Page 46 of Hollowed

Twenty-One

Aswe approached theVanTasselmanor, the noise of the gathering crowd began to filter out into the night air.Smokerose over the roof from behind the mansion, casting dark tendrils into the graying sky.Eveningmist was gathering, cool and damp against my skin.Thefront of the manor itself was as daunting as the idea of facing my mother in mere moments.Largewindows gaped like a monster with its maw opened, and candles flickered on the banisters inside, adding to the menacing effect.

“Doyou know where we’re going?”Alexanderasked, jarring me from my silent agony asIstudied the homeIhad grown up in.Thehome that was my prison.Mytomb.

Istared at the house a moment longer before tearing my gaze from it and turning toAlexander. “Yes,Iapologize.Thereis a path to take us to the back.That’swhere they’ll gather.”

Hemoved closer to the pathIhad pointed at, pausing, and holding his hand out to me. “Areyou ready?”

Iwas far from ready, and yet, something about seeing that gloved hand outstretched made me feel likeIcould make it through this event.Takinga deep breath,Inodded and set my hand in his.Alexander’sfingers closed around mine, squeezing gently before letting our joined hands fall between us.Weturned down the path lined with perfectly manicured steppingstones and made our way around the side of the house.

Theparty echoed around the manor, voices bouncing off the stone walls and filtering in from the falling night.Thenight grew brighter as we approached, the bonfire well stoked and breathing its flames up into the darkening sky.Soon, it would be the only light.

“Ah, welcome!” my mother greeted, her arms opening wide.Thosewho knew her well knew the smile plastered on her face was fake. “AlexanderandKatherineElizabeth, welcome to my home.”

“Itis a beautiful estate,”Alexandersaid by way of greeting, inclining his head.Iplastered a polite smile on my face, nodding in agreement.

“Yes, it truly is.”Shesmiled at her home. “Now, you must tell me more about yourselves.Youcame fromVirginia, you said?”

“Yes, nearWilliamsburg,” he replied.Iwas grateful he at least knew our cover story, thoughIwas irritated he decided not to share it with me.Ihoped no one would ask me anything directly if we got separated.

“Andyou were run off?Howdid they discover you were supernaturals?”Sheappeared genuinely concerned, butIknew better.Mymother was incapable of concern for anyone, save herself andSleepyHollow.Shewas really asking if we had been pursued.

IsawAlexander’shesitation, but he covered it flawlessly as he nodded and began to speak. “Therewere some shifters who had caught the attention of the town several months ago, so it was already a restless time.Oneof our neighbors,Ibelieve, suspected us, and we found out he had been spying on our house and witnessed us using our magic through the curtains.”

“Mundanestruly have no shame,” she said, her lip curling in disgust.

“It’sonly fear.”Alexandershrugged. “Thereis no reason to blame them for a natural human response to something they do not understand.”

“Theyare beneath us,” my mother sniffed. “Theyshouldfear us.Theyshould also leave us alone.”

“Nobeing is beneath another,” he said without a trace of disagreement in his tone.Iwas too familiar with the fake smile he had pasted on his face, but his emotional control still impressed me.Iwas barely holding onto mine at my mother’s answering sneer.Alexandertracked it, his hand tightening around mine, but the smile on his face only widened. “ButIdo understand the reason for these sanctuaries existing, and my wife andIare endlessly grateful for them.”

“Well, we are pleased to have you join us.”Irritationflashed in her eyes, but she covered it quickly.Disagreeingwith her was the quickest way to provoke her ire.

Icouldn’t take any more of this, these forced pleasantries whileAlexanderworked up to asking questions.

“Excuseme,”Imumbled, interjecting in a pause in their conversation. “Iam going to go pay my respects at the altar.”

Theyboth nodded, butAlexander’seyes lingered on mine for a moment before turning back to my mother and resuming his conversation.

“So,Loralai,”Alexanderstarted asIwalked over to the altar.Itwas far enough away from my mother thatIcould finally breathe again, but still close enough thatIcould hear their conversation ifIwas focusing on them.Itook a deep breath and focused onAlexander’svoice, running my hands over my stomach and smoothing my dress. “Tellme about the town’s history, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Mymother was likely preening under his attention, butIdidn’t dare turn my head to look, instead focusing on the figurines and offerings people had left for their ancestors.Hervoice faded out as she talked about the town.WhileAlexanderhad her focus, perhapsIcould sneak inside the house.Mymother was smart, but she would keep anything she had in her study—a room that was always forbidden to me.

“KatherineElizabeth, was it?”Thevoice came from my left, startling me out of my thoughts.Adelaide.Lookingaround,Edmundwas nowhere to be found.Theseer andIwere alone.Wonderful.

“Yes, and you areAdelaide, correct?”Isaid, feigning a smile.

“Youand your husband seem like nice people,” she started, tilting her head as she studied me. “Isuggest you go back to where you came from.”

Thehairs on the back of my neck rose. “Pardonme?”

“SleepyHollowwill not be safe for much longer,” she muttered, her eyes staring off into the distance above the altar. “Youshould make plans to travel.”

“Wewere told this was a haven,”Isaid, keeping up my pretense despite the thundering of my heart at the implications her words held. “Isthat not true?”

“Itwas true.Butit will not be true very soon.”Shereached out and patted my hand as if she could clearly see where it was resting on the altar. “Trustme, dear.Youseem like too nice of a girl to stay here for what is brewing.Takeyour husband and leave.Quickly.”

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