Page 97 of What did you do?

“I’m only practicing. I just want to get better so I can go to Seelie with you and Eli,” I said flatly. Too flatly—I needed to make sure to put more emotion in the next words. “I wouldneverhurt you. I love you.”

“I don’t know, Calypso. They aren’t just going to let a bloodthirsty Artemi wander around Seelie. They would send me to the Elysian Fields before I could even empower you to be an official Seelie royal,” she said, sitting down on a tree stump.

“Elysian Fields? You seem sure you won’t be going to Tartarus,” I grumbled under my breath as I kicked leaves over Peter’s arm.

Saracen let out a snort of laughter. “I agree. I’m likely better suited to go to the fiery pits of Tartarus.” Her head shook slowly. “Thank the Fates, all Seelie royals automatically go to the Elysian Fields, regardless.”

I dropped the rope I held. “I’ll complete a huge test. Something that all of the people will be affected by, so they know I fight for Seelie only,” I said frantically. “I’ll do anything you ask! Whatever it is, I’ll do it, and then you can empower me as an official Seelie royal. I couldn’t turn on Seelie then.”

“That still doesn’t mean you won’t turn your powers on me once you get them,” she said as her body shifted away from me.

“I’ll—I’ll give you my heart!” I cried out.

“You’ve been near Commander Von too much. I have no cannibalistic tendencies, my dear,” she replied with a grimace.

“No—no! It’s an Artemi thing. I’ve heard about a witch who can split your heart in half. It’s an option when the power bestowed on the Artemi is too great and they can’t bear it any longer. Usually if there is a lot of power, they get it before they’re eighteen and able to use it. I’ll find a witch and she’ll take the half with the dormant powers and give it to you! You’ll have full control of me until I’ve proven to be a part of your family and court.” My chest rose and fell with excitement.

She wrinkled her brow at me. “Why have I never heard of that before?”

“Because it’s a transfer of powers, and they don’t want anyone to know that they can do that. Artemi can even give weak elders small bits of their power if they get sick or need it. There are lots of things no one knows,” I stated.

Now, in the dirty street, blood had poured from my face down to my dress. My nose was broken and throbbing, pain radiating from my eyes and head. I just wanted to lay in the puddle a little longer and pretend I wasn’t here. What was I doing? I was only ten. I’d nearly flunked science last year and gotten Ds in everything else. Why on earth had I thought I would be able to pull off this plan? I wasn’t smart, I wasn’t strong. I was nothing.

I looked over at the alleyway, where a small black cat was sitting and watching me.

Adrianna had loved cats. Every shirt she owned had kittens on it. She had even managed to get Mom to iron on little cat patches all over her book bag.

The place where I guessed my heart might be already felt hollow. No matter how much I lashed out, it never filled.

No, I wouldn’t let them down. I wouldn’t let myself stop until the person who killed them died.

The black cat coiled around my legs, shoving its soft, little head at me until I was forced to sit up in the parking lot so the cat would stop pushing against my swollen face.

A car slammed on its brakes, honking and veering right before hitting me. Had I been lying down, they would have never seen me.

“Agh! It’s a ghost, man,” the driver shrieked to his passenger as they screeched away.

“Thanks,” I said to the cat, patting its raised rear end.

I knew why the cat was drawn to me, but it was still weird. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to it. I didn’t want to.

The dainty feline started to walk down the alley, but then stopped and came back in a huff to shove my legs.

I needed to get to this bar and kill my marks or a broken nose wouldn’t be the half of it. Commander dressed me in the usual, a cutesy dress and a pair of tights. If I showed up like this, they would probably run from me like that car had, and I needed them to let down their guard.

I stood up and grabbed my pounding head as the rush from standing caused more blood to gush from my nose. I had to get cleaned up a little.

“All right, I hope you’re taking me somewhere with a sink,” I muttered, following the pleased cat down the alleyway.

We continued down several long side streets and corners, scaring every person in the alley who was attempting some sort of nefarious activity and sending them screaming and running the other direction, until we eventually came to a small hole-in-the-wall shop with a flashing neon sign that said “Psychic Readings.”

The cat pushed open the cracked door and snaked in as a bell jingled loudly. It was as good of a place as any to get cleaned up, so I opened the door and walked inside to find the cat coiled up on a purple-haired woman with at least four facial piercings.

“Well, well, well. Look what my cat dragged in,” she said with a stern look. “Tell me who to put a hex on while I clean you up, little girl.”

“You’re a—a witch?” I asked, glancing at the cat and hardly believing my luck.

“Yeah, honey, but don’t worry. I’m not the scary kind like in the movies.”

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