Page 72 of Hollowed

“Ihad to carry you to the house, andIcouldn’t do that with one arm,”Isaid with a careful neutrality.Theconcern inAlexander’svoice and eyes made my heart tighten despite the anger that still simmered.Idesperately wanted to hug him, to reassure myself that he was safe, thatIwas safe, that we were both alive.ButIwould not.NotuntilIhad my answers.

“Youcould have injured it further,” he said. “Haveyou taken anything for the pain?”

“I’vehad other things on my mind,”Isaid, letting some of the fire in my soul seep into my words. “Iwas going to put herbs in my tea to help with the pain once you were back on your feet.Wecannot both be impaired at the same time.”

Hedidn’t reply, but instead looked at me like he’d never quite seen anything like me before.

Inthe heavy silence, words clawed at my throat, begging to be spoken.BeforeIcould stop them, they slipped from my lips. “Shecalled me phoenix.”

Hefroze, an animal caught in the face of a feared predator.Andit answered all the questionsIhad left unsaid.

“Youknew,”Icontinued. “Youknew whatIwas, and that she was coming.”

“Katrina,” he began, shaking his head.Theguilt shining in his eyes told me everything.

“No,Dullahan.Iwant the truth.”

Hesighed, reaching up to run his hand through his hair as he turned and paced the room for a moment.Hecame to a stop in front of me, closer than before. “Ididn’t know for certain, but yes,Isuspected.Onboth accounts.”

“Youlied to me.”Noanger or disappointment laced my words, just apathetic facts.Ragebubbled beneath the surface, dangerously close to boiling over and erupting in a white-hot plume of destruction. “Youcould have told me what you suspected.Wecould have prepared for this.Instead, you told meIcouldn’t be a phoenix.”

Heshook his head. “Youcannot prepare forDeath.AndifIwas wrong—Idid not want to put any more of a burden on your shoulders.”

“Thatwas not your decision to make.”Myvoice cracked as hot tears blurred my vision and spilled down my cheeks.Reachingup,Iroughly wiped them away, irritated at myself for once again crying in front of theHorseman.Iwas not sad.Iwas not hurt.Iwas furious. “Thisis my life.Thosewere my parents, and this is my home.Ihad a right to know all the facts, theories, dreams, or guesses you had access to.”

“Iapolo—”

“DidPriscillaknow?”Idemanded, cutting him off as the fiery flames began cracking through the lidI’dput on them.

Heshook his head again, his eyes pleading with me. “No.Andif she suspected, she did not share her theories with me.”

Closingmy eyes,Itook a deep breath, attempting to re-form the lid on the bubbling rage.Withmy arm injured and tucked closely into my stomach,Icould not risk my hands erupting into flames.IfIruined this dress,Iwasn’t certainI’dbe able to get into a new one on my own, andIabsolutely would not be asking theHorsemanfor help.Ididn’t look at him asIspoke. “Whydidn’t you tell me?”

“Katrina, please.IunderstandI’vehurt you, andIdo apologize,” he said, reaching down to take my hand in his.Hisother hand raised to cup my cheek, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “Iam sorry for keeping it from you.I’dhoped you not knowing would be enough to keep her away.ButwhenCiarasummoned her, she sent her fog, and she sent her pets to watch the town.Whenshe saw you, she knew anyway.Isaw the crow at the party; she was there.Iwas still in denial, and now we will all pay the price for my stubbornness.Iam so very sorry.”

Ibuilt a wall around my heart, which strengthened again with those words, even though it had already crumbled a bit with the touch of his thumb on my skin.Myparents deserved to die, butCiarahad not. “We’llnever know if it would have changed things.Justlike we will never know if we could have avoided this entirely by sending back those sent to you.CiarasummonedDeathbecause of you.Notbecause of me.”

Heflinched, dropping both of his hands back to his sides, his eyes closing for a moment.Ifought to keep myself from leaning in after the warmth of his touch. “Youare hurting.Youneed to take time to grieve those you lost.”

“No,Dullahan,Ido not, andIcannot.Deathis here, in theHollow.Anddespite the many, many failings of my parents, they always believed they were working for the good of theHollow.Iwill not mourn their deaths, butIcannot let your mother destroy my town.So, what shall we do?”

Takinga deep breath,Ipushed back the voice that told meIwas not enough to saveSleepyHollow, thatIwould not succeed.

Fora moment, there was nothing in the room between us.Nota breath or a whisper of a draft; not even the calling of a bird from outside the window.Finally, he nodded. “Fine.”

Onceagain, ignoring the twinge of alarm,Inodded. “Shouldwe go back to town first and ensure she’s not already destroyedSleepyHollow?”

Heshook his head immediately. “No, absolutely not.UnlessIdreamed it,Icast powerful wards around the property.Shewon’t be able to get to us here, but as soon as we step outside of them, she will.Andwithout your powers focused and ready, she will kill you.”

Isearched his face for any hint that he was holding something back, but found nothing.Sighing,Inodded once more. “Fine.Doyou have any other books about the phoenix?Ifound the one with the poem.”Inodded my head at the book spread out on the table still. “Arethere others that may help?”

“Thefirst line of it—in its original language—could easily give the impression that your mother would have to sacrifice her fire since she was the first ofSleepyHollow.IsuspectAdelaidementioned it,” he said slowly, as if weighing the words on his tongue as he spoke.

Ijerked back.Ofall the thingsI’danticipated, that had not been it.Theadmission, so freely given, was surprising yet welcome.Ihad many questions, but settled on the oneIneeded answered most urgently.Findingmore answers about how much she did not love me could wait. “Isthat the entirety of it?”

Heshook his head. “Isincerely doubt it.Manypoems in that book are only portions; whatever the author deemed important enough to include.Ifwe want to find it in its entirety, we must search elsewhere.”

Ichewed on my lip.Thatpoem had been exceedingly accurate in the events that transpired thus far.Ifthere was more to it, it could prove invaluable in our efforts to stopDeath. “Doyou thinkPriscillawould know where to find the rest?”

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