Page 88 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens

“Florence!” Francis hissed at her; the boy’s teeth dug into Francis’ arm though it did not seem to bother him. “Wurdulacs are just waiting for us all to be in one place. You must leave!”

An excruciating wail swept through the ground as the sound of banging metal interrupted it. “Get the orphans into the carriages!” Someone ran past us. “They are taking them back to Faris.”

“If Wurdulacs are coming, we won’t be safe anywhere.” Florence jerked herself out of Francis’ grasp, rushing towards the chaos.

Francis swore before meeting my gaze. “Don’t leave my side,” he threw at me as he charged towards the carriages.

Crimson snow crushed under our steps; the sound brought an odd comfort to my ears as I followed after Francis. Three wooden carriages stood by the line of dense spruce. Its walls barely kept the mad children within.

The children thrashed against the wood, their hands stretched out from the tiny window, grabbing onto everything they could reach.

“Thirteen!” A blonde woman by the carriage shouted, taking the child off Francis’ hands. She nudged the boy into the carriage, locking the door as though they were no more than wild animals.

My gaze widened as a paralyzing chill traveled through me.

“Stay here,” Francis shoved a small black blade into my palm, wrapping my fingers around its hilt. “When the carriage is ready to depart, go with them and stay at the orphanage until I come back for you.” His hands wrapped around my face; his eyes desperately searched mine, yet I could not will my gaze to leave the horrific scene playing out before me. “Cordelia!” Francis shook my shoulders. “Promise me, you will do as I said.”

“I will,” I whispered, swallowing the lump that grew in my throat.

Francis nodded once. His mouth opened and closed as though wanting to say more, yet when I finally moved my gaze to him he’d already left me by the three big carriages that overflowed with whining children.

“Is there any way to calm them?” A man whose eyes shone emerald green put another child inside: a girl who didn’t look a day past three. “We won’t make it far if they turn the carriage upside down.”

The blonde woman shook her head, locking the door. “Only human blood will calm them,” she replied. “We will have to bring them as they are.”

“How many children left?” Florence asked, carrying a child in her arms.

“Fifteen.”

A sharp pain went through my arm as a gasp escaped me. Small teeth pierced my wrist; glowing brown—full of tears—eyes met mine. The teeth left me just a moment later, realizing my blood wouldn’t suffice.

“The first carriage is full!” someone yelled, just before the horses neighed, setting the carriage into movement.

“Wurdulacs!” someone cried. “Wur—”

“Help!” A child’s voice traveled through the forest, breaking my trance. My head flew in that direction. “Help!” the child cried.

Before I could think better of it, my legs carried me towards two figures on the crimson snow.

“Stop it—” the child screamed, fighting against the figure laying atop him. “Stop! Ah—”

My hands wrapped around the girl atop him. Her teeth dug deep into the boy's shoulder.

“Charlotte?” I dragged her off the child’s body. “Charlotte, it’s me, Cordelia.” I held her close as she thrashed against me, fighting for freedom. “Charlotte!”

“Let me go!” She bit my hands that wrapped around her waist, knocking me to the ground.

My small black blade vanished into the crimson snow.

“Let me go!” Charlotte roared.

“It’s all right.” I held her tighter. “You will be all right.”

My muscles screamed in protest when Charlotte’s teeth punctured my flesh. I would not be able to carry her by myself—not when she fought me as though her life depended on it. Another bite disabled my wrist—

“Take the child.” Heavy boots crunched the crimson snow when a pair of hands reached for Charlotte.

“I won’t go back!” she yelled when the hands ripped her out of my grasp. “Let me go!” She wailed against a redheaded man in a dark blue cloak.