Chapter 13
Kat
After we disentangle ourselves from each other, Crane has the nerve to head straight to Ms. Alvarez and check out a couple of the books he’d selected.
But if she senses that anything funny went down in the stacks, she doesn’t show it, even though I’m frantically patting down my hair to make sure it looks tidy.
“I shall walk you back to your dorm,” Crane says to me, making sure the librarian hears it, as we step out into the morning.
Just like it always does after sex, everything seems brighter, hopeful even, energy radiating through me.
The rain is still held at bay and there’s even a hint of sunlight trying to burn through the morning fog, and I like to think I brought that sunshine on.
We walk down the path and I’m surprised to see how many students have come outside during the time we’ve been in the library.
Though the grounds are damp from rain, groups of them are clustered around talking, taking advantage of the break in the weather.
One group has even set up a lively game of croquet.
Most of them don’t pay us any attention as we pass them by—probably because they’re used to seeing us together by now—though they’re still in earshot.
I can’t risk talking to you in private, he says inside my head as we slowly stroll down the path side-by-side, his hands behind his back. But I think walking next to you in silence will be permitted by the coven.
I make a small noise of agreement.
First things first, is my seed dripping down your leg?
I blink at him, my mouth dropping open. Now that he mentions it, it’s pooling at the top of my stockings. I’ll need to wash them right away.
I was just curious, he goes on smoothly. If only we were alone I’d be dropping to my knees and shoving it back inside your cunt.
“Crane!” I admonish him, clamping my lips together as soon as we pass a pair of teachers who are discussing something in a low voice. I can’t stop my cheeks from burning though.
Sorry, he says. I should get to the pressing matter at hand.
I give him an imploring look to say, Yes, please do.
I can’t survive his filthy mouth in public.
Again.
We walk to the center courtyard and pause by one of the benches underneath the statue of a skeleton with angel wings.
Yesterday I found out a few things that affect all of us, he says, his tone growing grave as he surveys the campus.
You and Brom in particular. Your aunt Leona brought me into her office.
Not only did she threaten to fire me if I continued to see you, but I now suspect that the witches here are on a quest to become immortal and I think you and Brom are the key to it.
I go still, sickly fingers squeezing my chest. “What?” I say through a gasp.
It’s enough for the students standing nearby to look my way. I avert my eyes, my heart pounding in my head, and keep walking.
Careful, sweet witch, he warns in step beside me.
This is all a theory and conjecture. I have no concrete evidence.
But I do think that your aunt is much older than she looks.
I think she’s been performing ceremonies and rituals for a long time to keep herself alive.
It explains why her face is often moving.
Do you know of Jeremias? He is the head witch of an old order that worshipped a demon called the Dark One.
He too has a moving face, though his is composed of all the sacrifices he’s done over the centuries.
Or so they say, anyway. His look darkens.
I believe the Dark One and Goruun might be one and the same.
Goruun is a demon? I ask inside my head, hoping he can hear me and, if he can’t, at least read the question on my face.
He stares at me for a moment but I am unsure if he heard me.
Or maybe they’re not. Leona says he’s a deity to their coven, but I think that’s another word for demon to them.
They believe that Goruun does everything for them, including manipulating our lives to put us on their path. Catch us in their web.
His gaze goes to the cathedral by the woods.
To what end, I don’t know, he goes on. But they worship him.
With all that I’ve gathered from your conversation with Sister Sophie, and from what Brom has said about your mother, I have reason to think that your marriage to Brom is part of some…
ritual, or ceremony, something that involves Goruun.
Something that will benefit their coven, which is why I mentioned the immortal part.
Your aunt said that the only things that will be left at the end of the world will be ashes and witches.
I swallow hard, having a hard time processing any of this. The world seems to slide away, my vision growing hazy.
He clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him, his gaze steady on me.
We will get to the bottom of this, Kat, he says.
Trust me. I know you have feelings for Brom and it’s very clear he has feelings for you, but the both of you must understand that until we figure this out, the two of you cannot be together.
Certainly not in any way that could result in your pregnancy.
I glance at him, eyes wide.
He gives me an uneasy smile. There’s a chance that they have a sacrifice in mind. Perhaps they promised Goruun your future child with Brom.
I stop and shake my head, feeling sick. “No,” I whisper. “They wouldn’t.”
But the look he gives me in return says that they would.
I know you don’t want to think about it, he says softly, his lips barely moving.
You don’t need to think about it. No matter what the truth is, no matter what they hope to happen, they aren’t touching you.
They aren’t taking you. They can’t force the two of you to marry and they can’t force Brom to get you pregnant.
I’ve discussed this with him too, he knows what might be at stake.
He starts walking off and I follow, the sick feeling not leaving me. I wait until we’re out of earshot of people before I whisper, “But they’re witches. They can force us to do many things.”
“And we are witches too,” he whispers back, eyes blazing. “Don’t you forget that. We aren’t defenseless and we aren’t helpless. The more that you and I work together on your magic, on my magic, the more—”
“How is that going to happen? How are you supposed to teach me? We can barely talk to each other now.”
“I am still your teacher,” he says to me starkly. “You are still my student. In class I will teach you, right in front of their prying eyes. But before we can even begin to tackle what the coven wants from the both of you, we have to focus on getting that spirit out of Brom before…”
He doesn’t need to finish that thought.
Before the horseman takes over him.
Before he becomes a weapon that the coven can control.
Before they make him come after me.
Now I know for sure that the horseman was never meant to kill me.
He was meant to put Brom’s seed in me.
“I think we should leave,” I tell him. “Leave the school. Go beyond Sleepy Hollow. Somewhere, anywhere.”
He exhales and I hear the weight of the world in his breath.
“I agree with you. But the best chance of fixing Brom is here. This is a nexus of energy. There’s a reason the school is built here, why so many ghosts are drawn here.
This place gives us the extra power we need to make the ritual work.
Not to mention with the horseman still in him, they’ll be able to track him down and use him wherever he goes. Brom won’t get very far.”
Shoot. I forgot about that. “So once we save Brom, we’re going?”
He gnaws on his lip for a moment. “I feel I need to protect the students.”
“From what?”
“I don’t know,” he says tiredly. “You just have to trust me on that. I wouldn’t be much of a man if I turned my back on them.
” He glances at me, his brow contorting.
“But I wouldn’t be much of a man if I didn’t get you and Brom out of here either.
I promise you, as soon as he is free from the horseman, we’ll go.
Even if I’m not with you, I’ll make sure you and Brom get out. ”
I balk, horror flaring in my chest. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“I appreciate the loyalty, darling,” he says with a grateful smile. “But there might come a time when—”
“I said I am not going anywhere without you. And I’m not going anywhere without Brom either. I’m not leaving my men behind.”
He just nods at that, though he looks a little pleased at my devotion.
I sigh; whatever light I felt earlier has disappeared, and Crane leads me to the herb garden, which thankfully is also devoid of people.
“I need to make more of that poultice, just in case I end up shooting Brom again,” he says, gesturing to the plants, and I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. “Didn’t you say you needed something from here?”
I nod. God, do I need it more than ever.
“If you tell me what you need, I can help you,” he goes on.
I glance around, making sure again that no one is in listening distance and lean forward to pick a few chamomile flowers. Despite it being October, everything in the garden is growing and healthy, albeit drooping over because of the overnight rain.
“I need…,” I whisper, barely moving my lips. “I need something to prevent pregnancy. Especially after all you’ve just told me.”
He goes silent for a moment.
“I see,” he says uneasily. “I’m going to assume you…I mean, are you worried about me, or…”
I swallow the brick in my throat as I eye him. “Either way,” I whisper.
He flinches, just a little, and anxiously runs his hand through his hair. “Did he come inside you the other night?” He pauses, a hard look coming over his eyes. “Before he assaulted you?”
I nod. I don’t feel ashamed for having slept with Brom that night, but Crane’s words have weight.
“There’s a chance that I already got you pregnant,” Crane adds, sounding strangely hopeful. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
I almost laugh, then give him an incredulous look. His face is totally grave.
He’s serious.