But I found something else.
A second piece of paper.
I took it out, unfolding it with shaking hands. I could smell the scent of Aunt Teetee on it, and it only said one thing.
We are not alone.
My heart stopped and skin crawled. Panic filled my stomach and my blood thickened. I was on my feet before I could realize and was running in the direction of her home.I’d been such an idiot! How had I not seen it?
No wonder she was acting odd. We weren’t alone in the house. I was being watched the whole time. And I’d been talking about my letter and seal.
I rounded the corner and saw the flames already licking at Aunt Teetee’s thatch roof. I pushed aside the panic and ran to the door and pushed against it.
It was locked.
I rammed with my shoulder.
Nothing.
I rammed again.
Nothing!
The desperation rose in my body, unfurling and rising on hind legs within my chest. I booted the handle catch with all my strength and the door flew off the hinges. The gust of oxygen fed the flames into roaring, but I ran inside.
The house was in disarray. Everything had been overturned and the smell of fire and dried herbs was overwhelming. I knew that half of the stuff in here would put a person to sleep so I had to be quick.
I went through to the kitchen. The table was overturned and a prone body lay on the ground in a pool–“Aunty?” I dropped to my knees. A large gash ran her forehead and her stomach—I gagged.
She fluttered her eyelids open. “Child…”
I cradled her head, the back already soaked with blood. It was everywhere. “I’m glad you got out,” she said, blood trickling from her mouth.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. I didn’t know. I was just–”
“It’s okay,” she said. She smiled. “It’s fine.”
I brushed her hair, my tears evaporating as they fell.
“It’s true,” she said.
“But how do you know–”
She took my hands in hers . “I was entrusted to hide you,” she murmured. She motioned me closer. “I am like you believe you are. I cannot shift. And as long as you have been near me, I have stopped you from shifting.”
The fire roared and the smoke became stronger. “Aunty we need to leave,” I said.
“No,” she shook her head. “You need to leave. You need to fulfill your prophecy.”
“Aunty we–”
She took my face in her hands. “You have been beautiful all your life. I have been so privileged to look after you. You have been like my daughter. But it was the only way–” Blood erupted from her mouth like a volcano. Her stomach spurted blood as she began coughing.
“Aunty,” I cried.
“Beware,” she said. “Beware of–”
The roof beam fell and I pulled us back. The exploding wood sent searing embers at us, burning my flesh. I dragged Aunty into the hallway, over the broken door and out into the street.
