Page 61 of Haunted Hearts

Seventeen

“Here I go,”said Serena, sitting with her back to the fire. She took a hazelnut in her hand, made a face and then tossed the nut over her shoulder into the fire. “Did it pop?” she asked Lillith, hurriedly turning around to look. “I can’t see it.” She stretched her neck, looking for it in the fire. “Did it pop or burn, Lillith? I need to know.”

“What does it matter?” Lillith answered, feeling anxious yet disheartened at the same time.

“You know why she’s asking,” said the handmaid, Posy. “If it pops, it means the man she was thinking about loves her. If it burns, it means there is no hope.”

“Let me look.” Lillith saw the hazelnut burning. “I’m sorry, sister. It didn’t pop.”

“Oh,” Serena answered, looking discouraged.

“Who were you thinking about?” asked Lillith.

“No one,” Serena answered quickly, making Lillith wonder if she was thinking about Blaze.

“Well, I’m sorry, but it doesn’t look like your mystery man loves you after all,” Lillith told her.

“You try,” said Serena, pushing a hazelnut into Lillith’s hand.

“Nay. There is no reason for me to do this. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Lillith gave the hazelnut back, not needing any more bad news today.

“Then throw apple peels over your shoulder to see the initial of the man you’ll marry.” Serena pushed an apple and a knife into Lillith’s hands.

“Fine,” said Lillith with a sigh, only doing it to stop her sister from bothering her. She peeled the apple and threw the long peel over her shoulder.

“It’s looks like the letter B,” said Posy, inspecting it.

“B? Like Blaze?” asked Serena.

“No,” Lillith answered. “B as in baron or Baron of Bancroft. B as in betrothed. So, there you see, my future is set.”

“At least try taking a bite of apple and combing your hair while you look into a shiny platter,” continued Serena. “It is said you’ll see the man you will marry in the fire.”

Lillith realized her sister wasn’t going to let her stop until she tried every last one of these stupid All Hallows’ Eve superstitious customs.

“This is the last one,” she said, taking the brush Serena handed her, and then a bite of the apple she’d just peeled.

“Posy, give her the platter,” said Serena. “Don’t forget to look into the platter for the reflection of your husband.”

“Serena, we both know whom we’re marrying so this is naught but a childish game that means nothing at all,” Lillith told her.

“I think it is the work of the devil,” complained Posy, still handing the shiny platter to Lillith anyway. “I don’t like being a part of these evil things.”

“Evil things? That’s a little harsh,” said Lillith, giving Posy the apple and taking the platter from her. “These customs are silly, but can’t hurt anyone,” she assured her handmaid.

“Well, I, for one, pity your sister,” said Posy. “No one should have to marry a warlock. It just isn’t right.”

“Posy, I’ve changed my mind about Lord Blaze,” said Serena. “I think he is rather nice, actually.”

“You do?” asked Lillith, not wanting to hear this for some reason.

“Yes,” she answered with a smile. “I think mayhap I’ll get used to being his wife after all.”

“Hmph,” snorted Posy. “He’s got both of you bewitched now.”

“Hold up the platter, Lillith, and look at the reflection to see the man you’ll marry in the flames behind you.” Serena was a child at times, always wanting to play games that Lillith didn’t care about at all. Especially games involving love and husbands that didn’t even pertain to either of them anymore.

“You do realize that I’m only doing this to get you off my back,” said Lillith in frustration.