Page 6 of Hollowed

“Youwill be.”Hervoice was calm, the anger that had been there before now replaced by the cold indifferenceI’dlong since learned to emulate. “Yoursacrifice is called for this year, and it will bring peace toSleepyHollow.”

Mymouth dropped open, and the room faded away with a whoosh in my ears.Imust have misheard her or misread her lips somehow.Myparents were two of the original founders ofSleepyHollow, and surely, they could not mean to sacrifice their only child to this barbaric practice.TheCiallmharcouncil supposedly chose theRoghnaitheat random, not intentionally.

Despitemy disbelief,Icould see in her face thatIhad not misheard her, and more so, that she did not care about my impending death.

“Begyour pardon?”Myvoice was raspy as my lungs contracted at the news of my forthcoming demise.Iwhipped around to look at my father, still hoping that my mother had misspoken.

“Youare,Katrina,” my father said, pushing his glasses up on his nose as he straightened in his chair.Thesoftness of his words held a hint of regret, but it vanished quickly, replaced with the pious air of dutyIhad grown so familiar with in my almost twenty years of life. “TheCiallmharhas agreed to name you as theRoghnaithethis year.Weneed theDullahanto strengthen the barrier before any humans can see past it, and the spirits have decided it is time for a… moresignificantsacrifice.Youwill go to theDullahanat theSamhaincelebration this year.”

“But…”Iprotested, my words trailing off as the breath rushed out of my body.Theroom began to spin as the news settled deep into my stomach.Myfingers, still twisted into my dress, began to heat up.Iclasped my hands together, trying to avoid my magic burning my clothing.

Thefire constantly bubbling beneath my skin could not erupt now, not when my mother was already furious with me.Ifit did, she would likely kill me before theDullahanwould ever have the chance.

Idug my nails into the flesh of my palms even harder, pulling my focus away from my growing panic and pushing it toward the stinging pain.Theheat dulled, and the fire eased from my hands.Thefiery tendrils slowly withdrew from my fingertips and slithered back into my chest, curling up and waiting for the next moment they might be unleashed.

Iswallowed, pushing down the burning clog of tears that threatened to spill out.Ididn’t want to die.Andcertainly not for these people and this town that only echoed my mother’s disdain for me.Mymother was two hundred years old, andIwould not even live to see twenty.

Mymother raised her hand up, her lips thinning like they always did when she was angry.Theytwisted into an incantation, and althoughIcould not hear the words she uttered, the room chilled drastically.Myright ear ached at the sudden change in pressure, but againImasked the discomfort and fought back the urge to rub at it, knowing it would only anger her further.

Despitethe serene expression on her face, she was furious enough to control the air.Theonly way to avoid her ire was to be silent and still.SomethingIhad perfected during my childhood.

“Youwill behonoredto protect this town,Katrina,” she hissed.

“Whywould you choose me, though?Itcould be anyone,”Isaid, my desperation clear.

Iknew better than to have said anything, andIwould pay for it,Iwas sure.Myfather seemed resigned to my fate while my mother seemed to embrace it, both entirely unconcerned that theDullahanwould kill their only child.

Butof course, the town was always their favorite child and their highest priority.Ishould not have been surprised.

TheHollowwill always come first.

Itwas impossible to count how many timesIhad heard that phrase throughout my childhood.Impossibleto count how many times they’d told me how utterly unimportantIwas.Asingle tear spilled from my eye and rolled down my cheek, dripping from my chin onto my hand.Quickly,Isniffed back the other tears, hoping that my mother hadn’t seen it.

“Allowingyou to beRoghnaitheshows our dedication toSleepyHollow,” my mother said through gritted teeth, as if she were talking to a stupid child.Andin her mind,Iwas sure that was what she was thinking.Mymother had always valued the town above me, her defective daughter that could not hear and whose magic was unpredictable. “Thistown needs us.”

“AnddoInot need you?”Iwanted to scream at her.ButIbit my tongue, the copper taste flooding my mouth asIremained silent.AnythingIsaid now would only result in a strike to my face, or worse, a punishment from her magic.Iwanted neither.Ineeded to get toHenry, and the only way to do that was to remain silent, remain complacent, and bend to the will of my mother.

Liftingmy head slightly,Icould almost see the anger radiating from her body, but she controlled herself, keeping her fists bunched at her sides.Mygaze fell back to the ground.Thedisgust in her eyes was clear and more painful than any physical blow could have ever been.

Shesaid something under her breath to my father, butIcouldn’t hear it.Heshook his head in response, his eyes downturned as they swung back to me.

“Youwill be honored to protect this town,” she repeated, her voice even colder than the surrounding air.Shesniffed, raising her chin. “Thedecision is final.”

Withthat edict, my mother turned and left the dining room, the ornate lace hem of her black skirt swishing over the floor behind her.

Iturned to look at my father across the table, finally reaching up to rub at the ache in my ear.Hewas always softer than my mother, though never willing to protect me from her ire while she raged. “AmItruly theRoghnaithe?”

Hereached across the table to grasp my hand, but stopped at the last minute, his fingers closing around nothing as he pulled them back.Hestill had sadness in his eyes, butIwas not entirely convinced it was because of me. “Yes,Katrina.Iknow this is not ideal, andIam sorry.Welove you dearly, but this is what the town needs.”

“Shehas never loved me,”Imumbled, looking down at my cold, empty hand.

Theynever touched me.Notout of love, at least.PerhapsIshould not have voiced my musings aloud, but that did not change the truth behind them.Mymother had only used me to increase her status inSleepyHollowand grow her power.

Ibrought my gaze back up to his. “Ihave only ever been a tool for her.”

“Thatis not true,” he blurted, as if by instinct.ButIcould see the truth in his eyes.Heknew it as well asIdid.Mymother only loved the town—not my father, and certainly not me.Ihad been born only because a child would further solidify her legacy.

“Whenis the ceremony?”Mymind worked, trying to figure out what day today was, and how close we were toSamhain, but my emotions were swirling too much to allow my thoughts to clear.

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