The Devouring Gray(27)

Isaac’s words held the low, effortless cadence of someone telling a story they had heard a thousand times before. Like a fable. Like a lullaby.

“So they couldn’t kill it,” said Violet. “What did they do instead?”

Justin traced a finger across the curve at the edge of the map, a gesture as intimate as a lover’s caress. “They tricked it. Bargained away parts of themselves to the monster in exchange for some of its magic. Then they used those powers to bind the monster to the town itself. Well, to a version of the town. That place you got sucked into is its prison—another Four Paths, laid over ours, frozen in the moment the founders bound the monster inside of it. The Gray.”

Violet thought of the row of strange, old houses. Of that static sky, those awful, twisted trees.

“So they worshipped them…us…for that,” she said slowly, trying to understand.

“Yes,” said Justin. “The religion was called the Church of the Four Deities. It died out a long time ago, but…the remnants are still there. We still protect the town. And they still respect us for it.”

“You’re lucky, you know.” May’s voice sounded a little less pinched now. “Most people who wander into the Gray don’t come out alive. Especially people who haven’t done a ritual.”

Violet wondered why, exactly, May’s eyes had flicked toward Justin at the end of that sentence. “You mentioned a ritual before. What is that?”

Justin answered. “Each founder bound themselves to the monster in a different way. As Hetty Hawthorne’s descendants, we must pass the same trial she did to earn our powers. Each family’s ritual is different, at slightly different ages, although it’s always somewhere between thirteen and sixteen.”

“So you both did these rituals?” said Violet.

A look passed between them. It reminded her of the wordless conversations she and Rosie used to have, and witnessing it made her insides seize.

“Yes,” Justin said after a slightly protracted pause. “You’re a senior—you’re seventeen, right?”

Violet nodded.

“So you’re past the age you should’ve done your ritual by, and you’re pretty vulnerable until you do. You’ve got powers, but you won’t be able to fully control them until you go through the right steps. The Gray will hold you here until that happens.”

“Hold me here?” Violet’s thoughts spun with sudden panic. “But I can leave, right?”

“No,” said May solemnly. “You can’t.”

Violet’s breaths were coming in short, choppy gasps. Rosie was in Westchester. Not here. Nothing but death and these strange god-families and the Gray were here. But she didn’t want to break down like this; not here, in front of strangers. “I thought you said this prison was for the monster.”

“It is.” She was pretty sure Justin was trying to sound soothing, which only made her panic worse. “But your family line is bound to that monster. Which means that until you do your ritual, you’ll effectively be treated the same way.”

“So you’re saying, what, none of you could leave until you did your rituals?”

Justin shook his head. “Of course we could leave. I’m saying that if you don’t do your ritual when you’re supposed to, the town keeps you here until you either gain control of your powers…or, well…”

He trailed off uncomfortably.

Isaac finished his thought, the barest trace of a smile on his lips. “Or you die.”

Violet had no time to dwell on this, because her mind chose that moment to put something together that she should’ve realized minutes ago.

“Wait. My mother and my aunt must’ve done this ritual.” Her words rose on a wave of slow, cresting anger. “Juniper must know all of this. She must be lying about everything.”

She choked back a pained laugh. Justin placed his hand over hers, but she jerked it away.

“Actually, I don’t think your mother is lying,” May said delicately. “Just because founders can leave Four Paths for good doesn’t mean it’s easy. Our powers don’t even work outside the town.”

Violet’s heart sank further. She had the means to bring Rosie back, and yet retrieving her sister had once again become border line impossible.

It was an irony so cruel, May’s next words barely registered.

“It’s our sworn duty to stay here, to honor our ancestors, to protect the town. The price of leaving could’ve been her knowledge of the town’s true nature.”

Beside her, Justin nodded in affirmation, his eyes skating over Violet’s head.

“This place can do that?” Violet said dubiously. She was still grappling with what she’d just learned. “Wipe someone’s memories?”

“You have no idea what Four Paths is really capable of,” said May darkly.

“Okay,” Violet said. “So assuming my mother doesn’t know, and since my aunt isn’t exactly a reliable source, tell me what my ritual is supposed to be. And then I’ll do it, and then I’ll be able to leave.”

Justin frowned. “The Saunders family hasn’t really been a presence in this town since our mom was in high school. We barely know what kind of powers you have.”

A strange laugh bubbled in Violet’s throat. “You don’t know what my ritual is. So you brought me here to tell me I’m trapped? That’s it? There’s nothing you can do?”