Page 23 of Hollowed

Acceptingthe invitation,Isat and pulled the saucer closer, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. “Thankyou.”

“Iimagine you have questions,Katrina.Thosechosen asRoghnaitheoften do, though they have never come to join me quite as you have.”Hewaved a hand. “Please, ask whatever you would like.”

Ihad so many questions swirling in my mind, andIwas unsure which of themIwanted an answer to first. “Howdid you know my name?”

Heraised an eyebrow. “Thatis your first question?”

Mycheeks burned, butIheld my resolve despite wanting nothing more than to crumble under his careful stare and retreat to the safety of the room he’d shown me. “Yes.Itis.”

“Iknow the names of everyone who lives inSleepyHollow,” he explained, taking a sip of his own tea. “Iam tasked as its protector.HowcanIprotect it without knowing those who live there?”

Thatmade sense, but it also brought more questions.Andnow thatI’dasked the first one, the rest were spewing out of my mouth. “Whotasked you with protecting theHollow?Howlong have you been theHorseman?Whydo they call you theDullahan?TheHeadlessHorseman?Whyhaven’t you killed me yet?”

“TheDullahanare a type of people, like mages or shifters, not one singular person.Whilewe do not have enough time to go into the origins of us and the specifics of our magic, it is quite simple.Weare children ofDeath, sent forth to protect our assigned domain.”Hepaused, tilting his head slightly. “Andas for the reason they refer to me as theHeadlessHorseman, it would be better to show you.ButI’lldo that later.”

“ChildrenofDeath?”Iasked, quite impressed that my voice did not come out as a squeak.Partof me noticed he still had not answered why he hadn’t killed me yet, butIhad more pressing questions burning on my tongue. “Whatdoes that mean?”

Hewaved his hand dismissively. “Thatpart is not important.Ihave magic that allows me to control the spirit realm.Ican kill with the magic, orIcan protect.Mybrothers kill to protect, butIhave a different philosophy.SleepyHollowrests on a natural well of magic, andIam responsible for protecting that well.”

Iwas left uncertain of what to say.Therewas so much new information,Iwas indecisive on where to start.Hishistory, his house, his magic, and those were only the questionsIhad abouthim.

Iweighed the two most important itemsIneeded answers on: the fog and those sacrificed.Ciara’spained sobs filled my ears, andI’dmade my decision.

“Thesacrifices.Yousaid before that something offered did not always need to be accepted.Isthat why you haven’t killed me?”

“Doyou want me to?Icould have left you in the river,Isuppose,” he said with the raise of his eyebrow.

“Whydo you continue to accept the sacrifices the town sends if you do not need them to protect the wards?”Myjaw clenched at his irreverence, butItamped down my temper to hear his response.

“Thetown continues to offer them.Itake them and send them to safety, giving them a chance at a new life elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

“Yes.”Hetook another sip of tea. “Thereare many other naturally occurring supernatural towns such as this one, and many more created ones.Thereare always places for those who are sent to me.”

Mystomach dropped, and the room spun slightly.Therewere other sanctuaries for supernaturals.Otherplaces where we could be safe.ThoughtsofCiara’sbrother filtered through, along with memories of the sadness she continuously experienced over his loss.Buthe was alive.

Whitehot anger surged through my veins, andIlet go of the leashI’dkept on my tongue. “Whydon’t you approach the council and tell them you do not need sacrifices?Thishas torn families apart.”

Hesighed. “Drinkyour tea,Katrina.Itwill warm you.”

“Ido not want your tea,Dullahan.Iwant your answers.”

“Fine,” he said, leaning forward and steepling his fingers together. “Ihave told your town’s leaders before.WhenIfirst came into my powers,Iapproached them, informed them it was unnecessary.Theycared not for my words.Iam convinced they did not believe me.Traditionis difficult to break, and theDullahanin the old world did take sacrifices, quite enthusiastically.”

“Instead, you continued accepting people offered to you?”Mymind was spinning with questions, shifting too fast for me to latch on to any singular line of thinking.Didthey still take sacrifices elsewhere?Wouldthe other haven inSaintAugustinetruly have been safe for me?Didhe know the otherDullahan?Werethey close?Didhe write to them?Howdid they kill if it wasn’t by whispering our names?

Somany things spun wildly in my mind, but they all kept coming back to one thing: that these sacrifices were unnecessary.Myvision tunneled as my veins throbbed against the skin of my neck, pulsing in time with my rage.

“Yes,” he said bluntly, staring at me unblinkingly. “Yourtown has chosen these people to die, and if they are not willing to listen to reason,Iwill save those people.Theyare all happy in their new lives.”

“Andthose who left families behind?”

“Ofcourse, there is some sadness, but they are alive.”

“Buttheir families do not know that,”Isnapped, thinking of the pain and agonyCiaraand her mother had to endure afterTorin’sdeath.TheweeksCiaraspent in bed, crying until her eyes were red and had left the skin around them dry and flakey.Itook a harsh breath, reigning in my temper and locking it back down.Softeningmy tone,Icontinued, “Ihave seen those left behind, mourning friends and family they believe to be dead.”

“Whatwould you have me do?”Hiswords had no bite.Instead, it seemed as if he were genuinely interested in howIwould address the situation.Itthrew me that someone other thanHenrywould value my opinions.Hisfingers tapped against each other as he inclined his head.

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