“Where’d you get those?” Ferdinand asks.
“From a snake in the woods.”
“That’s fucking weird.” Ferdinand pats my back. “But thanks, Red.”
“Yes. Thank you,” Brahm whispers, leaning close to me. “I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“Whatever. It’s fine. We need to focus on Mitzi.” I turn toward the fire. “Let’s begin.”
“Alright. I’ll go first,” Ferdinand says, and we all form a circle. “Mitzi was a sweet, friendly, and very beautiful person. It’s my fault she’s gone. I’m so sorry, Mitzi. You will be missed.”
We didn’t have much time to get to know Heidi and Liam, but with Mitzi, everyone says something. Their words swirl around in the wind, and I lose track of time. I picture Mitzi falling into the oven with that horrible witch. The heat of the flames. Their screams. Mitzi’s leg. What was the point of stitching it? What was the point of befriending her? My heart hurts.
We’re all going to die.
Brahm taps my shoulder.
“Huh?” I ask.
“It’s your turn to speak if you want.”
I step forward. “In the short time I knew her, Mitzi was a dear friend. One of the first I’ve had in a long time. She was kind and able to reach through my hard-as-stones exterior. She saw things in a way I didn’t and had a silent form of bravery. She had the love of a man named Otto. Her fiancé, parents, and twelve brothers will be in my thoughts. Goodbye, Mitzi Engel. I’ll miss you.”
Starting with Brahm, we each toss handfuls of ash to extinguish the flames. I go last, and as the smoke rises in the air, the priestess appears before us. Her black wrappings swirl in the air above the crevasse. I grit my teeth at her arrival and kneel next to the smoldering bonfire to place Mitzi’s satchel on a rock.
“Offerings, I could feel your number decrease. Please do not let the young woman’s death be a discouragement. You must stay alert as you will face many more dangerous feats along the way to the Crown...”
I barely listen as she speaks, but trace my finger over Mitzi’s name, embroidered in light blue thread. Her death flashes in my mind over and over again. Could I have done something differently? Could it have been me instead? Brahm taps my shoulder again—the priestess has been calling my name.
“Gisela, you need to stay strong. I am worried about your state of mind.”
Something inside me snaps, and my head grows foggy and hot. I spring forward to seize the priestess’ wrists, but she flies up, and I nearly fall off the cliff. Brahm grabs my waist as I glare at the shrouded woman.
“My dear, your eyes!” She sucks in a loud gasp. “Did you go into the fog?”
My clenched jaw won’t let me speak, so I can only nod.
“She did.” Brahm drags me away from the rock overhang. “Gisela was knocked out twice from it.”
“Oh, dear.” The priestess shakes her shrouded head and brings her linen-wrapped fingers to where her chin should be. “I knew you were special and could survive once, but twice? I fear if you go into the fog again, it will keep you. Gisela, I warn you to stay away from it.”
“Warn me?” I shout, struggling against Brahm’s grasp. “Why didn’t you warn us about the fucking cannibal-witch? Are you here to help us or not?”
The other Offerings nod in agreement. Brahm releases my waist and tries to hold my hand, but I slap it away and cross my arms over my chest.
“I did not know, and I am deeply sorry. Her tricks change all the time. The only one I am certain about is the fog,” the priestess says. “And, I suppose, her castle.”
“Her? Her who?” Willa asks.
“My sister.”
“What? Your sister is doing this?” Ferdinand asks. “Is she the goddess or something?”
“I have said too much.” She pauses to sway her veiled head at us. “I must go—”
“Wait,” I plead, holding out the snake-leaves and gesturing to the cottage. “Can these resurrect Mitzi? I saw them bring a snake back to life.”
“Let me see.” The priestess holds out her palm, and I place them inside. She hums and shakes her head. “No, my dear. Maybe for snakes and other dark creatures, but not humans. They can heal small wounds but not what Mitzi went through. I am sorry, the young maiden is gone.”
I snatch the leaves from her hands and return them to my bag. Brahm wraps his arm around my shoulder. I don’t push him away this time.
“Offerings, I must go. The curses are strong and hinder my abilities,” the priestess says. “You should go, too, before the fog comes. Good luck.”
With that, she rises into the air and disappears into a puff of smoke.
The Imp’s Question
“YOU HEARD HER,” GUNTHER SAYS, grabbing Ferdinand and Willa by the arms. “Let’s start moving.”
In the distance, the fog slowly creeps toward us. The first three Offerings walk away, but I squat before the smoldering bonfire. After he takes the matches from Mitzi’s satchel, Brahm taps my shoulder. I ignore him. He kneels and touches my arms, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
I can’t contain my emotions and fall into his chest. He strokes my hair and lets me wail. Just like when my most recent boyfriend broke up with me. I went to the creek to be alone, and Brahm was the last person I wanted to see, but he put his arm around me and asked me what was wrong.
“Ryker ended things with me,” I mumbled.
“Why would any guy break up with you?”
I hesitated to answer, finally blurting out, “He wanted something I wasn’t ready to give.”
“Oh?” Brahm brought his hand up to his chin. “Ohhh.”
I couldn’t help the tears and words from pouring out. “He said I wasn’t worth waiting for.”
“Hey.” Brahm drew me close and rubbed my shoulder. “You’re spectacular and absolutely worth waiting for.”
“You didn’t.” The words dripped with poison from my tongue.
“Freckles, it’s not like that. There’s something I need to tell you.” Brahm swallowed and looked into my eyes. “Dance with me, like old times?”
After a few more moments of sobbing over Mitzi, I lean back to look into Brahm’s amber eyes.
“Why am I so sad? Of course, she was sweet, friendly, and kind…but I barely knew Mitzi.”
“You want the truth?” Brahm wipes a tear from my cheek. “You never properly mourned Wilhelm. You didn’t even cry at the funeral. You held it together for your parents and Thora. You were so strong for them.”
Brahm draws me close again, almost into a cradle. I lean my head into the crook of his neck. He’s right. I never properly cried for Wil. Am I a horrible sister? Am I wicked?
“You don’t always have to be so strong. I can be strong for you right now.” He takes a deep breath. “I love you, Gisela.”
Fear grips me, and I go completely numb at his confession. After everything that’s happened today, what am I supposed to say to Brahm right now? When feeling returns to my body, I spring away from him and furrow my brows. “What? Is this really the best time to say something like that?”