Page 78

Mama shook her head. “How are you?”

I tried to shrug, but even that movement hurt, so I sat down in a chair by the door. “Why’d you light a fire? It’s too hot.” Even though it was winter, the weather was mild and warm, unusually so.

Ernesta started to answer, but Mama caught her eye and she fell silent.

“We should open a window,” I said. I started to move, but Ernesta jumped up, pushing me gently back into the seat.

“No point,” she said.

I turned to the window, and realization hit me as forcibly as the stench from the death cart: It wasn’t dark outside—the windows were covered in heavy black cloth.

We’d been quarantined.

FORTY-ONE

Nedra

“They can’t keepus here,” I said, jumping up despite the pain and moving to the door.

The second I opened it, a rock slammed into the doorframe. Another soared past my shoulder, smashing into a vase on the table behind me, and a third rock hit me in the chest so hard that I took a step back into the room. Ernesta got up and slammed the door shut.

“They can’t do this to us!” I said.

“Elder Gryff saw me calling for the kittens,” Ernesta said. “When I went out. He caught me. I tried to lie, but he guessed the truth. They came while you were asleep.”

I looked at my mother and sister. “We have to get you out,” I said. “I’ve been around this sickness before, I’ll be fine, but you could catch it—” I knew I wasn’t immune just because I’d been lucky before, but I was desperate to ensure my family’s safety.

Mama was already shaking her head. “It’s for the best. We can’t risk spreading the plague to the rest of the village.”

I thought about the Longshires. I could still hear the empty, hollow knocks on their door when no one answered.

“I have friends. We’ll take Jojo and the wagon and go into the city. The hospital will help us.”

Mama shut her eyes. “Your father wouldn’t survive the trip.”

“You two, then,” I insisted.

“You can barely stand,” Ernesta said. She held my arm, supporting me. The aftereffects of taking Papa’s pain still burned in my blood.

“There has to be something...” I muttered as she led me to our room.

My crucible still lay in the center of the bed. I clutched it to me, and Ernesta pulled the quilt over my shoulders. I fell asleep again, exhaustion overwhelming my body.

•••

“Nedra.”

My eyes creaked open, crusty and dry. My mouth was dry, too. My throat. It felt like I’d walked through a fire.

“Nedra.”

I sat up in bed. “Nessie?”

Ernesta grabbed my hand. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I could smell bread baking. “Yes,” I said.

“You’ve slept for hours.”