Page 76 of Hollowed

Anunusually sharp gust of wind surged, picking up the heft of my curls and blowing them off to my side, whipping the ends of my dress.Myfire extinguished as my focus shifted to keeping my balance in the strong wind.

Thetrees rustled, and it grew silent, the wind stopping at once.Uneasepricked the back of my neck, clinging to the hairs and sending goosebumps down my arms.Steppingslowly closer toAlexander,Iwhispered, “Something’shappening.”

Beforehe could respond, a crow cawed.Iflinched at the sharp noise and at the knowledge that the bird was back.Thetrees shook again, and then waves of black emerged as hundreds of crows joined the cawing, swarming in the sky.

Thesky, already a dusty gray, darkened before my eyes as wisps of smoke rose from the trees.Myeyes widened and fear thundered through my chest.Mygaze stayed fixed on the swarming birds. “Yousaid she can’t pass the wards, right?”

“Sheshouldn’t be able to.”Buthis voice was wary, and even without being able to see his face, it was clear his answer was to calm himself as much as it was me.

“Shouldnot is not the same as cannot,Alexander,”Ireplied, fighting back the building panic.Sweatbeaded and rolled down my spine.Wipingmy clammy palms on my dress,Ifocused on the fire in my chest, trying to pull it back into my palms. “Ifshe’s coming, what do we do?”

Athick plume of black smoke rose from the trees, shooting up like a pillar and encompassing the birds above us.Icould hear faint noises coming from them, like a high-pitched scream, and althoughIcouldn’t make out specific words,Iknew we were in trouble.

“Katrina, get back to the house,”Alexanderordered, his voice sharp. “She’ssummoned the sluagh here.”

Icyfear washed over my body, and my eyes widened asIstared at the mass of swirling darkness above. “I’mnot leaving you.”

“Don’tbe foolish.Youneed to get inside.Theycannot get to you there.”Hetugged on his gloves, his muscles bunching beneath his clothing as he adjusted his stance, preparing for the fight.

“Myfire can hurt them,”Iprotested, thoughIhonestly wasn’t certain why.Ishould be running as fast asIcould for the house, butIcouldn’t stomach the thought of leaving him here to face this alone, after he’d already been so taxed by the previous night.Icouldn’t bring myself to leave. “Letme help.”

Themass descended, spiraling toward us and drawing our attention upward.

“Fine, we don’t have time to argue.Getready,” he said, extending his hand as the whipI’dseen last night appeared once more.NowthatIcould focus,Icould tellIhad been right.Itwas a human spine.

“Alexander, is that aspine?”Igulped out. “Whosespine is that?”

“Nowis not the time,” he snapped. “Getout your fire.Now.”

Thesluagh grew closer, andIfocused on my hands, trying to will the fire out despite the panic clawing at my throat.Myflames flickered, but quickly retreated into my palms as the heat curled around my heart.

“Katrina,NOW!”Alexanderyelled as the mass of darkness surrounded us, blocking the dim light of the sun.

Nearlysobbing,Itried to push my flames out, but only tiny flickers appeared, lighting the darkness briefly and illuminating the birds surrounding us.

Screamingsounded, the high-pitched noise hurting my ears as the voices of the spirits inside the smoke keened their laments.Birdsflurried around, their wings knocking against my back and tangling in my hair.Mybreath heaved as my vision blurred.Abird flew into my face, cawing loudly as its beak pecked at my hair.Crouchingdown,Iraised my arms to cover my face, the pain in my shoulder not even registering against the fear that had its hold on my body.

Andthen, as quick as they’d descended, the day lightened; the silence leaving a ringing echo of screams in my head.Alexander’spurple spirit realm was gone, andIlooked at the clear green grass.Slowly,Iuncovered my face and lifted my head to look around.

Alexanderwas gone.

Ijumped up and whirled around, my eyes searching for any sign of him.Thesluagh had taken him.Myheart thundered as screams joined the sound of my blood echoing in my ears.I’dfailed to push them back with my fire and now he was gone.

Outof the corner of my eye,Ispotted movement at the edge of the tree line.Iblinked rapidly to focus my vision on the emerging sight in front of me.Death, with her white hair and black eyes, stood there, draped in the blood-red cloakCiarahad worn.

Deathhad takenAlexander, and now here she stood, smiling with her gleaming teeth.Hersmile only widened when she noticed me watching her and she stepped back, disappearing into the forest.

Ragetook over my body, and beforeIrealized whatIwas doing,Iran after her.

Myfeet crunched over the decaying leaves asIburst through the trees, searching the woods for any sign of the red cloak she’d stolen fromCiara’scorpse.

“Bringhim back!”Ishouted asImoved deeper into the forest. “Whyare you doing this?”

Mywords lingered on the wind, echoing into the emptiness.Myheart shattered like the branches beneath my feet.Idropped to my knees, unable to bear the weight of what had just happened.Lookingdown at my hands,Igrowled.Whatgood was having this power ifIcould not use it?Theburden of my failure had once again struck, and this timeAlexanderwas its victim.

Tippingmy head back,Iscreamed into the trees.Iscreamed until my throat was raw and my body shook.Slumpingto the ground, the echoes of my sorrow rang in my ears.

Irocked back on my heels, sitting up straight as my chest heaved.

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