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“Hopefully we can grab enough that they can’t do the ceremony,” Charlie replied somberly.
* * *
At half seven,we bundled into the car on the way to sabotage the ceremony. I was in the back, snuggled next to Zaide and holding his braid, playing with the black stone and the white ends of his hair.
I was nervous and trying to keep calm. There was a tension in the air. We all knew this would be hard, maybe even impossible, but we were jumping off the cliff and into the unknown anyway.
My mind flashed back to Winnie explaining her reasons for this, how she only wanted to belong, and guilt poisoned my thoughts. I was about to ruin something important to her, my witch, who’d saved me, but she was wrong.
I’m doing the right thing.I nodded to myself.But will she ever forgive me for betraying her?
My stomach sank. I was tired of thinking about everyone else. I was tired of trying to be perfect so people would love me. It’s part of why I loved being a cat—no matter what I did, people loved me.
She betrayed me first. If she can’t forgive me, then I’ll leave with my soul pair, and Charlie.
As we traveled down the winding road, large woodland areas on either side, I felt Winnie getting closer. “She’s nearby,” I told them.
Charlie shrugged. “We were expecting them to try and stop us.”
“They won’t be able to recognize us, Clawdia. I have us disguised. No puny witch magic will see through our glamor,” Daithi scoffed.
“What about the car?” Charlie asked hurriedly.
“What about it?”
“They might recognize the car!” Charlie roared. “Fuck!” He banged the steering wheel and made us all jump. Zaide’s hand came to rest on my thigh and reassured me.
“They may not.” Daithi’s voice quivered slightly. “There is still time to hide it.”
“This is the only road to the clearing. They will have people watching. We are screwed.” Charlie cursed and shook his head clear of his frustrations.
I shuddered. If Winnie saw us, then she would have to stop them, or she would die. And therefore, I would die.
But if she stopped them, she’d kill my soul pair and erase Charlie’s mind, and I couldn’t allow that. I wouldn’t let them die. I’d stop her myself if I had to.
I hoped the disguise would be enough, but I wasn’t sure how much influence word choice had on a vow. If she didn’t recognize the group that left the car but knew the car belonged to us and that we were likely disguised, would the vow activate?
Charlie parked alongside the tree line a little distance from where other cars started. The tension was palpable. My mouth was dry. My heart thumped painfully in my chest, and fear swirled in my stomach. I felt sick.
“Come on,” Charlie whispered.
We all moved silently as we got out of the car and closed the doors quietly, holding our breath and looking out into the tree line, waiting for an attack.
Charlie didn’t look at us as he whispered, “Stick together.” He creeped to the front of the car, moving soundlessly over the gravel. I tried to emulate him as best I could as I met him there. The four of us formed a tight box as we moved together toward the tree line.
I gasped as fear suddenly flooded through me, making my knees unsteady. But it wasn’t coming from me.
“Winnie?” I turned, looking for her. I felt the jolt of fear and hope at the sound of my call. I knew she was close. I knew she could hear me. I just couldn’t see her.
“Little Cat, you must be quiet.” Zaide’s voice was low but soft, and he placed a hand on my shoulder to keep me from moving away from them.
“Something is wrong—”
From the tree line, a female voice shouted. “Take another step, and I kill her!”
Mary.
“Winnie!” I called as Mary revealed herself. On her knees next to her and caged was my witch. My gaze met hers. Fear and sadness were etched into her lovely dark skin.
