Page 77 of Hollowed

Standing,Ifelt my fire roiling beneath my skin, spurred by my determination once again.Myfear would smother my fire, but my persistence, it seemed, would let it out.

Theforest quieted asImade for the clearing.Thepath didn’t take me to the house, though, but to the stable whereLiathstood, grazing on hay.

Shelooked up asIapproached, a sense of understanding reflecting in her dark eyes.

“Ineed you to take me toSleepyHollow,”Itold her, reaching out my good hand to brush against her nose. “Canyou do that?”

Shesnorted and stomped her front leg as if she’d understood me.

Irubbed at her nose. “Good.Let’sgo save your master.”

AndwithLiath’scooperation,Ifound myself hurtling towardSleepyHollow.

Thebridge came into view, and my heart sped with anticipation.Wouldanyone believe me whenItold them what happened?Wouldanyone care?Liathdidn’t slow as she carried me across the bridge, her flaming hooves thundering over the wood and onto the dirt of the path into town.

Atown that would surely be waiting for me, given the noise of my arrival.

Aswe turned the last bend,Isaw a large group already gathered.Fidgetingwith the reins,IpulledLiathto a stop as we approached.

Icould see the townspeople whispering to each other.Ichabodstood in the back withBrom, both of their eyes wide and fixed on me.SlidingfromLiath,Ikept my chin up and my shoulders back asIfaced them.

“Myparents are gone.AndDeathis coming forSleepyHollow.”

Thirty-Six

Wavesof silence washed over the gathered crowd.Andthen, a flurry of shouting and outrage began.

“Whatdo you mean gone?”

“Death?”

“Whathave you brought upon us, girl?”

Theirwords blended, fading into the background as my fire burst to the surface, encompassing my hands.

“Bringme theCiallmhar.”Whenno one moved,Isnarled, “Now.”

Someonein the back of the group scurried away, crossing the town square, and knocking frantically on theCiallmhar’sdoor.Theirhouse overlooked the area, andIwatched the door, waiting for theEldersofSleepyHollowto emerge while the crowd continued murmuring.Ilet my eyes sweep over their faces; some looked concerned, others angry.Myeyes caught a familiar face.Henry.Hewas besidePriscilla, and the moment our eyes locked, his filled with tears, the sadness etched in his face.Beforehis tears could trigger my own, movement at the house pulled my focus back.

TheCiallmharemerged, taking their time as they approached.Theirslowness irked me, andIground my teeth as they shuffled in front of me, expressions ranging from boredom to curiosity written across their faces.

“Whatis the meaning of this?”Tiernan, one of the council members, said.Hewas one of my mother’s most trusted and one of the more vicious ones.Hestepped up in front of me, peering down his nose as his lip curled. “Youare supposed to be dead.”

“Accordingto whom?”Ireplied, letting the fire burning in my soul push back my anxiety.Thesepeople had never respected me.Butthey would now.

“Oursacrifices to theDullahanserve a purpose, you impetuous child,” he snarled, taking another step closer.Myknees wavered slightly, butIheld my ground. “You, of all people, should know that.”

“Myparents are dead.”Theshocked expression that passed over his face pleased me.Itook a step closer to him, only a mere breath between us now. “Theywere killed whenCiarasummonedDeathtoSleepyHollowto get revenge for the sacrifice of her brother.”

“Preposterous,” he spat.Hewaved a hand at the gathering crowd, which had grown sinceIfirst appeared.Evenmore whispers swept through them. “Yourparents are dead because you are alive.”

“Doyou want this town to survive?”Iasked, my flames licking up my hands.Iturned to the gathered crowd and raised my voice. “Doyou want to survive?”

Noone replied.

“Ifyou want to live, we need to act,”Icontinued. “Deathis coming.She’staken theDullahan, and she won’t stop until—”

Tiernangrabbed my injured arm, wrenching me back to face him.

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