“Wait, you asked them before you knew I was an Offering?” My eyes well up with tears.
“Of course. You were the first person I thought of when I was handed that damn black piece of paper.”
I throw my arms around Brahm’s neck. “Thank you,” I whisper into his ear.
He returns my hug and rubs my back. “Anything for you, Freckles.”
“I wonder how your parents are holding up. You’re all they’ve got.”
“I’m sure they’ll miss me, but they’re devout worshippers of Bergot. I bet they’re lighting my candle and praying to her right now.” He sniffles and gently strokes my hair. “I never understood their devotion to her, but it helps to know they have something cling to.”
As we lean back to stare into the fire, Brahm places his hand on mine. Was that by accident? I snap my gaze to our hands, but he doesn’t budge. Was Willa correct? Brahm does find ways to touch me. Once upon a time, I thought we shared something special but put it out of my mind years ago.
After my brother forbade me from visiting the creek with his friends, I snuck out one night and cried by the water under a full moon. Brahm showed up, almost by magic, and comforted me. He offered me a moonstone and asked me to dance. It became our ritual every full moon. We would meet at night to scour the pebbles for interesting stones before dancing. Brahm would hold me close and hum enchanting tunes in my ear. This went on for almost a year.
I certainly still find him attractive; his twisted locks, muscular arms, full lips, and a grin that can melt me. Which is why I often avoid looking at him when he smiles.
“We’ll make it.” Brahm takes a deep breath. “We’ll find the crown.”
Again, with his sense of hope.
Brahm lifts our hands to trace his finger inside my palm. “You certainly can’t die, Freckles. You always had the longest lifeline of our group when you did our readings. Look, yours goes all the way.” He turns my hand and continues tracing. “It even continues around the back of your hand with the scar you got from injuring your wrist. A never-ending loop.”
Grinning, I take Brahm’s hand in mine and trace his palm. “Yes, but your heart line was the big—”
“Ugh, I’m so hungry,” Willa interjects and slaps my arm. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“A little, I guess,” I say with a shrug, resting my hands on my lap. “This is nothing. I’ve gone days without eating before.”
Brahm takes my hand again and rubs it. What’s he doing? I suck in a deep breath as my harsh exterior softens and melts away. Rolling my wrist, I turn my hand palm-up to face his. We lace our fingers together as goosebumps tingle across my arm and neck.
“These satchels are useless,” Liam says. “If I had a knife, I could hunt and butcher an animal for us.”
Brahm’s fingers flex. I squint my eyes and give him a barely noticeable shake of my head. He relaxes and gives an understanding nod. Just because I have a dagger strapped to my leg, doesn’t mean I want these strangers to know about it.
“You guys still don’t get it, do you? Seriously, have you seen any animals, fruit-bearing trees, or even bugs?” Ferdinand asks as he fans out his blanket next to Gunther. “No. We’re all going to die out here. No Offering in recorded history has ever returned. That crown’s a myth. I say we partner up and start fucking. I call the redhead. She’s feisty, and if a lord wanted her, she must be good.”
My entire body tenses and Brahm squeezes my hand. We both glare at Ferdinand, but he doesn’t stop harassing me.
“Did you ever use your mouth on good old Albert? Those plump, pink lips would look nice wrapped around my—”
“Shut the fuck up!” Brahm jumps up with his fists clenched.
“Woah, woah, woah!” Gunther stands and places his hands on both of their chests. “Let’s calm down.”
Ferdinand ignores him and tilts his blond head at Brahm, grinning. “Oh, I see. She’s yours?”
“She’s not mine. I just think you should be quiet.” Brahm grits his teeth. “I’d tell you to shut up even if you spoke to Mitzi or Willa that way. Have some respect.”
“Alright, lover boy,” Ferdinand says, unphased by the scolding. “Calm down. It’s not my fault Lord Schulze had your girl first.”
The muscles in Brahm’s arms flex, and he opens his mouth, but I jump in before he can speak.
“I don’t know what you’ve heard or if you’re just being an asshole, but I never had sex with Albert and certainly don’t want to have sex with you,” I say with my eyes burning into Ferdinand’s. “Leave me alone.”
I unfurl my blanket and flop down to the ground, using the satchel as a pillow. My cheeks are on fire, and my chest is tight. I’m out here because of one disgusting pig, and now I’m being tormented by another. Any part of me that melted holding hands with Brahm has now iced over.
Brahm kneels next to me and leans close to my face. “You alright?”
“Sorry, but I can’t do this camp-out bullshit.” I squeeze two tears from my eyes. “Goodnight.”
With a soft thud of his satchel, Brahm lies down and locks eyes with me. “Goodnight, Freckles,” he whispers as he rubs my shoulder.
“You’re a real dick, Ferdinand,” Liam says and lies down, too. “Heidi died today. You should learn to be more considerate.” Ferdinand snorts as everyone rests their heads.
The crackling fire and heavy, sleeping breaths are the only sounds. No frogs. No locusts. No owls. A silent forest. Although my mind races with the day’s events, Heidi’s horrific death, and about missing Thora, I try my best to fall asleep.
In the middle of the night, I awaken to the same beautiful voice from before. It’s much clearer now, and I spring up. It’s Thora’s voice. She’s singing in the woods. The fog could kill her like Heidi. She can’t be out there alone. Desperation and adrenaline course through me.
Leaving my blanket and satchel behind, I follow her sweet little voice as she sings Der Mond ist aufgegangen, the old lullaby Mama used to sing.
The moon has been arising,
the stars in golden guising
adorn the heavens bright.
The woods stand still in shadows,
and from the meads and meadows
lift whitish mists into the night.
The path of ashes glistens with silvery specks in the wake of the moon’s glow, and the stars peek down above the mountain. The dense foliage appears almost blue in the darkness. My feet grow sore from walking and, when I look back, I can no longer see the campfire.
My sister’s voice grows louder, though, and I step toward it in the forest, disregarding the dangerous fog. It’s only slightly cooler than the night air and pricks my skin a little, but it doesn’t hurt to breathe. Was this truly what killed Heidi? Was the priestess lying?
The world in stillness clouded
and soft in twilight shrouded,
so peaceful and so fair.
Just like a chamber waiting,
where you can rest abating
the daytime’s mis’ry and despair.
I follow the song, which comes and goes and echoes near and far at the same time. The forest is not lush as I had imagined, but bare. Along the path, the trees, bushes, and vines all bloom with the colors of springtime life. In the fog, everything’s a dull gray and dead as winter. Naked tree branches twist into the air, empty vines snake around the trunks of trees and along the ground, and thorny bushes snag the hem of my dress. I’m enveloped in the rolling white fog and visibility is low. I squint my eyes to scan for my sister.