Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked, #2) (110)

I gripped the hilt of my dagger and subtly moved into the fighting stance Anir had taught me. “Who are you?”

“The better question is, who are you, child?”

“I am someone in need of information.”

I couldn’t see her face in the mist, but had the impression she was smiling. “How exceptional. You see, I am someone who has information. And expects payment.”

I paused at that, tamping down my initial response to offer her whatever she wanted. That would be dangerous in any realm, let alone this sinful one. “I will pay you in one secret.”

“No.” The figure moved closer. The hood of her cloak was pulled low, covering her face. “I know your secrets. Better than you, I imagine. I want a favor. Collected in the future at my discretion.”

Goddess curse me. It was a terrible bargain. “I will not commit murder.”

“You either accept the favor, or you don’t. It will all depend, I suppose, on how badly you are in need of information. Consider this a test of courage. Which will it be? Bravery or fear?”

Bravery might be the absence of fear in most cases, but it also seemed a little like acting foolishly for a good cause. I was not worried about being brave. I was interested in watching out for myself, making the best decision I could. If the mystery woman did indeed know me better than I did, then the best choice was to agree. Consequences be as damned as my soul.

“I accept.”

Before the words had completely left my lips, the figure lashed out. It happened so quickly I barely registered the sting in my arm. She’d cut me. I glanced up, ready to defend against any other attack, and halted as she carved her palm and placed it to my wound.

She whispered a word, and a blinding flash of light cracked the night sky.

“Go on, then, child. Ask your questions.”

“I want to find the Seven Sisters. Are they here?”

“No. They dwell where no sin rules above all.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“When the time is right, you will understand.”

I gritted my teeth. Fine. “I want to know about my twin. She was murdered and I need to know which demon house is behind it. If any.”

“You cannot expect to find answers to anyone else’s mystery, when you do not yet understand the mystery of yourself.”

“Isn’t that the purpose of our little conversation? I didn’t agree to your bargain simply to have you toss more questions my way. You cannot tell me where Seven Sisters are, you cannot tell me about my twin. What exactly can you help me with?”

“If you hope to find what you’re looking for, you must pass my test of courage.”

“That was not part of our bargain.”

“Oh, but it is. You, my child, find yourself in the center of your own mystery. Until you discover the secrets of yourself, you will not know the answers to your sister’s mystery. And that is something I cannot tell you. Some truths you must find on your own. What else troubles you?”

I swallowed hard. “My magic. I cannot access it.”

“I may know a way for you to gain it back. And find an answer your heart yearns for. Regarding your prince.” The figure suddenly stood before the tree. “You want to know his truth, then carve his name into the tree and take one leaf.”

I thought back to the fable I’d read, a sick feeling twisting like a knife inside. This robed figure had to be the Crone. The goddess of the underworld. And she was something to be feared. “If I do that and guess wrong, there will be a price.”

“A true act of courage does not come without the risk of a great cost.” Her sharp smile was the only thing I could see and did little to alleviate my nerves. “After you carve his true name and take the leaf, you must shatter it in his presence. If you are correct, you’ll know. If not…”

I swallowed the rising bout of terror. If I was correct and she was the goddess of the underworld, her price would be death. A small detail both Envy and Celestia had left out of my education. “I don’t know for certain.”

“You do know who he is, but you choose to remain in the shadows, comfortable in the dark. Maybe it’s not his truth you fear, but your own. Perhaps you refuse to look too closely at him because of what it reveals about you. He is your mirror. And rarely do we appreciate what stares back at us. That, my child, is where the true test comes in. Are you brave enough to confront your demons? Not many are.”

I glanced down at my magical tattoo—the one that told our story. “This wasn’t the question I came here for.”

“No. But it is the one you’re too frightened to ask. Therefore I inquire again, Daughter of the Moon, not who he is, but who are you?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Wrong.” She stomped her foot, displacing the mist with her sudden movement. “Tell me. Who are you?”

“I don’t remember. But I’m damn well going to find out!”

“Good. It’s a start.” She gave me a small, knowing nod. “What are you going to do?”

I glanced over my shoulder. Tanzie was back from wherever the Crone had hidden her, those liquid eyes solemn. This choice could cost me my life.

I lifted my dagger and pressed it against the Curse Tree. I was going to carve Wrath’s true name into the wood and do as the Crone suggested: confront the truth I’d been running from.