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Balancing the little girl in one ar in front of the woman "Now, like I said, we can do this the easy way or the hard way"

"You wouldn’t dare," whispered the woirl in his aro for a swiirl hovered back "But I can’t swim"

"You’ll be fine," the man coaxed "Someone will be there to help you"

"Knock it off!" screa her hands into fists "I know you’re bluffing You need her toothe hairs on et her back when I need her She’d probably be better off down there anyway until its ti faltered "Please don’t do this Please"

The et into the lake yourself"

Go in the lake! Why! What was he going to do to her? Try and drown her?

I felt sick

"You’ll never get aith this" Her voice was edging near a sob "I know the real reason why you want her, and sooner or later, soure it out You’ll never be able to get aith it"

"Oh, I highly doubt it I have everyone wrapped around round, pointed his finger at the castle, and ordered the little girl to, "Go inside"

The little girl didn’t budge

"Go!" The e She was brave a one, because I’ for ed in a soothing voice "It’s alright I’ll be okay"

It took the girl a second, but she finally walked away, casting one last glance back at herup the hill toward the castle

My heart broke for the little girl and the mother Somehow--and I don’t kno--I kneould be the last tirow upthe people who’d be chosen to raise her There’d forever be an e in her heart

"Now it’s ti back to the wo to instill fear with his silence "Get in the lake Now"

No No No No No There was no way he was really going to throw her in the lake No He couldn’t Could he?

"You’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?" Her voice quivered "Every single word that’s co but a lie"

"You know et into the lake"

Shaking her head, she backed up toward the water Theher every step

I chased after the to stop thethe wo to happen when she got into the lake, but it had to be so ht" She’d reached the brink of the lake, the waves rolling up against the heels of her feet "There are people who you don’t have wrapped around your finger"

"Then I’ll have to take care of the, scooped out a handful of so that looked like ash, and sprinkled it into the lake, rey

"Don’t think you’ve won" She raised her chin high and stepped back, subs into the water "Someday it will all catch up with you"

Another few steps and the water aist deep on her The lake lay dead calm, like the calm before the stored down

I let out a blood curdling screa wo some funky tune that sounded like a combination between "It’s a Small Word After All" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Without even thinking, I ran into the water, forcing o farther and farther as the cold water ascended higher and higher But when it reached waist deep on irl, I couldn’t swim, and 2) I couldn’t actually touch the woman, so hoas I supposed to save her?

Shortly after these thoughts crossed one into the water dawned onwith the lake Why I hadn’t thought of this before was beyond me I’d heard the swish I’d seen the splash Heck, I’d seen the man dump some creepy ashy stuff into it

I should have known better than to go running into it

But I didn’t, and it was too late now A bony hand had already grabbedto jerk ht with every ounce of strength I had, but whatever the hand belong to was strong It pulleden supply indlingSo this is what it feels like to die was the last thought I had before I blacked out

Chapter 22

I gasped for air as lass counters surrounded me I was back at Adessa’s I’d made it I wasn’t dead My skin was dry My feet were planted firmly to the checkerboard tile The Foreseer’s Crystal Ball was cupped in my hand

"Ah!" I shrieked and dropped the ball It hit the ground hard, causing it to crack down the center

"Gemma"