Page 4 of Hollowed

Ibit my lip to keep from snapping at him.Ananimal could not whisper my name on the wind or cause that unnatural fog.Butas much asIwanted to correct him, it would do no good.

Forcinga nod,Iclasped my fingers tightly around the basket handle; the knuckles turning stark white against the brown wicker. “Yes, you’re likely right.”

Thedoors ofCiara’sapothecary came into view.Iturned toIchabod, my boots scuffing in the dirt. “Thankyou for escorting me.”

Withoutwaiting for his answer,Iquickly pushed into the apothecary and leaned against the door once it closed.Myeyes slid shut asIsteadied my breath once more.IheardIchabodscuff his boots against the dirt as he turned and left the shop.Iwas safe here, if nothing else.

“Katrina, is that you?”Ciara'ssoft voice would have gone unnoticed ifIhadn't already overloaded my senses with the calming exerciseI'ddone.Myhearing was faulty, andIoften had to askCiarato repeat herself.

“Yes,”Icalled, wincing at the hoarseness and the twinge in the back of my throat. “Ihave your flowers.”

Ciara’shead of sleek auburn hair popped out from a curtain behind the counter. “Oh, good.Bringthem back here, please?”

Onshaky legs,Ifollowed her instructions and stepped into her potion room.Ciarawas truly gifted at mixing potions and making cures for any ailment.Iwas hopeless at potions; everythingIattempted turned sour or bitter.Iwas more apt to poison someone than cure them.No, my magic was a blunt instrument, whereasCiara’swas precision.Settingthe basket on the counter,Isettled onto the stool by the door to watch her.

“So, why have you come by today?”Ciarasaid, pulling the flowers out of the basket and inspecting them.Shepaused, meeting my gaze with an arched eyebrow. “Surelyit was not just to bring me flowers.”

“I’m…”Iweighed the words on my tongue. “Iwant to move out of the manor.”

Shefroze, her lightly freckled hands poised over the dandelions.Hervoice was sharp. “What?”

Heatburned my cheeks, andIducked my head, letting my curls fall forward to cover my face. “Iwant to move out of the manor, away from my parents.Doyou know anyone who has space available, and who would not tell my motherI’mlooking?”

Herhead tipped to one side as her brown eyes studied me, and her voice slowed as she considered each word before speaking aloud. “Idon’t.ButIcan ask around if you’d like.”

“Discreetly?”Iasked, wincing at the request.Ihated asking for help, especially help that could get one or both of us in trouble with my mother. “Yes, please.Iwould appreciate that.”

Ciaranodded, humming as she went back to her flowers.Iwas grateful she hadn’t asked about my reasons for wanting to leave the manor.Thoughshe likely already knew, or at least suspected, not having to say them aloud was a graceIhadn’t realizedIneeded.Ididn’t want to talk about it.Notuntil it was real.

Thesilence was comfortable as she harvested the roots from the dandelions before moving on to the evening primrose buds.Itwas somethingIappreciated about her.SheandIcould sit in each other’s company, not uttering a word, and feel completely at ease.

Iwanted to ask about the forest, but the idea of bringing up the grove had me wary and weighing my words.Itried to find a combination that would not send her into a spiral of tears. “Haveyou heard anything unusual coming from the forest?”

Shefroze again, sending me a quizzical look. “No, why?”

Thecuriosity on her face told me that any kind of hedged answerIgave would not be enough for her to believe me. “Noreason.”Ileaned back to peek beyond the curtain separating her space from the shop. “It’sgetting late.Ibetter go before my mother starts to wonder whereIam.Thankyou for keeping an ear out for a space.”

Herexpression was unreadable, but she nodded slowly. “Ofcourse,Katrina.Besafe getting home, please.”

Nodding,Istood and rushed out of the shop.DespiteCiarabeing one of my only two friends here,Iwas still… apprehensive about sharing my burdens with her.She’dalready gone through so much with the death of her brother, and the grief-stricken state of her mother.Thelast thingIwanted was to force her to carry the weight of my feelings as well.

Duskwas falling, the sky turning a cool gray asImade my way down the path and toward the ornateVanTasselmanor.Dreadbubbled low in my stomach asIthought about the isolated path that traced along the edges of the forest.Mymother had set the manor apart from the town, and so the only way to get there was down a path no one else would ever take, unless they too were coming to the manor.

Myfingertips heated slightly as the sound of theHollowfaded behind me.Despitebeing able to see the outline of the manor from here,Iknew better than most just how long the path from town to the front door would take.

Longenough for trouble to find me.

Andit didn’t take long for my thoughts to become reality.

Alongthe edges of the path, that same unnatural fog gathered, wrapping up the tree trunks and spreading asIwalked.Isped.Sodid it.Theprickling feeling along my neck was back.

Someonewas watching me again.

Ikept my eyes forward and moved along, careful not to make sudden movements.Jumpingat the sound of a cawing crow,Ibroke into a run.

Keepyour eyes from the forest,Itold myself.Iknew it was a foolish superstition, butIcouldn’t help but hope it was true.Ifyou don’t look at them, they won’t notice you.Logically,Iknew danger wouldn’t care ifInoticed, butIcould still hope asIkept moving.

Abranch creaked behind me, and a jolt flinched down my spine.Wingsfluttered as a single crow landed on the path in front of me, drawing me to a sudden stop.Ittilted its head, its glassy eyes studying my every move.Abreeze caressed my back, like fingertips tracing my spine.Withmy eyes fixed firmly on the crow,Iskirted around the edges of the path, hurrying past it.Turningto look over my shoulder,Isaw the crow in the same spot, turning to watch my retreat.

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