SOFI
I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Mirtel’s body was limp and my searching fingers couldn’t find a pulse. The apparition that had been Aggie was nowhere to be seen, and Darja was muttering to herself, nonsensical words I couldn’t quite make out. My heartbeat was loud in my ears, a too-fast thrum that made my head pulse with each beat.
I turned my wide gaze on Stephen.
“How do we stop this?”
“What?” His gaze was fixed on Mirtel’s crumpled form. I shifted, putting myself directly in his line of sight.
“You said ‘sacrifice.’ You know what they did. Can we reverse it? What can we do?” My voice broke on the last word, shaky and tremulous.
He shook his head, whether in answer to my question or in disbelief, I didn’t know. “It’s too late. They sacrificed themselves. A bonded pair, no longer tied to life, can pull so much more magic than they ever could otherwise.” His voice was hoarse, just as broken as mine. “For just a moment, they were strong enough to stop the ceremony. But…with the link gone, it’s over. They’re gone.”
Much as I tried to deny it, it was obvious, from Mirtel’s lifeless form if not from his words. Darja’s choked gasps were loud behind me. I wanted to go to her, comfort her, but I had no comfort to give.
“Mirtel knew,” Stephen said, laying a hand on my arm. “She chose this—they chose this. I’m so sorry.”
“I—”
“Is this your doing?” The voice was a harsh rasp, and I spun at the sound.
My father stalked around the side of the stage. He looked ill, and the sight tore a gasp from my mouth. The magic he’d cast in his office had taken a toll on him, same as the rest. His pallor was grayish, his features sunken and wan. How could no one see this? How long could he possibly survive in this state?
“What have you done?” he demanded, moving closer. “You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?”
“Sofi?” Another figure stepped out from behind him. I hadn’t even realized he wasn’t alone.
My mother’s voice was confused. “Kallike, what’s going on? What is this?” Her eyes lighted on Mirtel’s still body and her hand flew to cover her mouth.
Two more Council members crowded close behind, grim faces taking in the scene behind the stage.
“Who is responsible for this? What’s happened to her?” Eliise Tam demanded, her voice strong despite her stooped form.
“She stopped you from destroying the town,” I snapped, my pain morphing to anger. Darja appeared suddenly by my side, static crackling between us.
“She stopped you from murdering your friends and relatives,” I spit out.
“That’s enough,” my father said. “We’ve heard plenty of—”
“She just gave her life for you,” I screamed, not caring who heard me.
The buzz of conversation from the crowd on the other side of the stage fell silent.
“She gave her life for all of you,” I choked out, tears streaming down my cheeks, “and if I could take it back, I would. You’re not worth it!” My voice broke as I shouted, the words clawing their way out and tearing my throat to shreds in the process. “She was worth more than you ever were. Every single one of you.”
“That’s enough,” my father thundered, and then he was coming forward, reaching for me with outstretched hands.
“Take her,” he instructed, and Jared was there too—had he been there the whole time?—handcuffs clenched in his hands, though his eyes were wide. There was a flurry of movement then, too fast for me to follow.
A heavy sound of impact, a grunt of pain, and then my father landed on the ground with a groan and lay still. My mother let out a shrill scream. Stephen was shaking out his hand, his knuckles already red and swelling.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” he snarled, stepping between Jared and me.
“What is wrong with you, girl?” Eliise Tam demanded, her hand clenched tight on her cane. “Why are you trying to sabotage this? Betraying your people, your own family? After all this town has done for you?”
“I—how—Look at him,” I exclaimed, pointing at my father’s prone form. “He’s dying. If you cast that spell on the crops, you’ll all die too. It’s not—you won’t—”
There was a rasping sound next to me, cutting into my thoughts, and it took me a moment to realize it was Darja. She was laughing—or crying, I couldn’t tell—and she wrapped her fingers around my upper arm. Cold sliced through me, and though I couldn’t feel her touch I immediately covered her hand with mine.
“Enough,” she grated out. “Let’s go.”