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I didn’t want to, but the poison in my blood gave me no choice. Already my head felt leaden, and as the ground spun faster and faster, I had to cover my face. My leg tingled until I could no longer feel it, and the numbness swept up from my ankle to my brow.

“Sleep,” the Serpent King whispered one last time. Then he too slept. Except unlike me, he would not wake up.

* * *

When I awoke, I was home, nestled in my little bed by the cooking pot. I lifted my head. The throbbing pain in my arms and legs was gone, replaced by a numbing sensation behind my cheeks, but even that was fading.

I crawled up to Mama’s bedside. In her arms, little Vanna was asleep.

The pretty one, I remembered.

Mama stirred. When she saw me, she let out a small gasp. Fear leapt into her eyes and made her voice shake. “Ch-Ch-Channi, what happened to your face?”

I blinked, confused. “Is it dirty, Mama?”

“No. No.” Mama swallowed. I tried to see my face in her pupils, but it was dark. The sun had fallen, and we were too poor to burn candles at night.

When she spoke again, she was calmer. “Never mind your face. Come.”

She cupped my cheek in her cold, sallow hand. I held it close, feeling how weak she was, how brittle her fingers were against my skin.

I snuggled beside her. Her pulse was so faint I had to press my ear to her chest to hear it. I glanced over at Vanna, still sleeping peacefully. Still glowing, though the light was softer than it had been earlier, when she’d just been born. A tinge of envy washed over me, imagining that I’d have to share Mama in the future.

But then Vanna opened her eyes. She smiled at me, reaching out her tiny fingers to touch my cheeks.

“Look there,” Mama whispered. “Vanna opened her eyes. For you.”

I was the first person or thing she ever saw.

Vanna laughed then, an adorable little giggle that made my heart flutter. That was the moment I fell in love with my sister, the moment I swore I wouldn’t let the Demon Witch take her. Not ever.

“Will you promise to watch over her, Channi?” Mama asked. “To protect her always?”

I almost jumped. Had Mama read my mind?

“Yes, I promise.” I reached out and held Vanna’s tiny hand, squeezing as hard as I dared. I’ll protect you.

The light in Vanna’s chest flashed, and a shot of warmth emanated from her fingertips, so unexpected and powerful that it sent a jolt through my entire body.

“You see? Even the gods know now that you two are bound.” Mama leaned back with a feeble smile. “A promise is not a kiss in the wind, to be thrown about without care. It is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled. Understand?”

This was a saying from her village that she’d taught me long ago. “I understand,” I said, even though I didn’t really.

“Good.” Mama inhaled. “Now, let the baby sleep.”

Obediently, I let go of Vanna and climbed up the bed to Mama’s side. Even though Mama was tired and worn, to me she was still the prettiest woman in the world. She had the warmest, brownest eyes. They weren’t large or wide, and her eyelashes weren’t long or thick, but they were honest eyes. Honest eyes to match her proud, honest nose and lips.

I glowed whenever anyone said I looked like her.

Bringing me close, Mama caressed my hair and began to sing:

Sitting among the stars is my beautiful moon-faced girl.

Channi, my beautiful moon-faced girl.

Her music calmed me, and I forgot about the fear in her eyes when she’d seen my face. I forgot about Angma’s promise to kill my sister and me. My thoughts drifted far away, and my muscles softened.

For the last time, I fell asleep to the sound of Mama’s voice.