Page 56 of Haunted Hearts

“Blaze, don’t just tell them the bad things,” scolded his mother. “There are good objects and lucky ones to find, too.”

“Like what?” asked Serena, picking up her spoon.

“Such as, if you find a coin you will be wealthy. And if you find a ring you will be married this year.”

I already know the answers to all those things,” said Lillith, pushing her plate with the cake away from her.

“Well, I want to know,” said Serena, digging into the cake eagerly. “Oh! I found something,” she shouted, holding up a coin. “I’m going to be rich.”

“We already have plenty of money, Serena. That doesn’t mean a thing,” commented Lillith.

“Lord Blaze, check your cake,” said Serena excitedly. “See what your future holds.”

“I do like the taste of it, but I’m not looking for objects.” He dug into his cake anyway, but there was nothing but fruit inside.

“Mother, your turn to try it,” said Blaze.

“Why not?” Minerva dug into her cake and scowled. “A pea,” she said, sounding sorely disappointed, holding it up in two fingers. “I guess I won’t marry this year.”

“And neither should you,” said Blaze, taking another big bite of cake. “Father just died and you are in mourning.”

“Sister, you try it.” Serena urged Lillith to get involved in the game.

“I don’t care about it, Serena and I’m not hungry,” said Lillith.

“Lilly, I’ve never known you to be a bad sport,” said Blaze.

“All right,” she finally agreed, using her spoon to dig into the cake. She hit something hard immediately, and picked it up.

“It’s a ring!” cried Serena. “It means you will marry.”

“We already know I’m getting married this year since I’m betrothed, so this means nothing.” Lillith threw it down on the table. Blaze picked it up and wiped the cake off of it, with a hand cloth.

“It looks like your marriage to the baron will be a happy one after all, Lilly. Congratulations,” he said, most likely just trying to be polite.

Since she was sitting next to Blaze, he took her hand and slid the toy ring made of tin onto her finger.

Lillith looked up into Blaze’s eyes as he held her hand and her heart almost melted. She felt as if she were marrying him and he just put the wedding ring on her finger. She couldn’t break the connection between them and neither could he. He felt something too. She knew he did, even though neither of them said a word about it.

“Oh, Lillith, they’re lighting the bonfire,” said Serena excitedly. “I want to go over there. Can someone take me?”

Blaze let go of Lillith’s hand and stood. “Of course, my lady. I’d be happy to carry you over to a chair by the bonfire.”

Lillith was left staring at her hand as Blaze carried Serena over to the bonfire. Serena giggled and clung to Blaze’s neck. It seemed that Lillith’s sister was no longer frightened of him, and she seemed to like the attention she was getting as he carried her everywhere she went, even though Lillith wasn’t convinced she couldn’t walk on her own. If they kept getting along so well, Lillith was afraid they would go through with the wedding after all.

She stared at the toy ring on her finger once more, tears quickly filling her eyes.

“My dear.” Minerva walked over and placed her hand on Lillith’s shoulder. “Come with me.”

Lillith wiped away a tear and stood, following Minerva.

Looking back over her shoulder once more, Lillith saw her sister once again in Blaze’s arms. Any hopes regarding Blaze being her husband someday diminished quickly. Now, every last dream of Lillith’s shattered.

* * *

Lillith followed Minerva into Blaze’s solar, surprised to see her cards stacked up on the table. Minerva lit a candle as well as some incense. If Lillith wasn’t mistaken, it smelled like sage. Then the woman brought a bowl of salt to the table, as well as a handful of gemstones and laid them down.

“What’s all this?” asked Lillith, standing in the doorway, not sure if she should enter. After all, it was All Hallows’ Eve, the woman was a witch, and everything about this setting looked pagan to her.