Elizabeth wore a nightgown, and by some miracle, her pinky finger was back where it belonged. Her finger twitched with phantom pain—a sharp reminder of what she had endured.
Fiza, whom she considered a friend, had almost killed her.
Her gaze slid around the room. At the side of her bed sat Charlotte, smiling weakly.
“Charlotte! What in the Seven Hells!”
Charlotte chuckled. “Great to see you too, Lizzy.”
“I’m glad to see you, believe me. But what happened? How did you—” She gestured helplessly. “The magic, Charlotte. You havemagic.”
Charlotte leaned forward and took a deep breath. “Do you remember when I was a child, how I was fascinated with witches? I even tried to find them. When we were kids, I would make you play make-believe with me, and we would pretend we had magical powers. I was fascinated with them my entire life because—” She hesitated. “When I turned twenty, my mother told me the truth. Iama witch. My mother and I are the guardians of the amulet, and our family has kept it safe from the demons for generations.” Charlotte paused before continuing, “I had to keep it all a secret, even from you, for your own safety.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “How?”
Charlotte smoothed her skirts and cleared her throat. “Centuries ago, our family came to Israr from a land in the south, beyond the furthest reaches of Asteria. After the portals were neutralized, there was a meeting in Israr with all the covens in the kingdom. It was there that my ancestor was tasked with keeping one of the amulets safe. My ancestor gathered her riches, and many more were given to her by the covens to help with her task. My ancestor left Israr, and to all eyes and ears, the amulet seemed to vanish without a trace.”
Her mind reeled.
Finally, she said, “They went after me because they saw it in my memories.” She was unable to keep the flat tone out of her voice. “They went after my parents, I assume, because they thought they might find the amulet in our manor.”
Charlotte’s face grew sad. “I am so sorry. I know that doesn’t make it better. I never thought you would get tangled in our world.”
“The whole time I thought you had no idea what the amulet was. You acted like it was a piece of junk!”
Her friend's lips curved upwards. “I couldn’t tell you. My mother and I are the only ones who know.” She paused. “And now you.”
“I almost told Ambriel that you had it, but I was worried you and your family would be falsely accused of witchcraft, or associating with demons.” She huffed a laugh. “I truly had no idea., I thought there was no possible way that House Harrison could have anything to do with magic.”
Charlotte grinned. “Our family has been hiding in plain sight for generations.” She looked down at her lap, then back up at Elizabeth. “No one was ever supposed to find out we have it.”
“Oh, Charlotte.” Elizabeth said, her lip quivering. “I didn’t mean to see it. I was just rifling through your jewellery drawer, and it struck me as a rather odd and ugly piece of jewellery. I didn't even know what it was.”
“I’m sorry.” Charlotte’s eyes grew somber. “I feel like my friendship has damned you. I know that you refused to tell them where you saw it. Or I wouldn’t still be standing here.” Charlotte paused and said gravely, “Thank you for protecting me and my family.”
“It wasn’t bravery or anything.” She shrugged. “They had already taken my parents and were about to kill me too. I just—I couldn’t let my last act in this world be setting those monsters on a friend.” She paused and looked away. “I figured that if I was the only one who knew, and the information died with me, it would stay safe.”
Her friend’s eyes glistened. “I’m sorry. This was never a burden for you to bear.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Ambriel, the angel I told you about, seems to think there was a prophecy.” She shrugged. “He seems to think I’ve been marked since birth to get tangled in this mess.”
“Ah, yes, the prophecy.” Charlotte gave her a wry smile.
Elizabeth blinked. “You’ve heard of it?”
“Every witch in Asteria has heard of the prophecy. They believe the witch from the prophecy will once and for all save them from the plague of demons.”
Elizabeth gave a long exhale. “Ambriel thinks the prophecy is about—me.” She paused, her brows drawing together. “He kept talking about how he believes I’m the answer, and I’ll lead him to the second portal. Unfortunately, when he showedme what it looked like—I recognized it.” She gave a hollow laugh. “Apparently, he told Fiza and Maud, and the gods only know who else, that I knew where it was.”
Charlotte surveyed her for a moment. “Do youwantthe prophecy to be about you?”
“No.” Elizabeth sighed, throwing her head back against her pillow. “I don’t wantanypartof it. I don’t think the gods are giving me a choice, though.”
Charlotte laughed and brought a hand over her mouth.
Elizabeth lifted her head to look at Charlotte incredulously, “How can you possibly laugh?”
“The prophecy isn’t about you, if that makes you feel better.”
