Page 263 of The Wishing Game

"Good. You are excused now," the high priestess intones as the boulder slides out of place to reveal the exit. We both turn to leave. "Not you." She points to me. "You are staying."

"But—"

"Arwyn, you are dismissed," she repeats, giving a harsh look at Wyn.

"It's okay," I whisper to her. "I'll be fine."

"Will you..." She bites her lip.

I'm not sure, but for her sake, I muster a smile.

"Of course. I'll see you later."

Wyn hovers around the exit for a few moments, reluctant to leave me alone. But one more warning from the high priestess and she eventually departs. When she's out of sight, the boulder slides back into place, camouflaging with the environment and sealing shut the room.

The entire room falls silent as the priestess stares at me in puzzlement.

"Who are you?" she asks as she slowly comes closer to me.

"Uhm, no one?"

She narrows her eyes at me.

"Your tattoos," she mentions as she circles me. "Who sent you?"

"W-what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"I have ways to make you talk. Do not test me."

"I really have no idea what you want from me. If it's about that sphere, I'm sorry. It was just an accident. I didn't mean to break it. I would offer to pay, but I see you have more of the same, so..." I mumble awkwardly.

"An accident?" She laughs. "That sphere is unbreakable. Not evenIcan break it."

My lashes flutter as I take a step back.

"Maybe that was a poor quality one?" I supply. "Oh, maybe it was a fake one!"

"Nonsense," she bellows. Stopping in front of me, her hand suddenly shoots out as she tears the top of my dress, revealing the marks scattered across my collarbone. "You mean to tell me you do not know what these are?"

"No, I swear I—" I put my arms up to defend myself as I take a step back.

"You don't know what this is either?" She screws up her face in disbelief, manifesting my pearl bracelet in her hand.

"Fashion jewelry?" I force a smile.

"Stop lying!"

"I am not," I protest.

"Maybe I could have overlooked those writings on your skin or this odd talisman that simmers with energy, but you broke an Elegian Sphere. You not only destroyed it, but you did something to the particles inside of it..." She grits her teeth, the red paint surrounding her eyes infiltrating her irises.

"I..." My pulse roars in my ears at the terrifying picture she strikes. Seconds go by and she looks increasingly less humanoid and more like a blood-thirsty monster—who is coincidentally out formyblood.

"What the hell, Ze? How could you send me to this crazy lady?"

"I will ask again. Who are you? Or better yet,whatare you?" she demands, the ground shaking with each syllable she utters.

"You have the wrong person, lady. I really don't know about the marks on my skin. I've had them for years. And I have no idea why the bracelet would reek of demon. I have it from a mermaid," I explain, omittingsomeinformation, but still telling her the truth. "As for the Elegian Sphere or whatever, how could I break it when I'm just a human?" I end up confessing. This should be the easiest way to get rid of her. If she realizes I'm just a human—although I don't know how she didn't sense it before—maybe she will finally leave me alone.

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