Page 77 of The 13th Daughter
She closed her eyes and I watched a single tear escape, but she nodded.
"Kay, please..."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, straightened her shoulders, and started walking.
"I could have left days ago," I told her softly. "Do you know why I didn't, Kay?"
She didn't say anything.
"I didn't leave because of you. I was afraid that you might be the thirteenth daughter. I was trying to find a way to save one or the other of us. I wasn't about to let you die."
She flinched. "We have to do what must be done. It is our duty."
"You really are your father's daughter, aren't you?"
"I'm nothing like him!"
"No? You're willing to let them kill me, aren't you?"
"You don't understand, CJ. You're not a part of the Coven. We don't have a choice!"
"There's always a choice, Makayla. Your choice is simple. Become your father and kill me or be my best friend, the girl I love like a sister, and help me."
"I said shut up!" Billy yanked me so hard, I pitched forward. Jeff yanked me back before I hit the ground. Billy's arm connected with my dress and the distinct smell of charred skin mingled with the sound of his curse. He hissed.
"Enough!" Ethan barked. "Pleading with us isn't going to help, Cassie. Makayla is right. None of us have a choice in this. You, me, Kay, we're all stuck in the role we have to play tonight. I wish it could be different, but it is what it is. So, let's just get this done."
My shoulders sagged as we started moving again. For just a moment, I let myself feel the defeat pressing in on me. Pain raged through me and my stomach rolled unpleasantly. It had been queasy all day, but now it was in full out puke mode. I took deep, shallow breaths to try and get it under control. I didn't have time for this.
"How did you know I was at your gra...Mr. Warren's?" Just breathe, Cassie, I told myself. You'll get through this.
"You can thank Billy and Jeff for that. They saw you go over to his house and called me."
"Jeff?" I turned startled eyes to him. Jeff had ratted me out? "Were you lying to me too?"
He shrugged. "Not really. I just made sure you were kept out of everyone's hair while they made plans."
"You..."
"Now, now, love," Ethan cut in. "He was only doing as he was told. Just as you will."
"The hell I will!" I shouted in his general direction. He was walking behind me and I couldn't see him.
"Parents, Cassie Jayne. Are you forgetting them?"
Dammit!
We bypassed the meeting hall and went into the park. The clearing. Of course they'd perform their ritual in the clearing. Couldn't burn a person alive inside, now could you?
This time when we entered the circle, the Elements were more subdued in their greeting, but I felt them each in turn. The heat of a summer's day was driven away by fall's cool breeze. The smell of freshly mown grass tickled my nose and dew coated my fingertips. A gentle calm settled over me. At least I might have some help.
The entire town was gathered. The robes I'd always imagined were out in full force. Midnight blue and made of some kind of heavy wool adorned the men. Dresses that looked more like lingerie draped the women. They all looked to be freezing their asses off, however. I took a simple pleasure from that fact.
At least until I saw the pyre. A long pole had been driven into the ground and kindling built up around it. A fire blazed a few feet away. I stared at the faces around me, they were excited, insane. My friends and family. They were all waiting for me to die.
Shit. They really were going to burn me.
Panic rose up. I tramped it down. I needed to make sure my parents were safe.
