Page 55 of Hollowed

“Doyou really think my mother could be behind all of this?”Iasked, thoughIfearedIalready knew the answer. “Couldshe really be this desperate for power?Torisk her own magic like that?”

Standing,Priscillaapproached me and rested a hand on my shoulder. “Katrina,Ifear there is quite a bit you do not know about your mother.”

“Wehave to stop her,”Isaid.Mygrip on the book was the only thing keeping me grounded—the only thing keeping me from spiraling into a pit of darkness.Icould not bring myself to look up atPriscillaand see the pity etched on her face. “Shecannot be allowed to do this.”

Thehand on my shoulder squeezed lightly. “Wewill,Katrina.Betweenyou andAlexander,Idoubt there is little you could not accomplish once you set your minds to it.”

“Isthis my fault?”Myvoice was so quiet, evenIcould barely hear it.ButIhad to know.Ihad been so ignorant of my mother’s influence, andIhad to know ifIcould have prevented it.

Priscillatugged the book from my hands, stooping down in front of me. “Katrina, no.Noneof this is your fault, and no one blames you.Youcould not have known the kind of person your mother is.”

“ButIdid,”Icroaked out.Myvision blurred with tears asIlooked up at the older woman. “Idid know.Sheis not a pleasant woman, and she has never loved me.Ishould have known there was more to it.Ishould have questioned.Ishould—”

“Shh,Katrina, shh.”Sheshook her head, lifting her finger to my lips. “Theonly thing you should have done is what you did.Survive.”

Iopened my mouth to protest that there was still moreIcould have done to put a stop to her, but a scream sounded from outside the shop.Thehigh-pitched noise filled me with horror, and my stomach dropped to my boots. “Whatwas that?”

Shestood, eyes searching the windows. “Itcan be nothing good.”

“Shouldwe go out there?”Iasked, standing from the chair, and searching the window as well.

“Youshould not be going anywhere.”Hervoice was grave as she pointed a finger at me. “Ifanyone sees you,Alexanderwill have my head.”

“Weneed to go see what has happened,”Iprotested, the noise and chaos outside growing louder.Panicsurged, twisting my stomach with the thought that we had stopped my mother too late from summoning the sluagh again. “We—”

“Iwill go,” she said, her voice placating but firm. “Iwill see what has happened.Youstay here.”

Onlythe pointed look she gave me kept me in my spot as she pulled on her coat from the hook by the door.Sheunlocked and opened the noise, allowing the noise from outside in.

Shepointed at the doorknob her hand was resting on. “Lockthis behind me.”

Followingher instructions,Ilocked the door and immediately moved back to the window, parting the curtains carefully to peer out.Chaoswas the best way to describe the scene framed by the ornate wood around the window.

Peoplefrantically moved about the square at the end of the street, their gloved hands pressed to their mouths and their eyes open wide in horror as they both hurried away from the scene and moved closer to peer at it.Myeyes followed the throngs of people, andIwished they had stayed on the books.

Inthe square, feet rising above the low cover of mist gathered near the ground,Adelaidehung from the trees, body swaying from a rope tied across her chest and beneath her arms to loop her around the thick branches.Andher eyes were missing, gaping bloody holes in their place.

Turningto the wastebasket beside the door,Ivomited.

Twenty-Five

Icouldn’t be certain how longPriscillawas gone for, but my mind was spinning asIstared at the body of theElderwoman.

Howcould this have happened?TheCiallmharHousewas protected by insanely strong wards; it did not make sense that someone could get past their protections and pastAdelaide’sassistant, to be able to harm her.Andmore, she should have seen it and been able to avoid it.

Aftera while,Priscillaemerged in front of the window, motioning toward the door withAlexanderfollowing closely behind her.Lettingthe curtains fall closed,Irushed to unlock the door, wiping at my mouth with my sleeve.Ikept my eyes focused on their faces, and not the scene of pure horror that lingered behind them.

“Priscilla, was that…”Icould not bring myself to finish the question asIstared beyond them out onto the bustling street.Thescreams subsided, but the feeling of panic permeated the town, creeping into the shop and clawing up my body, attempting to retake its hold of me.

“Yes, it was,” she said, gripping my shoulders.Sheturned me around and pushed at my me back inside. “Let’sgo now, child.Awayfrom the doors and windows.”

Alexandermoved in behind her, closing and locking the door before securing the curtains over the windowpane.Hefilled my vision, stepping up close to me and cupping my face in his gloved hands. “Areyou all right,Katrina?”

“Noteven slightly,”Isaid, my voice hoarse from vomiting.Icleared my throat, swallowing down the acidic bile still coating my tongue. “Whatwas that?”

Heblew out a harsh breath, rubbing his hand over his face. “Ido not know,Katrina.”

“Whathap—”

---