, of all people, should have been supporting me.I’dbeen gentle with her, never questioning her own feelings on the sacrifices or theDullahan, knowing what they’d be and that the conversation would only devolve into me holding her as she cried.

Butshe should have been on my side.

Ithought she would have been.

Ishould have toldHenrymy plan beforeIleft for tea.Atleast he would have supported me or told me outrightIwas being foolish. “Thisis a tradition that no one has stopped to question.Dowe have any proof that it’s even necessary?”

Ciara’sgaze hardened. “Donot say that.”

“But—”

“Ifthat is true, why have you done nothing about it before now?Iknow you have not asked my opinions out of fear or respect, but you know howIfeel about it.Youknow it’s barbaric.Youknow how it has torn families apart and left them broken.Wecannot question them,Katrina, but they are your parents.Ifanyone could have stopped this before now, it would have been you.Andif you are right, how many people could we have spared?”

Mycheeks burned.Shewas right.Ishould have pushed back long ago.Eventhough she knew about my home situation with my parents,Iunderstood her anger and hurt, and it was justified.Herwords burned in my chest, andIwanted to defend myself and remind her of what little influenceItruly had over my parents.Ihad little freedom.Butthe pain in her eyes stopped me, pushing my retort back into my throat.

Ciarasighed, pushing a strand of shiny auburn hair back behind her ear. “Itis too late,Katrina.Thetown has rules for a reason.Toprotect us.Yourparents know that better than anyone.AlthoughIdetest the practice and the fact this cruelty separates families,Imust acknowledge it.Andso must you.Maybeit is best to not risk you causing even more death and pain.”

Ireeled back at her words as if she’d physically struck me. “Howcan you say that?Youare my only friend here.”

Shedidn’t respond—not with words, at least.Butthe icy countenance rolling from her shoulders spoke plenty about what she thought of my statement.

Itook a deep breath, pushing my own emotions down for the sake of hers.Ihad done it my entire life in my parents’ presence and had done it forCiaraherself sinceTorin’sdeath.Perhapsit should have disturbed me how easy it was to stuff my anger and hurt down until it was a dull ache instead of a sharp pain.Iknew the words she wanted to hear.Neededto hear. “Iam sorry,Ciara.Youare right, of course.Ishould have questioned this practice sooner.Weall should have.Butto say that my parents are right…Itis wrong.ButIwill not go quietly.Icannot.”

Shelooked at me for a moment, her face unreadable.Wouldshe turn me in to my parents?Wouldshe stand with me?Ihad thoughtIknew that answer, but now,Iwas not so sure.

Tearsof embarrassment and frustration stung my eyes.Ireached up to wipe them away roughly.Cryingwould serve no purpose, yetIcouldn’t stop; the room blurring behind the tears.

“Youare my friend.Youknow that,Katrina,” she said, her voice barely audible now thatIcould not see her clearly.

“Sayagain?”Mycheeks burned in shame over having to ask her to repeat herself.

Shesighed. “Youare my friend.”

Shuttingmy emotions down untilIbordered on complete numbness,Inodded.Itwisted my fingers together in front of me, itching to get away from this conversation, to run and hide and be alone.Noone could hurt me whenIwas alone.

“Youare my friend,” she repeated, reaching her palms out to me.WhenIdidn’t respond, she shook her hands slightly.Hesitating,Ilifted my own to meet hers, our fingers twining as her icy hands contrasted with my hot skin. “Youare my friend, butIcannot help you.Notthe way you need me to.”

Mybreath left my chest in a rush, causing my ears to ring slightly.Iwanted to be upset, but felt nothing but a heavy weight in my stomach.Iswallowed hard, pushing past the taste of ash to continue my request.Imay not have her support, but perhaps she would be willing to give me information. “Yourfriendship is important to me,Ciara.Youare important to me.”

“Andyou are important to me,” she said, squeezing my hands again.

“Ineed to leave theHollow,”Isaid, tenuously trying to keep the peace and not upset her. “Doyou know howIcan do that without being stopped by my parents or theCiallmhar?”

Afterwhat felt like an agonizingly long time, she spoke again, her voice quiet. “Ihave heard there is another haven inSaintAugustine, in the far south.”

“Howdo you know?”Iasked.

Ciararan this apothecary, and while she had her fair share ofCiallmharvisits,Ihad not expected her to have this kind of information.

“Severalmoons ago,Iheard some of them discussing a visitor that was coming from there.Henever showed, but they spoke of the town as if it were like ours.”Shepulled her hands from mine and laced her fingers together.Sheshrugged slightly. “Theynever notice me.Iam the help to them, so they are not careful with what they say when they are here alone.”

“Anotherhaven?Doesit have sacrifices as well?”

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