| |
After the close encounter in the basement, Saffron dare not suggest they go back down there to study the previous Offerings files further. She knew without doubt that Mia would say no, and deep down, Saffron didn’t want to go back down there either.
School on Monday dragged by, but once it finally finished, Saffron headed to the forge as normal. When she ran past the town hall, she couldn’t help but look at the secret back door, wondering if there would be any trace of the creature’s presence left.
What she saw made her stop dead. The hole the wolf had dug out with its claws had been filled in, the earth smoothly compacted back down and fresh turf laid on top, as if nothing had ever disturbed the ground. The deep scratch marks in the door no longer existed either.
Panic surged through Saffron’s chest. She pressed a hand to her heart, trying to calm its raging rhythm. Someone knew. Someone knew that the wolf had been trying to get into the basement. And they’d covered it up. Not a word had been breathed around the town about this.
Fear coursed around her body. It was the defining moment of when Saffron knew she would truly be on her own as an Offering. Whatever was going on in this town, some of the adults clearly knew about it and were hiding its ominous presence.
Saffron tore her gaze from the secret door and forced herself to carry on to her father’s forge. Every step she took, a fresh wave of despair washed over her. By the time she reached the forge, she felt like collapsing into a heap and just giving in to her fate.
Her father opened the door and stepped out for some air just in time to see Saffron doubled over, her head between her knees, gasping for breath.
“My goodness,” he said, rushing to his daughter’s side. “Are you ok, Saffron? I fear you’re pushing yourself too far with all of this training.”
Saffron felt like crying in relief but she fought back the tidal wave of tears. She knew once she started, she wouldn’t stop.
“Yes, Papa,” she said, lifting her head and giving her father a weak smile. “I’ll be ok in a minute.”
Saffron sat on the floor and lifted her face up to the bright blue sky as she drew in deep breaths. Her father stayed by her side until she calmed herself down enough to stop shaking and think rationally once more.
“Sorry, Papa,” she said, staggering to her feet. “I pushed myself too far today.”
“Come now, Saffron,” he replied, helping his daughter to her feet. “Let’s make a start on your knife. Give you a new focus, hmmm?”
Saffron couldn’t help the grin that spread over her face. It was the exact thing she needed to renew her enthusiasm. She could beat this beast. If she didn’t, she would sure as hell die trying.
As her father guided her in making her weapon, Saffron couldn’t help but think that if she killed this wolf, she could at least bring her father some peace about what happened to his younger sister. The years of torment and guilt must have riddled him for years, Saffron thought to herself. She felt it was the least she could do to pay homage to her family.
Despite the heat around her, Saffron shuddered when she realised she was creating a weapon of death—something so beautiful that would be used in such an ugly way. Soon enough, it’s perfect virgin surface would be tainted in hot, thick blood. Each drip falling from its serrated edge would only drive its hunger for more bloodshed.
As she moulded its very being, Saffron spoke to it, whispered her deepest, darkest thoughts and what it needed to do in order to protect her and save the next generation from such a hideous tradition. Each blow of the hammer formed its exquisite curves. Every red-hot patch glowed with her passion at ending this for those yet to be born. The individual teeth along its broad girth seemed to smile as she finished shaping each one with a tip so vicious, a samurai would be proud to carry it.
“That’s enough for today, Saffron,” her father said. “We can carry on working on it tomorrow. We have several weeks yet to perfect it.”
Already attached to her beautiful blade, Saffron begrudgingly laid it down, silently telling it she would be back tomorrow to finish it.