Page 99 of When the Wicked Sing
Mariana’s heart squeezed painfully. She shook her head, unable to accept the truth. “No—No. Astra doesn’t deserve to die. You saved Erasmus, why can’t I save Astra?”
Seraphina gave her a sad smile, one that slowly chipped away at Mariana’s anger. “The amulet was not used to save Erasmus,” she confessed, her voice a hollow whisper with so much heartache. “It was used to save ourbaby, to give my daughter a chance at life. I wanted to create a safe place for her to thrive, to survive, and to live.” Mariana stared at her, completely and utterly dumbfounded. Seraphina sighed, sadness tightening her eyes. “Revisions of the amulet’s story have been told over generations. I fear the story you are familiar with is not the truth.”
The truth. It stung as sharp as a jellyfish, numbing her from the inside out. She could hardly believe it. Everyone knew the story; everyone believed the amulet could bring back life.Savea life. And yet … it never did.
“This is only the beginning, Mariana,” Seraphina said. “You have the power to save everyone. Bring our sisters home.”
Mariana bowed her head at the angel. Then she swam to the edge of the pool, lifted her transformed legs out of the water,and shoved her boots on with haste, then shot down the dark corridor back to her sisters.
Chapter 54
Marianaskiddedtoahalt, the light of day blinding her.
“QueenMariana, what a delight to see you again,” said an arrogant, feminine voice.
Mariana blinked in the brightness and looked up. Halia stood high above on the edge, five guards flanking her on either side, armed to the teeth.
Mariana’s eyes widened when she saw Aurora and Astra floating above her, invisible restraints keeping them from moving.
Halia’s hands twitched and moved in slow, small patterns, keeping her sisters trapped in the air she manipulated.
“Join us up top, won’t you? We have much to discuss.” Halia stepped back out of sight, pulling Astra and Aurora along with her until they were no longer dangling two stories above. Astra had passed out, but Aurora’s eyes locked onto Mariana. Fear, dread, and rage were all present in that golden gaze.
Her sisters disappeared from view, and Mariana raced to climb up the vine, the amulet bouncing against her chest.
As she made it to the top, strong hands gripped her. Two guards pulled her along toward Halia. Mariana sneered at her smug expression.
They stopped her within spitting distance of the princess.
“You can’t do this! She is a queen!” Aurora shouted, her voice muffled and strained as the sound barely made it through the invisible shield she was locked within.
Halia laughed, and Mariana’s fists tightened.
“Don’t you see where we are? Look around you! You are a queen of NOTHING!” Halia practically screamed. The sound reverberated up and down Mariana’s spine. Those words lodging themselves in her heart.
“However, I will be a queen ofeverything.” Halia smiled and extended a graceful hand. “The amulet,” she demanded.
Mariana only stared at her, not daring to move a muscle.
“Give me the amulet now, or I will take it.”
The threat loomed, and yet Mariana wanted to shake her head and roll her eyes. This was a princess who always got what she wanted, threw a tantrum when she didn’t, and judging by the way everyone feared her other name—the Matriarch—she also killed whenever she pleased.
Aurora shifted, straining, desperate to be free of her restraints. Mariana glanced at her sisters, then back at Halia, who was becoming more and more irritated with each passing second.
“What will you do with it?” she asked. “Only a siren can wield it. It’s useless to you.”
Halia’s mouth lifted. “Holding a power like that isneveruseless,” she said with a quiet menace that made every muscle in Mariana’s body tighten.
“It can’t bring back the dead,” she said, almost pleading. “It was never made for that. Seraphina herself told me.” Mariana had hoped the truth would change Halia’s mind, but it was clearly wishful thinking.
Halia shook her head slowly. “I’d rather not take any chances.” She snapped her manicured fingers. “Hand it over.”
“Let my sisters go first.”
Halia groaned. “I will let them go once the amulet is safely in my possession.”
Mariana’s skin began to hum, her power reaching out toward the air, keeping her sisters trapped. She ran imaginary hands over it, testing it for cracks.
