FATED BY BLOOD AND FIRE

ill

. Come by yourself. I held the knife tighter and stared at the door as my heart beat like a drum. No one was walking around in the packhouse anymor

here they put me on a stake and set me on fire for my life. I swallowed hard to try to get rid of the memory of the flames and screams that w

ndow, so I crept up to the door and listened. Nothing. I opened the door and walked into the dark hallway, where my boots felt good

like a dream. My heart was beating fast as I ran towards the forest. It was not far to the burned clearing, but ever

. I thought of how Lucien and I used to walk this path together, laughing and holding hands. It felt like a way to my death n

the air still smelt like ash. I stopped on the edge, my knife in hand, and looked around in the dark. B

elt good under my feet. There were roaring flames, ropes cutting my wrists, and Lucien's face as he turned away. I fell to the ground with my hands in the dirt as my knees s

dy. Elin stood at the edge of the clearing with her stuffed wolf toy i

knife down. Ask yourself, "W

said in a low voice. "I s

t was not her fight; it was mine. I took a step t

eyes were moving through the fog. A big, black wolf with its

le pulling her back by the arm. The wolf growled again, and its fur stood on e

y leg. She spoke with a shak

the wolf got closer, I tightened my grip and got ready to

and then walked away into the fog. Someone came forward wearing a cloak that cove

e. I pushed Elin further behind me while keeping my knif

hair. She walked up to him and said, "I knew it was you." "I saw it in

old them, "You are wrong," but my

ot." I saw them burn you. I saw the pain on your fa

ed her toy. She asked Mira in a w

and told Elin, "Go back

keep her safer." Tonig

" I asked with my

nows you are here." They sent that wolf to test you and scare

by the council. They were still here and still had power

lie to Lucien. We were all. They set you up so they could

think straight. "Lucien thought they were true

ung." You are cursed, the council told him, and

eve her, but the flames in my mind were too

you." Come see me here tonight. I will bring proof in t

ld use it against the council and make them pay. If she was telling the truth, though, t

ith me. Elin kept quiet and looked scared with big eyes. When

d, "No." "But do not tell anyone about

ugged her toy. S

o my room and locked the door as she closed her eyes. I took out the note and necklace and looked at them.

Lucien and broke him-kept going through my mind. I did not want to believe it, but his sad eyes a

ething heavy hitting the roof. My heart stopped. I took out my knife and crept up to the door to listen. Someone rumbled with a low growl above me,