Page 78 of Hollowed

Cryingout, my fire surged, wrapping up my arm and burning away the sleeve of my dress.Heyelped, pulling his hand away asIburned him.Ipanted through the pain, clenching my teeth as it dulled and my fire went out.Turningto him,Iglared and gritted my teeth. “Nevertouch me without permission again.”

Hemerely returned the glare, holding the wrist of his injured hand.

Ignoringhim,Iturned to the rest of the crowd and the otherCiallmhar. “AsIwas saying, theDullahancannot help us.Deathhas taken him, and we must get him back.”

“Why?” someone asked.Turningto the voice,Isaw it wasBrom’sfather,Devlin. “Isn’tthat his purpose?Toprotect us?”

“Youcannot truly be so stupid to believe that ifDeathkills theDullahan, she will not come for us next,”Ispat back.

Beforehe could respond, a crow landed on the branches behind him, pulling my attention.Icyfingers wrapped around the back of my neck as it stared at us.

“Whatare you looking at?” he snapped, turning to see what had grabbed my focus.

Thebird tipped its head back, opening its beak.Butwhat came out was not a caw, butDeath’smelodic voice. “Hello, phoenix.”

“Whatdid you do with him?”Iclenched my fists at my side and breathed through my nose.Alexanderhad mentioned the crows served as her eyes, but hearing her speak through one was somethingI’dnot been expecting.Idug my nails into my palms to keep my hands from shaking.

Thecrow blinked rapidly, tilting its head from side to side. “Ithink the more important question is, ‘Whatwill you do to get him back?’”

Thewords stuck in my throat.

“Ifyou want your protector returned, you will hand over the phoenix.Forevery moon that rises, and she is not in my possession,Iwill unleash one of my creations upon this place.Theprice for your refusal is death,Katrina.”

Withthat decree, the bird closed its beak and flew off, leaving the town silent.

Myknees buckled.Tensingmy muscles,Ifought to keep upright, despite my vision swimming.Thiswas wrong, all wrong.Iwhirled around to findHenry’seyes in the crowd.

Aheartbeat passed.

Andthen chaos broke out.

Everyonewas shouting and talking over one another.Accusingfingers pointed at me as people turned and ran, presumably back to their houses.

“Now, now, everyone calm down.”Cyrusstepped forward.Thefrail-looking old man thatIknew was anything but stopped in front of me, glancing back at the branch the crow had been on. “Phoenix, eh?”

Inarrowed my eyes at him. “You’renot surprised.”

“OfcourseI’mnot.Theothers may have been willfully ignorant of your power, butIsee things as they are, girl, not as they appear to be.”Hetipped his head to the side. “Deathis truly here?Yousaw her?”

“Yes,”Ireplied, straining against the weight of the panic clawing at my mind and telling me to hide and run. “She’shere, and she tookAlexander.”

Hisbrows furrowed. “Alexander?”

Mycheeks heated.I’dknownAlexanderhad gone to meet withCyrus, butIseriously doubted he’d told him the truth of his identity. “TheDullahan.Hisname isAlexander.”

Heeyed me carefully. “Isee.”

“Whyare we talking?”Devlinasked as he pushed his way to the front of the crowd to faceCyrus. “Youheard what she said.GiveDeathwhat she wants and keep the rest of us safe.Thisis her fault, anyway.”

Murmursof agreement stabbed through me like knives, and tears pricked my eyes.Ishouldn’t have been surprised.They’dalready been ready to sacrifice me once.Asecond time would be nothing to them.

“Howis it her fault?”Henryasked, pushing through the crowd and stopping in front of me. “Heronly sin is wanting to survive, which is the same thing you are doing now.Whodecides your life is worth more than hers?”

“Weshould work together to stopDeath.”Asurprising voice came from the back of the crowd.Ichabodstood to be heard.Hiseyes met mine, shining with apology. “Thistown is filled with great power.Surely, if we worked together, we could stop her and rescue theDullahan.”

Silencemet his words.Silencethat gave me the town’s answer.Theywould not be entertaining that option.

Finally,Tiernangave voice to the sentiment. “Wewill not die for her crimes.Thisis on her shoulders.”

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