Page 95 of Witch's Fate

“No.” As much as she wanted to see Malcolm again, no way would she hurt Vivienne. “No way. But they don’t have to know that. Just drop me off and go. I’ll figure it out from there.”

“Once you’re there, you really might not be able to leave. You could be punished with death. I mean, no one is allowed there without permission. I was only able to go get Sylvi and Logan because it was an emergency, and I didn’t actually enter Mnemosynia. I just went to the desert outside.”

“But if you took me to the desert, I could enter?”

“Maybe. There’s a gate. But if you can’t get through, you’re trapped in the desert.”

“I’ll do it. I don’t care.” She glanced down at Kitty. “You don’t have to come. It’s risky. You could live with Aurora and Mouse. Mouse likes you.”

Kitty hissed at her, obviously not impressed with the scenario. A teary smile tugged at Sofia’s lips.

“Thanks.” Sofia looked back up at Vivienne. “Please. I want this. I know the risks.”

Vivienne nodded. “Fine. We go now, and I leave you at the entrance.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much. I owe you.”

“Big time,” Vivienne said, then aetherwalked them all to the desert.

The sun beat down mercilessly and sand stretched out in all directions. Sand whipped on the wind, making Kitty turn into smoke for protection. Behind Vivienne loomed a huge city, ornate and whimsical.

Vivienne squeezed her arms. “Good luck.”

She disappeared, leaving Sofia and Kitty standing in the middle of the desert.

21

Sofia stared at the great city looming before her, hope and dread welling within her. This was it. If she was wrong, she could be trapped here forever—without Malcolm.

The city was far away, but enormous. Sections of shimmering gray stone walls dotted the periphery, but parts were missing, as if they’d fallen. The buildings that peeped above the walls were beautiful and fantastical, turrets and spirals. It was gorgeous—such a contrast to the desert outside.

“Come on, Kitty.” She set off across the sand, shedding her jacket as she walked. It was hotter than the jungle. Stifling, with the sun beating down mercilessly.

The wind began to pick up. It howled and shrieked, blasting in her ears and picking up sand that hurtled through the air like minuscule bullets.

Kitty turned to smoke and Sofia tried to conjure a pair of goggles and a handkerchief for her mouth. It didn’t work. Like the High Witch’s afterworld, her magic was blocked here.

So she squinted and pulled her shirt up over her mouth, then moved forward. Her skin stung wherever the sand hit her. She pushed on, fighting the wind and heat and sand. It was as if the desert were trying to keep her from reaching Mnemosynia.

When the wind hurtled even faster, pushing her back a step for every two that she took, fear started to claw at her.

She was making almost no progress—the city was still desperately far away. Her eyes burned and sand was getting in her mouth. In her smoke form, Kitty pressed against her, trying to give her strength, but it wasn’t enough.

Sofia stumbled to her knees. The hot sand burned. Gasping and choking on the grit, she scrambled up and pushed onward. She fell every ten yards, probably more often. Any idea of distance was eclipsed by the sand that now blocked her vision.

Her hope was dwindling when a figure appeared before her. Through the hurtling sand, she could make out a tall person dressed in white. Any other details were obscured by sand and the grit in her eyes.

“Sofia Viera, turn back now. Aetherwalk from this place.” The woman’s voice radiated power. Sofia’s skin tingled with it.

“No.” The words scratched her sand-coated throat. “Malcolm is in there.”

“You do not know that. You are not meant to be in Mnemosynia. Only the dead tread there.”

“I have to find him, and this is the last place I know to look.” She continued to push her way through the sand, which had become even more difficult to walk through. As if it were sucking her down.

“The journey will only become more difficult. Impossible. You can aetherwalk away and live a happy life. Continuing on means certain death.”

Sofia had nearly reached her on trembling legs. “Who are you?”

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