Witch Fall(78)

Bethel’s expression was hard. “This goes against everything we were placed here to do. It’s evil.”

“It was my idea,” Lilette said softly. “How could I suggest it so blithely?”

“The Heads were already planning to do it.” Bethel drew in a deep breath. “What the emperor did was an act of war.”

Clouds were rolling in from the west. A cool breeze picked up, chilling the sweat on Lilette’s skin. She wondered where Han was, what he was doing. If he missed her as much as she missed him.

And then she looked further east, toward Harshen, and she wondered if Sash was still alive. If she was hurt or injured or scared. “How much longer will this . . . singing go on?” Lilette asked.

“If the emperor doesn’t force his captives to counter-sing, not much longer. If he does—” Bethel shrugged “—it could go on for days.”

Lilette wrapped her arms around herself. “Won’t they just cancel each other out?”

“Let’s hope that’s all it does.” Bethel was silent a moment. “What I can’t figure out is what part you have to play in all this.”

“What do you mean?”

Bethel studied the distant lights of Grove City. “All of us are just pieces on the board, Lilette.”

Lilette swallowed hard. “Maybe we should get back. It’s late.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t see it. You were withheld from the game, and then you appear right as the final moves are being made.”

“I don’t think—”

Bethel’s hand snaked out, grabbing Lilette’s forearm. “What did she tell you to do? What are you here for?”

Lilette went still. “She?”

“Your mother.”

Lilette’s breath hitched in her throat.

Bethel’s gaze narrowed. “I was right. She has sought you out.”

Lilette took a sudden breath—somehow she’d forgotten to breath. “She said I was to save those I could.” Lilette worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “I already did what she asked.”

Bethel’s gaze met hers. “Did you?” Her gaze revealed her disbelief.

Lilette held out her hands in a helpless gesture. “The witches are the strongest power on earth. How could they fall?”

Bethel scoffed. “Everything falls.” She turned and started walking away. “Come on. I have something that will allow us both to get a little sleep.”

Lilette cast a longing glance toward the sound of the song. It felt wrong to let this go on, but surely the pressure would force Chen to release Sash and the others. It was better than a war. Better that the witches send a message that any rulers who tried to use witches as weapons would suffer famine until they were disposed of by their own people.

As Lilette made her way back, the heavens opened and rain sheeted down. She draped the cloak over her shoulders and pulled up the hood. Bethel didn’t have a hood, nor did she seem to mind the rain. They tromped down the slippery steps and into the soggy forest, stopping at a tree not far from Jolin’s place. The inside smelled of minerals—like a cave—instead of tree resin. Rocks littered the floor.

Bethel opened a cupboard of dusty green bottles and rummaged around. “Now, if I could just remember where that sleeping tonic is.”

“Ah.” She pulled down a bottle and held up a finger. “One swallow. Two, and you won’t be able to wake up in the morning. Three, and you won’t be able to wake at all.” She pressed it into Lilette’s hands, but wouldn’t let go until she nodded her agreement.

Lilette started for the dark beyond the door, but paused at the threshold and turned back. “Does this . . . feeling—does it have a name?”

Bethel’s eyes met Lilette’s. “Oh, yes. It’s called the hassacre.” She tipped back her own bottle and then wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

“How do you bear it?” Lilette’s voice came out as little more than a whisper.

Bethel frowned. “You don’t.”





Chapter 26



Lilette was never happier than the time she spent on Haven. She slept well and was filled with a quiet contentment. ~Jolin



The hassacre continued every night for the next week. Despite the fact that it left Lilette sluggish and numb the next day, she took a swallow of the sleeping potion every night. Not only did it ease the wrongness twisting inside her because of the hassacre, but also the ache in her heart for her sister and her loneliness for Han.

The room was practically sweating when Lilette stepped inside, even with the windows swung open to let in a stray breeze. She set down the lunch tray and unloaded the contents on the table. “Today, we have a surprise—fish. In this case, breaded fish, with a side of yummick.” Yummick was red as a beet and tasted like squash. “And fruit.”