A wooden door stood ahead, its frame tangled in vines. Aliya knocked. "Avilyn, it's me. Open up!"
The door creaked open. A redhead in a dark green robe leaned against the frame, unimpressed. "You need me? I'm in the middle of something very... important." She sighed, eyes rolling.
Then she saw me, and a smirk curled her lips. "Who's this little thing?"
"This is Nixie. She's a healer. And a Banshee," Aliya said.
I blinked, confused by the title.
"Pfft... what do you want?" Avilyn asked, barely interested.
"She's looking for a herb called... Enchantica?"
"Echinacea," I corrected, laughing softly.
"That. Do you have it?"
"Of course. But..." Avilyn stepped out, folding her arms. "What do I get in return?"
"Have you ever helped someone just to help?" Aliya snapped.
"Umm... let me think!" Avilyn tapped her chin, glanced at the ceiling, then deadpanned, "No. And I intend to keep it that way." She turned away.
As she began to close the door, I caught it. "Please! I'll return the favor!"
Aliya grabbed my hand, eyes warning me. But I only thought of my sister.
"I'll manage," I whispered.
Avilyn paused. Then she let us in.
Later, as we returned, I cradled the pot of herbs. Aliya's voice was tight with worry.
"You shouldn't have made a deal with her."
"I had to. My sister needs this."
"I would've stolen it for you." Aliya mumbled
"You'd steal from your own sister?" I stared.
"She may be my sister, but she's not who she pretends to be." Her tone hardened. "She's cruel. You? You're innocent. That's why I called you Banshee. In my mother tongue, it means fairy." She squeezed my hand. "And you look exactly like one."
Her words filled me with a strange warmth. No one had ever called Nixie a friend before.
As we reached the stairs, I paused. "There's one problem—my boat wrecked. How do I get back?"
Aliya grinned. "You never asked about my powers." She took my hands. "Close your eyes."
I did.
Then came a knock.
I opened my eyes—back in bed. Another knock. I sat up, dress still soaked from the river. I ran to the door. A girl slept by the fireplace.
I smiled faintly and opened it—it was Avilyn.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, peeking out. "Is Aliya with you?" No one followed.
"I need you. Please… I need your help." Her voice trembled.
I glanced at my sleeping sister, then stepped outside. "What's wrong?" The moon hung low and cold.
"You said you'd return the favor," she said.
I nodded. "Let me grab my book."
I slipped inside, grabbed my book, sack, and cape, then followed her.
She led me to a boat, then through a hidden cellar passage into her room. As soon as we stepped in, she locked the door. A guttural noise rumbled behind me. I turned—and collapsed.
"Don't worry. He won't hurt you," she said, helping me up.
Tied to a wooden board was a man—with the head of a dog. He growled like a starved beast.
"He's my fiancé," she said quickly. "A widow cursed him. If we don't treat him before sunrise, he'll stay like this."
"Curse of a widow!" I yanked out my book. "I've read about this!" I flipped pages. "It turns the infected into a half-wolf, half-human. If there's a black wound, there's still time. That's good! We just need the antidote." I scanned the ingredients. "Two Earth Roots, a Monk's Blossom, and…"
My voice broke. The last item made my stomach lurch. The other ingredients were already on the table.
"Tongue of a harbinger of death…" I turned. Avilyn stood with a knife. "You didn't bring me for help. You brought me for my tongue?"
"Of course. What, you thought I needed your advice?" Her voice stayed sweet. "I own the greatest healer's book ever written. Maybe I should've been clearer."
"I won't give up my tongue!" I ran for the door.
She tripped me. I hit the floor hard.
"I didn't ask for permission," she said, before slamming the knife hilt into my head.
Darkness.
When I woke, I was tied to a chair. I screamed.
"No use," she said calmly. "Your voice won't go beyond these walls." She pressed her foot on my knee. "I slipped something in your mouth. You'll obey now. Open up."
I didn't want to. But I did.
"Stick out your tongue."
I fought it. But my body wouldn't listen. I obeyed, tears sliding down.
She grabbed it. Pressed the blade.
I shut my eyes. Then—agony. The knife sliced. I screamed, tears spilling.
Suddenly, I was back in the tank—back as Zinnia. Gasping, crying, voiceless. I rose from the water. No cough. No sound.
I'd never known such pain. I wanted to help Nixie, to stop Avilyn, to *do* something. But I was helpless.
Monroe entered with a guard.
"Stop this!" I shouted with what voice I had.
"Ready to talk now?" she asked gently.
I nodded, shaking. "Yes! Just—make it stop."
"Where is the sphere?"
"I swear I don't know!" I cried. "Let me out!" I screamed again.
"They say you have it. The prophecies never lie," she snapped.
"Are you insane? I do not! Have! The damn! Sphere!" My fists clenched. "Didn't you already check?" But she turned and pulled the lever again.
"I'll see how long you will fight the water, you are a phoenix after all, your flames *will* extinguish"
My limbs were going numb. My skin crawled. I couldn't move.
The board rotated. Water rushed in.
"Why don't you just kill me?" I screamed.
This time, I didn't hold my breath. I didn't fight. I let go. Let it take me.
But fate wasn't done.
Each time I woke, they made me speak, think, chase something I didn't have. No time to miss my friends. No clue they were trying to save me.
That night, after curfew, just as Mrs. Leonardo had planned, Cris slipped past the guards. Down the hallway, a few steps below ground, was the old library. She crept through shadows to the far corner.
A grill gate. Thick chain. Padlock. Dusty shelves all around. A single light above cast everything in eerie glow.
This had to be the place Mrs. Leonardo mentioned. She waited.
Suddenly, a guard appeared at the top of the stairs.
Cris ducked behind a shelf. Heart pounding. Footsteps neared. She grabbed a heavy book. Foot steps got closer and closer…
Boom! She struck.
The figure dropped.
Not a guard.
Shawn.
Groaning, he rubbed his head. "Are you trying to kill me, Cris? This is getting ridiculous!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" She helped him up.
His glare said *apologize*. She did.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.