Tanzie shot off through the night, snow kicking up behind us as we practically flew over the slopes of House Gluttony. I gripped on with my knees, leaning into the wind.
Each thunderous step made me want to glance over my shoulder, convinced castle guards had been alerted and were in pursuit. We rode through the hills of slumber root, and on our right, where I hadn’t noticed it before, was the upper edge of the Lake of Fire.
Sulfur blew in on a cold breeze, lifting strands of my hair and coaxing a shudder. I kept my attention on the castle looming in the distance, tensed for Pride’s guards. As if she refused to be taken by any army again, Tanzie pushed herself faster, hooves greedily eating the frozen earth. We skirted the edge of House Pride and blew past it, never stopping or being stopped.
I let out a whoop of joy. One small victory down.
If memory served correctly, I’d pass from Pride’s circle into Envy’s. I’d already been invited onto Envy’s land and he hadn’t revoked that permission. With any luck, I would pass through and make it to Bloodwood Forest unscathed.
As we rode like the devil was chasing us, my mind raced with all the thoughts I’d tried hiding during the feast. Envy was after the Seven Sisters. And he’d pointed out the Curse Tree when I’d strolled through his gallery. I might not know specifics about the forest, but I could find that unusual tree thanks to the fable that had indicated it was “deep in the heart” of the forest.
And hopefully the mystical beings who might help me find the Temptation Key or Triple Moon Mirror would be nearby the fearsome tree. At this point, any information they could offer on either magical object would be useful.
We passed through House Envy without incident. Since the prince of that House was dropping subtle clues in my presence, I didn’t think he’d stop my pursuit through his lands. Too soon we came to the smaller tributary of the Black River that bisected Envy’s territory and opened on Bloodwood Forest. Tanzie slowed to a near stop and toed the ground, considering the jump. I was considering the sight before us. Bloodwood Forest was aptly named. Even under the blanket of a night sky, I saw that the bark was a dark crimson.
Deep into the woods, puffs of smoke floated along like ghostly fog. I had the worst suspicion it was not created by fires, but was the breath of large beasts prowling through the crimson wood. Or maybe it was from some of the demons I’d seen in the journals. The ones who craved hearts and blood. I inhaled and slowly exhaled.
“Ready to find the Curse Tree next, girl?”
Tanzie jerked her head, then charged the ebony river. I forced my eyes to remain open as we were momentarily airborne, my stomach dropping. We touched down and Tanzie didn’t pause to catch her breath; she darted through the woods, careening around trees and underbrush.
I’d expected unnerving silence. In reality a chorus of bugs chirped so loudly, it was disorienting. If any predator was near, it would be impossible to hear the attack until it was too late. Tanzie seemed to know that. My mighty hell horse tucked her chin and wove in and around any obstacle that came up. Determined to bring her rider to our destination unscathed.
We rushed through a clearing, and at the edge I caught sight of an Aper demon. It tossed its giant head in the air, and that was all I saw; we left it drooling behind us. Crimson trees flashed by, the colors streaking across my peripheral vision like hundreds of shooting stars dripping blood. I gripped tighter to the reins, counting each beat of my heart. We had to be nearing the center of the forest by now.
A few minutes of hard riding later, Tanzie abruptly stopped.
There, amongst a thick outcropping of crimson wood, was an oversized silver tree. We’d actually found it. I stared a moment, taking it in. The Curse Tree was unmistakable; taller, wider, and different in color from all other trees in the forest. In the moonlight, its silver bark gleamed like an enormous sword thrust deep into the earth. It was beautiful and frightening.
I dismounted and patted Tanzie. “Stay here and stay alert.”
She nuzzled my shoulder as if telling me the same.
I inched toward the tree, dagger now in hand. The bugs had gone silent. An ominous mist drifted above the frozen soil, hiding any sign of recent tracks. Roots jutted up like the rotting fingers of slain giants. I moved closer to better inspect the leaves. They were similar to a common birch, but were ebony with silver veins. According to the legends I’d read, they were both sharp as blades and as fragile as glass.
“Have you come to request a blood wish?”
I spun around, the hood of my cloak falling back. A lone figure leaned on a walking stick, too far away and hidden behind the mist to make out clearly. Tanzie was nowhere to be found.
I gripped the hilt of my dagger and subtly moved into the fighting stance Anir had taught me. “Who are you?”
“The better question is, who are you, child?”
“I am someone in need of information.”
I couldn’t see her face in the mist, but had the impression she was smiling. “How exceptional. You see, I am someone who has information. And expects payment.”
I paused at that, tamping down my initial response to offer her whatever she wanted. That would be dangerous in any realm, let alone this sinful one. “I will pay you in one secret.”
“No.” The figure moved closer. The hood of her cloak was pulled low, covering her face. “I know your secrets. Better than you, I imagine. I want a favor. Collected in the future at my discretion.”
Goddess curse me. It was a terrible bargain. “I will not commit murder.”
“You either accept the favor, or you don’t. It will all depend, I suppose, on how badly you are in need of information. Consider this a test of courage. Which will it be? Bravery or fear?”
Bravery might be the absence of fear in most cases, but it also seemed a little like acting foolishly for a good cause. I was not worried about being brave. I was interested in watching out for myself, making the best decision I could. If the mystery woman did indeed know me better than I did, then the best choice was to agree. Consequences be as damned as my soul.
“I accept.”
Before the words had completely left my lips, the figure lashed out. It happened so quickly I barely registered the sting in my arm. She’d cut me. I glanced up, ready to defend against any other attack, and halted as she carved her palm and placed it to my wound.
She whispered a word, and a blinding flash of light cracked the night sky.
“Go on, then, child. Ask your questions.”
“I want to find the Seven Sisters. Are they here?”
“No. They dwell where no sin rules above all.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“When the time is right, you will understand.”
I gritted my teeth. Fine. “I want to know about my twin. She was murdered and I need to know which demon house is behind it. If any.”
“You cannot expect to find answers to anyone else’s mystery, when you do not yet understand the mystery of yourself.”
“Isn’t that the purpose of our little conversation? I didn’t agree to your bargain simply to have you toss more questions my way. You cannot tell me where Seven Sisters are, you cannot tell me about my twin. What exactly can you help me with?”
“If you hope to find what you’re looking for, you must pass my test of courage.”