Page 36 of She Who Was Once the Sea

Surely the witch knew that I was trying to circumvent the stipulations of her bargain. Would that be enough to draw her out?

"I could outsmart you," I whispered into the stone as I walked, taking care to move my lips as little as possible so as not to draw attention from the humans. "I don’t need him to fall in love with me. I just need him to find another way. If there are three of us against one of you, we could make it happen. You would lose."

As I spoke, I made a right-hand turn, slipping away from the crowds into a quiet side street. No shops or restaurants lined the way here, so no tourists followed me. Emboldened, I raised my voice ever so slightly.

"I think you know that your hold is slipping. I think you know that you’re going to lose us." The noises from the busy street faded the further I walked, until even my whispers created echoes against the stone. "If you release us now," I said as I stopped walking, "I’ll make sure my family leaves peacefully. We won’t seek revenge."

Above me came the distant sound of flapping fabric, and I looked up to see a sheet being shaken from a high window.

I started walking again. "But if you don’t, and I succeed," I continued, once again lowering my voice. "I’ll spend the rest of my life looking for you. I won’t rest until you’re buried beneath the rubble of your own stone prison."

The sounds of voices began to fill the street ahead of me. I was approaching another busy intersection, throngs of people out enjoying all the food and shopping and exploration offered by the city.

I was almost able to join them there.

Almost.

Just as I was about to round the corner, a hand clamped down upon my mouth, and an arm wrapped around my torso. I tried to scream as I was hauled backwards, but only a muffled cry escaped my lips. From the street, I saw two men walking by. One of them looked up briefly, and we made eye contact. I watched as a look of surprise crossed his face. Watched as he nudged his friend and inclined his head in my direction.

Then, I watched as they both smirked, turned away, and kept walking.

I took a moment to lock their faces away in my memory. I’d find them. And after I dealt with whoever was currently dragging me backwards, I’d drink them dry.

But first, I had to break free.

I raked my nails against the arm that encased my torso. But instead of harming my assailant, I only succeeded in breaking my nails down to the quick. Tears sprang to my eyes at the sudden burst of pain.

The arm was as hard as rock.

In fact, it was made of stone.

This didn’t stop me from struggling with all my might, kicking and flailing all the way back down the side street until we were well out of sight of anyone passing by. There, beside a pair of trash bins, the creature holding me captive dropped me to the ground.

All I saw at first was a pair of feet. Bare feet standing on the dirty cobblestones.

It was only as I raised my head, following the line of the legs up to a pale, solid torso, that I noticed the flaking skin.

A concrete angel stood before me, eyes cold and hollow, lips flat and serious, wings tucked behind a broad back, hidden from the humans.

It was one of the Witch’s sentries.

"I’ve come with a warning," the creature’s voice cracked like shale. When he didn’t continue, I grew impatient.

"And?" I demanded, trying to take a step back.

He followed me step for step. "The Stone Witch does not take threats lightly."

I rolled my eyes. "If she’s afraid of me, why didn’t she find me herself?"

"She is not afraid," he answered in a monotonous drawl. "But she will repay insolence thoroughly."

"She can’t repay me if she won’t talk to me."

Slowly, he raised a stone finger to point at me. "She can. And she will." His head tilted to one side, and the concrete wings along his back extended outward once more. "Your time is running out. And her punishment will be swift."

I smirked. "Tell her I welcome the challenge."

But I wasn’t sure if he heard me, as he was suddenly still and silent, just another immobile statue hidden within the city walls.