She sits up quickly, but not without a wince. “Zaira,” she breathes. “What the shadows are you doing here?”
“You never came home and then I felt my pendant get hot.” I grip the cold bars, studying her again. “What happened to you? Why are you locked in here?”
Her eyes instantly water as she sinks her teeth into her chapped bottom lip. “It’s Seferin,” she utters feebly. “He placed a curse on me.”
I feel a sudden drop in my stomach. “W-what? Why would he do that?”
She sniffles as she points to a corner inside the cell. “Because I tried to takethat.”
I look where she’s pointing and spot an indigo crystal. It seems so out of place here, just like she does.
“You tried to steal it from him?” I ask.
“I didn’t think he’d miss it. There were so many of them in his study, and I—I don’t know. I thought I could sneak one out and sell it, get a bit more coin because we could use it, you know?” She shakes her head and frowns. “He said I was one of his favorites. I didn’t think he’d do something like this to me.”
“Analla.” I wheeze in disbelief, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “Why would you steal fromSeferinof all people? You should’ve known better!”
“Shh! I know!” she whisper-hisses as she steps closer and reaches through the bars to grab my hand. Hers are dry and cold as they wrap around mine.
I look her all over in the sheer, black nightmaiden’s dress she’s wearing. “I told you not to work here. I told you to quit before you got hurt, Analla.”
“I know,” she murmurs. “But it’s too late to do anything about it so I need you to leave, okay? Get out of here and never come back.”
“No,” I snap. “I’m getting you out of here.” I pull away and study the cell door. There is no lock for a key, nothing to even pick at to at least attempt a breakout.
“The locks are controlled by his magic,” she mutters sullenly. “Only he can open the cells.”
I groan. Of fucking course.
“I’m not getting out of here, Z, and even if there were a possibility of breaking out, the curse will kill me regardless. It doesn’t matter where I am.” Her head falls in defeat. Or shame. Possibly both. “He said the curse will kill me within thirty days. He…he said it will be a slow and painful death—that I deserve it for betraying his trust.”
My tears finally fall as I choke on a sob. How can this be?
My sister,cursed.
I don’t even know what to say. How do I save her? I usually know what to do under pressure, but right now, my mind is blank.
Analla swipes at her tears, then reaches through the bars, gesturing for me to come closer. When I’m near enough, she cups my cheek in one hand while smoothing down some of my curly hair with her other. She puts on a brave smile even though her eyes are rimmed with tears.
“I know you’ll try to find a way to get me out of this, but there is nothing you can do,” she says. “This is my problem, and I’m facing the consequences.”
“No.” My voice trembles. “We always face them together.”
“Not this time, dearest.” She stands taller. “I want you to live your life and live it well, do you understand?”
“Analla, I’m not leaving here without you—”
“You have to!” she insists, squeezing my hand. “Leave and never come back. Ever.I mean it, Zaira.Please.”
A door slams in the distance, and we gasp when we hear keys jingling, followed by heavy footsteps.
“That’s the guard,” she whispers. “Go now. Get out of here!” She gently shoves me away from her cell.
I don’t want to leave.
I want to stay.
To bargain with Seferin.
