“What?” Brahm and I both ask.
“Her curses are so strong, and this entire place is defiled with dark magic.” Bergot looks around the courtyard as she rubs her forehead. “It pains me so.”
“Pain?” Brahm says through his clenched teeth. “Hexegot has murdered thousands of Offerings. This time, she wants to use Gisela and take over the valley. What do you think she’ll do then? What will happen to Gisela?” He wraps his arm around me. “Hexegot must be stopped.”
“You are right. We cannot allow that to happen, for she destroys everything she touches. Allow me to focus.”
Whispering words unknown to me, the goddess hums and sways until a bright white light glows from her clasped hands. Excitement bubbles inside, and I hold my breath to see what the goddess will do. When she reaches for the bars of the cage, sparks fly as Bergot’s arms shake. The goddess jerks back and groans. My shoulders drop in disappointment.
“I cannot break the cage.” She takes a few deep breaths. “Maybe I can summon the key.”
Again, humming and swaying, the goddess whispers her incantations. Bergot stretches her hand in the direction of the castle, but nothing happens. She shudders and shakes out her hands.
“It’s not working.” Bergot slams her fists onto the metal floor of the cage.
“Just keep trying, alright?” I rub her back and try to sound hopeful. “Start small.”
“Alright. A simple protection charm.”
Hexegot and Albert re-enter the courtyard as Bergot takes the bone and recites a new spell. Nothing happens. I shrink against Brahm’s chest in defeat, and he wraps his arms tightly around me.
Spotting Bergot attempting magic, Hexegot glides across the courtyard in a fury. “What do you think you’re you doing?”
Bergot doesn’t answer but continues her useless chanting.
“Sister, it is over.” Hexegot grabs the bars and rattles the cage. “Stop that!”
The Dragon
HEXEGOT CIRCLES THE CAGE, LAUGHING. “You faithfully provided me with Offerings, and I, your merciful sister, allowed you to live.” She feigns a sigh. “Sadly, now I need you to die.”
Bergot’s protection charm makes the metal of the cage glow with a white-hot light. My jaw drops in surprise, and my heart races with excitement, watching Bergot’s magic work. Hexegot shrieks as she releases the bars.
“You’ll regret doing that.”
Hexegot rises into the air, drinks from the Water of Life, and presses the Staff of Stargott into her chest. With her limbs and neck stretching toward the sky, the evil goddess glows with a bright light. She transforms into a hideous, white dragon.
Brahm and I shudder at the sight as the crown of bones turns into horns, and the scepter grows into a bony chest plate. The dragon sprouts wings and soars through the air, roaring and blasting fire from her lungs. Anxiety courses through me as I shake Bergot’s shoulders, but she doesn’t rouse from her trance.
“Albert!” I shout, pleading him with my eyes. “Let us out! You don’t have to do this.”
He doesn’t register what I said. Albert’s mouth hangs open at the sight of the giant dragon.
“Please, Al—”
The dragon’s talons crash against the top of the cage, and I scream. Brahm wraps his arm around my shoulder. The metal creaks and buckles under the pressure. Hexegot lifts the cage and flies up in the air with us.
“No!” Brahm and I shout as she drops us to the stone floor of the courtyard. The cage breaks into pieces, and the three of us crash on top of one another. I’m in pain, but at least we are free.
Rolling off Brahm and Bergot, I retrieve my dagger and stand. If Bergot can’t protect us, I must try something. The dragon darts for me, and I slice into her neck. She roars and flies into the air, above the trees. From both her horns and her chest plate, a glowing light flows toward the wound. Her scaly flesh heals as though it has snake-leaf magic.
Brahm grabs my arm and drags me into a large, hollow tree. The dragon swoops down and tries to blow fire at her sister. Bergot awakes from her trance just in time to dart away, the flames only singeing the train of her flowing dress.
Hexegot sets her sights on Brahm and me while blowing fire through the courtyard. When we run the other way, Albert approaches us.
I grab Brahm’s hand, and we sprint toward Bergot. The dragon screeches and crashes down on us, pinning our chests under her huge talons. Coughing from the painful pressure, I turn my head to look at Brahm and reach for his hand. He extends his arm, but our fingers refuse to touch.
“High Priest,” the dragon bellows in a deep voice, “tie up my Offerings. They’re misbehaving.”
“Gladly,” Albert says and heads toward me with a rope.
“Leave her alone!” Brahm shouts, squirming under the dragon’s talons. “How can you do this to us?”
Albert ignores him and grabs my arms. The dragon lifts her claw to allow Albert to drag me away. He ties my arms behind me and peels my fingers away from the dagger. I try to summon the strength to fight back, but all I feel is weakness coursing my limbs.
Propping me against a wall of bones, Albert binds my ankles. He leans forward to stroke my hair and touch my lips with his fingers. Nausea and more weakness take over, but I spit in his face. Albert wipes his cheek and grabs my chin, bringing his eyes close to mine with a grin on his narrow face.
“My feisty little bride,” he says and kisses my tight lips.
“Don’t touch her!” Brahm says.
Albert sets his sights on him. “Don’t worry; you’re next.”
The dragon releases Brahm so Albert can drag him away. Albert pins Brahm to the ground, digging his knee into Brahm’s back as he ties his arms and ankles. Placing Brahm next to me, Albert stares back and forth at us.
“Time for the lovers to say goodbye.” He stands and looks at the dragon. “What next, my goddess?”
“Her.” The dragon cranes her neck toward Bergot, who’s still chanting and trying to work her magic. “Sister, you can stop your efforts. I have the girl; now, I need your bones. Your charms are useless.”
Bergot lifts her head, and her shoulders drop. The dragon whips her tail and knocks Bergot into a wide tree, dropping the singing bone. Bergot scrambles to get the bone and recites a chant in time to block a blast of fire from the dragon’s mouth. Bergot’s magic works, but barely.
“I will kill you,” the dragon screeches as her wings kick up a tornado of ash. Brahm, Albert, and I turn our heads to avoid the dust.
Bergot coughs. “I have provided you with Offerings all this time. I have done everything you have ever asked of me,” Bergot cries out. “And I am your sister. Why would you kill me?”
“Because Father never loved me like he loved you and Stargott!” The dragon lands and whips her tail around, knocking Bergot over again. “AND because of Heinrich.”
“What of that poor man?” Bergot asks.
“I finally thought I had someone who loved me. But YOU,” she roars. “You and your beauty and your kindness turned his head. I could not believe that my own sister, who could have any man she wished, would try to steal the only one I loved.”