CASSANDRA
For all those who have been tempted to be burned by others.
- don’t you dare let them win.
CASSANDRA
Prolog
»Let her sing!« The masses in the streets shouted, their voices
crashing together like a storm that threatened to tear the sky
apart.
»Burn her!«
The words sliced through the air, sharp and merciless, each
shout a dagger aimed at my chest.
So fucking, hurtfully loud.
»We want to hear her scream!«
The whole town had gathered, their faces lit by the flickering
light of the flames, eyes glinting with a savage hunger.
»Kill the bitch!«
»Kill the witch!«
All of them were staring at me, bound to the pyre, their gazes
heavy like chains dragging me
down.
Down, down, down.
The ropes seared into my flesh, every fiber glowing hot, like
a thousand tiny knives craving into my skin – my wrists, my
ankles, my stomach, my throat. Every inch of me was aflame
with agony.
I couldn’t breath. The air was thick with smoke, each breath a
struggle as it clawed its way into my lungs, filling them with
poison. The heat pressed in, blistering my skin, turning it to
something dark and charred, bubbling under the relentless
touch of the fire.
Fire!!
The word roared in my head, over and over, louder than the
crowd. Louder than anything I had ever heard.
I was burning, truly burning. My body screamed for escape,
but I couldn’t move. Not even an inch.
I was frozen in place, locked in this nightmare, while flames
crawled higher, devouring me bit by bit.
How could they let children watch this?
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Their innocent faces, wide – eyes and curious, peering through
the cracks between the adults.
Where was the mercy in their eyes?
Where was anyone to stop this?
»I’m not a witch!«, I wanted to cry out, but fire had stolen my
voice, swallowed it whole.
My lips parted, but no sound came.
The flames had taken everything.
Even my last chance to be heard.
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Chapter 1
I woke up, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat.
It wasn’t the first time I had a nightmare like this.
Actually, it was the exact twenty - second time. I kept count.
They started about five weeks ago and because they never
came regularly, I couldn’t brace myself for them.
They felt so real it was terrifying.
I had never told anyone about these nightmares, fearing what
they might think of me.
I am not a witch.
My mom hadn’t been one and my sweet little sister certainly
wasn’t one either.
I knew I wasn’t a witch, so why the hell did my brain think it
was necessary to remind me what happens to these woman?
I wasn’t a fan of how they handled those they believed to be
witches, however there was nothing I could do if I wanted to
stay alive. Maybe I was just haunted by the images seared into
my mind since I witnessed my first and last witch execution.
I had never seen, before or since, such agony in someone’s
eyes. Burned alive.
It was sheer cruelty and completely undeserved. I should know
- I relived it almost every night.
Thalia had been her name. She didn’t deserve such a fate; she
never harmed anyone. In fact, she had been one of those who
couldn’t bare to see a fly in pain.
Anyway. I resolved not to dwell too much on these
nightmares, hoping they would eventually vanish on their
own.
I packed my bag with nothing but money as I got ready to go
to the marked. With Zaria at school and our mom gone for
nearly six years now, it was my responsibility to grocery shop.
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My skirt swayed around my ankles, my bracelets jingled, and
my necklaces – I wore four different ones – clashed
melodically with each step I took.
I loved this town. Especially the well – worn path that
stretched from our small but nice house at the forest’s edge to
the bustling village market.
Arriving – my shopping list in hand – I headed straight to the
kind lady who, ever since our mom passed away, had been
giving Zaria and me discounted food knowing we struggled
financially.
Halya.
She truly was an angle.
»Hey Halya. Do you still have any apples left? You know how
Zaria is crazy for Apple pie.
I thought I might make one today – celebrating the end of the
schoolyear«, I smiled warmly.
I was incredibly proud of Zaria for pulling through with
seventh grade of school. I remembered how hard it was for me
back before I dropped out.
Being the older sister I had to step back and take on the role of
a mother for my little sister. I didn’t regret it one bit.
I had found work at a shoemaker’s, who paid a decent salary,
and that’s all I had ever wanted.
My biggest wish was to watch Zaria thrive.
»We’re out.«
Confused by her frosty tone, I looked at her and asked, »No
worries. Are there any strawberries left?«
»No. You should go now Cassandra.«
»I can see them? They’re literally right behind you Halya. Is
something wrong?«
I was so confused to why she was repellent. I just bought
something five days ago and it had been perfectly fine.
»I can pay the full price, if that’s what this is about«, I assured
her. Having received my paycheck just last week, I knew we’d
be fine. The necklace I had been saving up for could wait
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another few weeks. Wade had assured me he would keep it
safe until I had enough money to buy it.
»What don’t you understand, Cassandra? Get away from me!«
Her loud voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone at
the market.
Their dismissive glances spoke volumes.
Everyone knew that Zaria and I were on our own and
apparently no one seemed to grasp why Halya treated me so
cooly.
»What the actual - «, I murmured to myself. »Anyways…
have a nice day Halya.«
She didn’t even smile back at me.
Honestly - what was wrong with her? Was this some kind of
bad joke I didn’t get?
Halyas shop was pretty much at the entrance of the enormous
building that served as a market hall, so I shrugged my
shoulders and just continued on my way.
There was enough time to overthink this encounter later.
However, as I ventured deeper into the hall, children began to
hide behind their parents. People whispered and pointed, and it
hit me – those dismissive looks weren’t aimed at Halya. They
were meant for me.
Mothers clutched the chubby hands of their little boys and
girls, some of whom peeked out from behind their legs,
curiosity evident in their sparkling eyes.
What on earth was going on?
Choosing to ignore their stares, I made my way to the poorest
woman in town I knew. She had a small, unofficial stall where
she sold cheese made by her husband and a few other items.
The other vendors at the market never said anything to her and
just tolerated her not paying vendor fee out of pity.
»Hello Özey«, I greeted her, feeling the weight of all the stares
drilling into my back. Was there something wrong with my
outfit? Had I forgotten to put on my skirt? A quick check
revealed nothing amiss.
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»Hello, sweet girl«, Özey greeted me warmly, a stark contrast
to the others. I bought something at her ridiculously small stall
often enough for her to know me pretty well.
»Do you by any chance have apples left?«, I asked, forcing
myself to ignore the attention from everyone around.
»Only two, if that’s enough?«, she replied.
»Oh, don’t do that to yourself Özey!«, another woman
stepped forward. She was a complete stranger to me.
»I’ll buy the apples. Double price. Don’t get the devil into
your house. Your poor husband. Your poor child!«, she sighed.
The others appeared to support her. A man standing in the far
corner even applauded briefly.
Seriously, what the fuck.
Özeys ice blue eyes were highlighted by her dark dress and
hijab.
She looked beautiful, with such an innocent look in her eyes.
»I’ll be fine Lolita, but thank you so much.« Her smile for this
woman was just as lovely as the calming glance she granted
me.
I heard at least a hundred shocked gasps.
Clearly unsettled, the woman – whose name appeared to be
Lolita – moved away from us. As she departed, the others also
retreated, leaving us completely alone and out of earshot.
I turned to Özey, bewildered. »I’m sorry, but do you have any
idea what’s happening?«, I asked, feeling lost. I was certain I
hadn’t wronged any of them.
»There’s a rumor about you being a witch.« Her words hit me
as if someone straight up punched me in the face.
»There is a rumor about what now?«
»Word from the Zephyrhain Witch Trials has emerged – your
name is on their list.« Her eyes darted around the hall, as if
ensuring no one was listening in on us.
No one had been on that list for years.
Never before had someone gazed at me with such sorrow and
compassion as she did in that moment.
»Why aren’t you afraid of me then?«
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»All I see in the Witch Trials is the killing of woman that seem
too powerful. We aren’t supposed to be powerful, you know?«
She kept her voice low.
»Well, I just… I’m not a witch.« My knees grew weak, and a
hollow pit formed in my stomach. My breath caught in my
throat as I stood there, frozen and uncertain of what to do next.
She simply nodded, accepting my words despite having no
more reason to believe me than those who had already turned
their backs on me.
»Are you afraid of witches?«
»I am not.«
»Okay… well…«, the awkward silence nearly killed me.
»Are you afraid of witches?«, she asked me, tilting her head,
watching me carefully.
»I don’t know«, I answered truthfully, »I never met one.«
Özey just nodded again.
I didn’t exactly feel that something was wrong, but the
conversation had an unsettling depth, like she was digging
deeper, trying to find something that wasn’t existing.
»Anyway - thank you so much. I owe you a lot, I really do«, I
said, taking the apples from her soft hands.
I paid double the price. I wouldn’t want this sweet woman to
lose any money for standing up for me.
»Stay safe out there, yeah?«
»I will.«
I will.
I forced the sheer panic ripping through me since she told me
that they wanted me dead in the background. They shouldn’t
see me scared. They’d probably only believe the rumor more.
The nightmares.
It raced through me like lightning, whilst Özey was counting
the wrinkled money I gave her moments ago.
These fucking nightmares.
My heartbeat quickened with each passing second, as if the air
itself had shifted to signal something profoundly wrong.
»Thank you«, Özey smiled.
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I let my eyes roam the place.
Death.
That’s what they wished upon me.
I stuck the apples into my crochet bag.
I had to get the hell out of here.
On second thought we didn’t need fresh food. We had some
bread and butter left, that had to be enough for now.
These people wanted to see me burn.
They were looking at me as if they were eager to hear my
screams.
Just as in my nightmares.
Suddenly all I wanted to do was run. Away from them.
Away from anyone looking at me.
I wanted to get Zaria and me inside the house and lock every
single door and window.
When they looked at me, they saw a dead girl.
For them my life was already over.
Not once had there been someone on that damn list who didn’t
die. Not that I had heard of at least.
Gathering all my courage I turned around again. »Could I buy
some cheese as well?«, I asked Özey. I had intended to buy
some chocolate for Zaria, but I knew there was no chance
anyone would sell me any.
Not even for tenth the price.
»You sure can.«
Something about her calm calmed me down as well.
»Just as much as you want to give me for this«, I said, handing
her nearly all the money I had planned on spending on food
today.
»Is this alright?«, Özey asked, holding up more than enough
cheese for the little loaf of bread Zaria and I had left.
»Sure.«
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As soon as I was out of sight of the market I began to run. I
couldn’t even explain why I did it but the feeling of monsters
and murderers on my feet kept me going.
I ran and ran until I got to our house at the end of the town
where seldom someone expect my friends showed up.
»You’re safe here«, I tried to calm myself, but it was for no
use.
A witch.
They thought I was a witch.
Why though? Did I do something wrong?
I didn’t even think the Witch Trials of Zephyrhain knew of my
existence, certainly not my name or what I was doing with my
life.
Did someone lie to them about me?
But who in my little, innocent town hated me enough to do
something wicked like that?
No matter how hard I tried, no name came to mind.
There was absolutely no reason why they would think I was
one of them. One of the witches.
Of the ones that had to be burned in order to keep order and
safety up.
I really wasn’t.
Maybe it was all a joke. A bad one at that, yet I honestly
couldn’t imagine it being real.
»That’s it. A joke. Or a misunderstanding. Either way, they will
find out about their mistake before they kill me.« I compelled
myself to view it that way.
I had to bury my fear and force a smile on my face regardless,
because Zaria would be home soon, and I didn’t want to ruin
her special day.
The start of the holidays.
I knew what this day meant to her tortured little brain.
CASSANDRA
Chapter 2
»Cassy! Oh. My. God. I have to tell you something!« My best
friend Daciana burst into the living room, completely ignoring
the “just for emergencies” rule I gave her when I handed over
the spare key two years ago. I wasn’t particularly surprised,
she always showed up out of the blue. Now there she was,
another presence in the kitchen as I busied myself making
cheese and bread look as fancy as possible. I’d also picked
some wild raspberries from the forest behind mine and Zarias
garden and already tasted a few to ensure they weren’t
poisonous.
Lately, I’ve been really good with herbs and berries and
basically anything nature had to offer.
Something my friends couldn’t grasp was my obsession with
trying to eat anything and everything at least once – whether it
was roots, mushrooms or blossoms. It felt like an addiction to
the thrill of danger and a deep connection to nature.
Something in my gut feeling had always been right until now.
»Hey Daci«, I smiled. At least she didn’t keep her distance
from me. »Zaria’s going to be home in a few minutes so
whatever it is – you’ve got to make it quick. «
It was probably something about her parents being annoying
assholes again. She only got that agitated when it was about
them.
I’ve known Daciana since we were kids, and we’ve been
inseparable since they first day we talked to each other, which
was the first day of school. But despite our closeness, I’ve
never met her parents. Daciana had always been the girl who
showed up to school alone, even on parent days or special
events.
I knew they were still alive because she’d mention them
occasionally, but she didn’t live with them, and as far as I
knew, she didn’t speak to them either. Sometimes they tried to
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reach out to her though, hence the direction I sensed this
conversation heading.
It was a very sensitive topic for her, and I had long decided to
only discuss it if she brought it up. Naturally, I was curious,
but getting answers wasn’t worth the pain that flashed through
her eyes every time their names came up.
And even though I knew nothing about them, if they were
people Daciana couldn’t stand to be around, they surely were
people I didn’t like either.
»Girl, sit down and let me finish. «
»Okay, okay«, I laughed, trying to ease the mood.
Daciana took a deep breath and tucked all her hair behind her
ears. She hated having her hair back like that, so if she did it, it
meant she needed to focus without the slightest distraction.
»Cassandra«, pause, »We have to get you out of here. I’m
drop dead serious. You’re on the list. The list Cassy! They are
planning on killing you.« She rambled, stumbling over her
words, her hands slicing wildly through the air.
Ice flooded my veins. Literal ice. It was as if it wanted to
shield me from emotions, I wasn’t ready to feel yet.
My heart couldn’t take all of this.
First the market, now Daciana.
»So… it’s true?«, I whispered, letting myself sink into the
cushions of my mom’s favorite armchair. I adored its wine-red
color and soft material and normally it succeeded in calming
me down no matter what. Today it did nothing.
»You already know?«, Daciana asked, looking at me as if I
was crazed out of my mind.
»Özey told me just now, when I was down at the market.
Everyone seems to know. It’s… weird.«
Weird wasn’t the right word.
Unsettling, unnerving, downright terrifying.
»Then what in God’s name are you still doing here? «
»They’re not right, Daci. I’m not a witch. Once they realize
their mistake, they’ll likely apologize, and then Zaria and I can
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get back to our normal lives. Speaking of which – Zaria isn’t
to know any of this. I don’t want her to worry.«
I recognized it was partly wishful thinking, but the moment I
saw Daciana’s flabbergasted face, staring at me as if I in fact
was a witch, I grasped just how delusional I had been these last
few hours.
»They don’t check if you’re really a witch Cassy. Never have,
never will. If you don’t get away, they will kill you. Their
methods of trying to find out if you have power is by burning
you alive and seeing for themselves if you’re able to survive.
Spoiler: You won’t, Cassy.
Then they’ll realize you were just a lonely girl, desperately
trying to care for her little sister. Except for by the time they’ll
realize their slip-up, you will be nothing but ashes in the
wind.«
»Are you serious? That literally means they’re killing innocent
woman.«
»They refuse to believe in your innocence the moment your
name is on that list. Once it is, you’re branded a witch. I can’t
tell you why. They keep their reasons hidden from us, locked
away in secrecy.«
We both just stared at each other in silence.
»I believe they’re right most of the time. Just this once they
aren’t«, she whispered eventually.
Daciana’s words reminded me that she had worked at the
Witch Trials since she was fifteen. I never quite understood her
reasons, as I found the act of execution more than repulsive.
But she mentioned the good pay and given her need to survive
without any family support, the thought about judging her for
her decision never even crossed my mind.
And now, it seemed that all her sacrifices might finally pay
off, possibly saving my life.
»Also, there hasn’t been a witch burning in years, Cassy, you
know that. They think the village needs another public
execution to remind people what happens to them once they’re
different.
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And, let’s be honest, the villagers crave it. They thrive on the
excitement that comes along with it.«
I never understood that. When I was little, funeral pyres were
far more common than they have bee in recent years – I
always hated them, always found a way to avoid going.
Even so, Daciana had a point. I had felt the townspeople’s
looks at the market, burning holes into my back. They wanted
to see me burn. Not only because they believed I was a witch
but also because there hadn’t been a funeral pyre in the middle
of the town in so long that people missed the thrill of it.
They missed the smell of smoked skin, the sound of piercing
screams.
I just knew it. I felt it.
Because this time their craving was directed at me.
»But how did I end up on the list? Did they just choose me at
random to satisfy the village’s desires? «
If that was the case the chances of me surviving were below
zero. Because then it wouldn’t matter if I was innocent or not.
Daciana sank into my sofa, her movements slow and
deliberate.
»They wouldn’t just do this without reason. There has to be
something behind their choice, even if they’re wrong. But
they’ll never admit that. Which is why, once again: you need
to leave. «
»Can’t I just go and reason with them?«
The thought of leaving twisted like a knife in my gut. Zaria’s
face flashed before me – her wide eyes, too young to
understand the weight of the world, too fragile to bear it alone.
Nine years old. How could I ever abandon her?
My mind raced, grasping at anything that could offer a way
out, but every thought crumbled as soon as it formed. There
had to be another solution.
There had to be.
»They can’t do this«, I whispered, my voice breaking as tears
burned in my eyes. I blinked them away, refusing to let them
fall.
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»Zaria, Dazz… I have Zaria. They can’t kill me. She’ll have
no one if I’m gone.«
»If you’d start listening to me, they won’t get the chance«¸ she
snapped, her voice sharp but steady. »We’ll leave as soon as
you find someone to take care of Zaria. That way there is even
a slightest chance you’ll see her again one day.«
She already had a plan.
Of course she did, she was Daciana Shaywe.
And Daciana Shaywe never came unprepared.
»How are you so calm?«, I asked, my voice shaking. »You do
realize it’s a crime to save a witch from burning, right?«
Not that anyone had ever succeeded.
But I kept that thought to myself. I couldn’t bear to crush the
fire in her, not when she was the only one determined to keep
me alive at the moment.
»But you’re not a witch. You’re my best friend, Cassy. I won’t
let them hurt you. «
Her stormy grey eyes betrayed her calm façade, swirling with
emotions she tried to keep hidden.
The weight of her willingness to sacrifice her life hung in the
air, a silent promise that left me breathless.
I would do anything for her – without hesitation even – but
that was different. I loved her.
She cared for me, too, but not in the way that consumed my
heart.
To her, I was a best friend. And I was fine with that as long as
I could be by her side. I’d take that role. I’d cherish every
moment, even if it meant hiding my feelings forever.
»Ignore your feelings«, I reminded myself. Sometimes I had
to do that. Sometimes the affection and passion I felt towards
her washed over me like a wave, throwing me underneath the
water and I had to fight to be able to return to the surface and
keep on breathing.
But this time I had it under control. My life was on the line. I
could almost picture our future – warm afternoons in a garden
burstling with tulips and Baby’s Breath, laughter ringing out as
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our little adopted children chased each other. But those dreams
crumbled to dust in the face of reality. If I was dead this time
next week, they’d mean nothing.
»We need a plan.«
She looked like a true goddess, lost in thought, her brow
furrowed in concentration. I could almost see the gears turning
in her mind.
One thing about Daciana was that, despite the disdain many in
this town felt toward her, no one ever questioned her
intelligence. She was, without a doubt, the smartest person I
knew.
»I know«, I said, frustration bubbling up as I ran my fingers
through my hair. »It just feels like yesterday was so normal.
How did everything change so fast?«
Daciana met my gaze, her expression unwavering. »I don’t
have answers either, but that’s not what matters right now. We
need to focus on what’s ahead.«
»I love you«¸I wanted to shout, the words clawing at my
throat.
I ached to kiss her, to twine my fingers through her soft,
blonde curls and yet I stayed put, frozen in place, paralyzed.
»I love you. You know that, right?«, I said instead, trying to
mask the depth of my words, making it sound like a reflection
of the love she held towards me.
»I love you too, sweetheart.«
Oh, how I wished I could bottle that voice of hers, stop time
and replay way she said “sweetheart” over and over again until
I finally had enough of how those words slid over her luscious
red lips.
»Look«, she said, her tone shifting back to urgent, »we have
to act as soon as possible. They’re already watching you. If
you don’t pack up and leave within the next three to four days
you’ll either end up dead immediately or locked away in a
cell, just waiting to be tossed onto a pyre.«
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»Doesn’t sound like something on my to-do List«, I
murmured. »But I can’t just leave yet. I need to find someone
to take care of Zaria first«, I insisted.
I wouldn’t drag her away from her life into the chaos mine
would be, that wouldn’t be fair.
The only silver lining I saw in the Witch Trials of Zephyrhain
was that they didn’t harm friend or family – they only targeted
the woman they accused of witchcraft.
»Right. Do you have anyone specific in mind?«
»No.« The reality of the chaos unfolding over my life loomed
overhead, dark and unavoidable, a storm, threatening to take
my sweet little sister with it.
With only three to four days, as Daciana warned, it felt like I
had no time at all.
»We need a plan. I’ll gather everyone. Stay put, Cassy. Don’t
leave the house until I get back, understand?«
»Thank you«, I murmured, not sure what else to say.
If it weren’t for her, I’d probably have lost it completely –
spiraled into panic the moment it all felt real. I could already
picture myself, curled up on the bathroom floor,
hyperventilating until they finally came for me.
Daciana saved me.
Or at least she tried to.
Daciana slipped oit the back door and disappeared into the
woods, promising to head home before Zaria spotted her. We’d
noticed Zaria long before she reached us, her blond pigtails
bobbing up the worn path to our house.
Despite the stark difference in our hair – mine, pin straight and
the deepest black; hers, wavy and almost white – we had the
same dark brown eyes, a gift from our mother. We never knew
our fathers. They weren’t the same, but I always imagined
mine must have had dark hair, because our mother’s had shone
just as brightly as Zaria’s in the sunlight.
Two sisters, one mystery woven between us.
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But Zaria was too young to understand – to wonder even –
why our mom kept sleeping around without commitment even
after she had me – the first incident, as I overheard her calling
me in front of one of her friends years ago. I’ve not felt like
her daughter since that very moment.
Back then, it hurt more than I wanted to admit. But now she
was gone. And forgiving the dead – it always came easily,
even when they didn’t deserve it.
I pushed everything I’d learned today to the back of my mind
and focused on the small task at hand. I carefully arranged the
raspberries in Zaria’s favorite bowl – the one with the delicate
patterns she always admired.
I didn’t want her to have any reason to worry today.
I didn’t want her to question why Daciana had sown up when
she should’ve been at work.
Zaria might have been only nine, but she wasn’t naïve. The
forced smile on my face wouldn’t fool her for long.
»You won’t believe it!«, Zaria’s exited voice filled the house
the moment she burst through the door.
»I’m the second best in my grade!«
»The second best out of twenty-three Cassy!«
»Twenty-three!!«, she squeaked.
»Twenty-three«, she sang, spinning and dancing around the
living room like she was on top of the world.
»Oh my… Zaria wow.«, It felt like only yesterday she was
struggling to write her name correctly, her tiny hand gripping
the pencil too tight, eyes squeezed with concentration.
Time had slipped away, like sand through my fingers, when I
wasn’t looking.
»I’m so, so unbelievably proud of you Zaria! «, I smiled,
whirling her through the air.
»Thank you, Cassy«, she smiled back at me. »I’m even better
than that stupid boy who always makes fun of me for being
bad at math. I’m better than him at maths!«, her laughter and
joy warmed up the room.
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I wondered if she knew how deathly cold it has been before
she had cracked open the door.
»I always knew you could do it.« I pressed my forehead gently
against hers, trying to absorb just a little of her joy.
»I only did it because of you, Cassy! You’re my hero!«, she
hugged me so tightly I was barely able to breath. »You should
have seen his face – he was sooo shocked!« She beamed, pride
radiating off her.
»You have no idea how much I wish I could’ve seen it.« I
smiled, but inside, all I could think about was the crushing
weight of my own reality: while she was celebrating, I had
been handed a death sentence.
»At my graduation you’ll see him«, she promised.
»And you’ll be better than him then too, sweetie.«
I hope I even make it to your graduation, Zaria.
I didn’t say it out loud.
Instead, I turned to the kitchen, bringing out what little food I
had managed to scrape together. It didn’t look half bad. I
gestured to the dining table, oversized for just the two of us,
standing awkwardly in the middle of the living room.
Zaria and I used to complain about that table all the time
when Mom was still alive, but after she died I couldn’t bring
myself to get rid of it. She hadn’t been a good person, and yet,
in Zaria’s mind, she stood as a hero. For that, I would be
forever grateful. I could shatter that cherished imagine with
the harsh truth, but the love and admiration Zaria held onto
were far more valuable than any reality I could reveal.
Zaria’s face lit up the moment she spotted the bowl of dark
red, perfectly ripe berries.
»I looove raspberries! Thank you so much!«
»You’re welcome.« I watched her dig in, her excitement
succeeding in easing my racing mind. The cheese Özey had
given me was a small blessing, but it added something special
to the meal.
Dinner was simple, but Zarias joy filled the air with a warm,
calming buzz of energy. She even pulled out a single chocolate
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bar she’d gotten from her teacher, saving it all day just to share
it with me. And for that little while, sitting together laughing
and talking, life felt good again – brief, sweet moments that
made everything else fade into the background.
Her eyes were almost pitch black – pits of void, staring into
the depths of my soul, dissecting every fiber of me with cold
indifference.
»HELP ME!«, I wanted to scream, I tried to scream, but the
words caught in my throat, burning with the acrid smoke that
coiled around me.
»HELP ME!« This time, I succeeded in getting the words out,
but my voice was swallowed by the roar of the flames licking
at my skin. They devoured me, inch by inch, relentless.
The crowd cheered on the flames, their twisted faces
illuminated by the fire that was turning my body into a living
torch.
I could feel the skin on my face tightening, burning away, the
sensation so raw, so excruciating, it didn’t even feel real.
But it was.
It was.
»HELP ME!« My voice cracked, raw and desperate, trying to
reach her – the woman in the crowd. She was the only one
who didn’t cheer.
Her face was pale, almost ghostly against the flickering
flames. Her white hair was tied into a tight bun, not a strand
out of place.
She stood still, frozen, her face a mask of silent horror. But
her eyes… her eyes told a different story. They screamed
louder than I ever could. They screamed a scream that shook
me deeper than the flames gnawing at my flesh.
Why didn’t she help me?
The fire crawled up my legs now, blistering my skin, peeling it
back, layer by layer. My lashes singed away, and I could feel
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the searing heat against my eyeballs. The pain – oh God, the
pain – was like nothing I had ever known. It was endless.
All consuming.
»Please.« It was a silent whisper, my voice now shredded by
agony and smoke.
Still, she stood there. Watching.
Her lips pressed tight together, a rigid line of unspoken
torment.
Why?
Why just stand there?
What did her silence mean?
The fire roared louder, engulfing me fully now. My skin, my
hair, my clothes, all becoming fuel for it’s living hell. I was the
pyre, burning for their entertainment.
The crowd’s faces twisted into grotesque masks of delight,
their eyes glowing with sadistic pleasure as I writhed in the
flames.
But her… she stood apart from them, almost like she didn’t
belong.
Her gaze seemed to carry a warning, but of what?
What was she supposed to warn me of, now, when my being,
my soul had already caught fire?
I knew it was a nightmare. I tried to tear myself out of it,
force myself awake – anything to escape – but something held
me there. Like unseen hands, tightening their grip, refusing to
let me flee.
Trapping me in this agony.
The unbearable, savage pain.
It consumed me, devoured every ounce of my strength, every
thought, every breath. The fire wasn’t just burning my skin – it
was hollowing me out, reducing me to nothing but this
overwhelming, maddening suffering. I could feel the flames
stripping me raw, and yet, something else – something cold –
spread inside me. Like ice, creeping through my veins.
Just like before.
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Just like when Daciana whispered about my fate, that icy
dread clutching at my insides.
But it was useless now, couldn’t stop the fire from feasting on
me.
Fight!
The woman’s eyes bore into me, and though her lips never
moved, I swore I heard her voice, a silent command that
echoed through my mind.
Fight the flames!
But how? How could I fight something that was already
devouring me, body and soul?
The voice kept echoing. Repeating.
Fight!
Fight!
I blinked, panic surging through me. Was this real?
Was there a voice? Or was it just my mind splintering under
the weight of the torment? Was I losing myself, falling into
insanity while my flesh burned away?
I was hearing things… I was going mad.
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Chapter 3
It was the next morning. A sunny day, if my death sentence
wouldn’t throw such heavy shadows over it.
My friends and I were all gathered in my room, the air thick
with tension.
Zaria had gone outside to play with the other kids. I could only
hope they hadn’t heard the rumors yet – or at least had the
decency not to mention them towards her.
»We all knew it was only a matter of time before one of us
pissed off the wrong people«, Cal said, leaning back as soon as
Daciana and I finished recounting what happened.
»Cal!«, Aiden, his older twin brother, shot him a look of
disapproval from across the room.
»It’s okay, really«¸I said quickly, not wanting to turn this into
something even more uncomfortable than it already was. »But
couldn’t it just have been you?«, I looked in Calix direction,
who only grinned back.
It seemed like he was deep in thought as he mumbled
something like, »that’d be fun.«
We all knew it wouldn’t.
He did, too.
»Do we have a plan?« Kethan spoke up. He sat close to
Aiden, his hand resting lightly on his boyfriend’s leg, a small
gesture of comfort in a room full of uncertainty.
I exhaled, looking down at my hands. »Apparently, I need to
get out of town.«
»Apparently?« Cal straightened up, his playful grin replaced
by concern. »What do you mean, ‘apparently’, Cassy? You
might want to be a bit more sure about that, don’t you think?«
»Certainly, obviously, definitely«, I shot back with an eye-roll.
»I don’t know Cal, it’s not exactly like they handed me a
manual on how to survive an execution process.«
»Leave her alone«¸Aiden said, giving his brother another
warning glance before turning to me, his expression softening.
»We’re here for you, you know that, right?«
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I nodded, even though words seemed insufficient. I wasn’t
guaranteed that they’d stick by me – a girl accused of
witchcraft. I couldn’t even prove I wasn’t the monster
everyone else saw when they looked at me.
»Look«, I began, feeling a sudden, overpowering need to be
honest, »you don’t have to be a part of this. It’s dangerous.
They want to see me dead and they’ll go after anyone who
tries to stop that from happening. I don’t want any of you guys
getting hurt because of me.«
There was a heavy silence, and for a moment I regretted
saying anything at all. I hadn’t even wanted to tell them what
was going on in the first place, but Daciana had insisted. And
yeah, one way or another they would’ve found out anyway,
but this way I was practically dragging them down into the dirt
with me.
After two hours her whole ‘friends stick together, no matter
what’ speech hat convinced me.
Aiden was the first to break the silence. »Kethan and I are
coming with you«, he said, his voice firm. »We’ve stood by
and watched this village tear down too many people. It’s
sickening.«
»That means not coming back. Likely, ever«, I said quietly, »It
means giving up your lives, your families, your future. It
means giving up everything to follow me into uncertainty. I
wouldn’t ask that of you.«
»If God led us all here it has to have a meaning«¸Kethan said,
»and I’ll follow his path. This time, it seems to be yours.«
Even though I wasn’t religious in the slightest bit I admired
Kethans relationship with God. It was inspiringly beautiful.
»Please promise me you’ll sleep on it. No rash decisions,
okay?«
»Alright«, both of them agreed, but Aidens gaze was already
directed at someone else.
I followed his eyes to find Milena standing off to the side,
arms crossed tightly across her chest. Her face was pale, her
lips pressed into a hard line. She’d been quite the whole time,
CASSANDRA
but now her gaze shifted from one fact to the next, lingering
on me with a flicker of something I couldn’t quite make out,
something between anger and fear.
»I can’t«, she said suddenly, her voice taut. »I can’t go with
you.«
All eyes turned to her. I opened my mouth to reassure her I
didn’t expect that off her, but she cut me off before I could get
out a single word.
»My father’s sick.« Her jaw tightened. »If I leave, my mom
won’t be able to take care of him. She barely makes enough as
it is.«
»I’m not going to tell anyone«, she continued, and now her
voice had an edge, sharper than before, »But this whole thing?
It never should’ve involved me. I’ve got enough to worry
about without getting dragged into your mess.« She gave me a
hard look, her eyes glinting with frustration.
I understood. How could I not?
But it didn’t make it sting any less.
»I just - «, I started, my voice faltering. »I don’t want this for
any of you.«
»We’re not letting you go through this alone«, Daciana
interjected, her voice hard as steel. »Not now, not ever.«
I could practically feel the disdain she had towards Milena
radiating off of her.
»You can go now, Milena«, she threw in her direction, not
even granting her a second glance.
I appreciated Daciana, I really did, but it just didn’t sit right
with me. I would be mad too if one of them did something that
brought Zaria in danger. I had known about Milenas fathers
sickness and she was right – I should have never asked her to
be in the same room as me as soon as I knew what
consequences it might bear.
»Dazz«, I whisper yelled. »I’m sorry, Milena«, I said, before
she could close the door to my room behind her. She nodded,
firm but appreciative, yet she didn’t answer.
CASSANDRA
Calix raised a hand, a grin tugging at the corners of his
mouth. »Well, if we’re all going down together, I hope we at
least get cool execution outfits. You know, black, dramatic –
very ‘end of the world chic.’«
»I’m coming too«, Asteria chimed in, raising her hand as
though we were back in school. »I’m not letting you all have
fun without me.«
Despite everything, a weak smile tugged at my lips.
»Thank you all for your…burning passion«, I said with a
smirk.
They stared at me in mild horror, and Calix groaned. »See?
This is exactly why you need me. If that was your idea of a
joke, I might just cry.«
»We’ll figure this out«, Aiden said, determination in his voice.
»All of us.«
Not all, I wanted to say, staring at the door until my vision got
blurry.
A small part of me wished they all went through that door, into
the safety net their life had been just an hour ago. The bigger,
more egoistic part of me wanted them to stay.
»But where do we go? And how?«¸I asked, my gaze still fixed
on the door.
»You know the forest, don’t you?« Aiden asked me. His eyes
darted toward the door as well, as though he expected
someone to burst in and drag us all to our doom at any
moment. It wasn’t that far-fetched.
I nodded, trying to push away the creeping dread. »Pretty
much.«
»How far can you go before you get completely lost?«,
Asteria’s voice was soft, gentle, like the rest of her. Her round
face and hazelnut brown, wavy hair always seemed to suit her
calm demeanor, but there was a subtle intensity behind her
words. She looked at me with a steady, thoughtful gaze,
always assessing, always seeing more than she let on.
»I don’t know. Far, probably.«
»Far enough to get away from the devil?«
CASSANDRA
»Cal!«, Asteria snapped, her eyes flashing as she reached over
to shove him lightly. Despite her usual calmness, her patience
was clearly wearing thin. »Can you stop making jokes for two
fucking minutes?«
Calix raised his hands in mock surrender, but the glint in his
eyes didn’t fade.
»Just trying to make things a bit brighter here, guys. You
noticed it’s pitch black?«
Aiden’s warning look didn’t deter Calix, who added with a
mischievous grin, »just as her soul.«
Of course his accusing finger pointed in my direction.
»God, shut up, Cal!«, I laughed, throwing a pillow at him.
Even Asteria cracked a smile, she did that quite often around
him lately.
But than Daciana spoke, and the room sobered again. »You
really think we’re safe once we’re in the woods? Do you have
any idea what happens to people they suspect of being witches
when they try to run?«
Her words sliced through the remaining levity like a knife.
»No«¸I said, my voice small. »Tell us.«
Aiden sighed, clearly frustrated, but he didn’t argue. I knew
how much Daciana grated on him – he was the only one who
knew about my feelings for her, and it seemed to make every
interaction between them tenser – but now wasn’t the time for
old grudges.
»They’ll find us«, she said, her tone cold and resolute, »and
then they’ll torture us.
And then, they’ll torture us some more.
And then, they’ll burn us.
We need a destination. If we don’t know where we’re going,
we’ll lose too much time.«
»We need water«, Asteria pointed out. »And food. And
shelter.«
»Anyone know a place?«, I asked. No one answered. Just
silence and shaking heads.
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»We have three days at most«, Daciana said, »What else do
we need? When do we leave? What do we pack?«
My heart pounded in my chest. It was all too much, too fast.
They were giving up everything – for me. For something I
wasn’t even sure I could escape.
»Underwear.«
Aiden rolled his eyes, patting his younger twin brother on the
back. »Yeah, that’s crucial, Cal - thanks for the input.«
»How many woman marked as witches ever escaped?«,
Kethan asked.
»None«, Daciana answered, »Not a single one.«
»Are you sure, Dazz?«, Asteria, spoke again, slightly leaning
into Calix for support.
»Yes«, she replied, »I work there. I’d know.«
Aiden, in one of these lapses of judgment he held against
Daciana, shot back, »And why do you work there exactly? You
spend your days hunting innocent women, don’t you? Just as
long as you don’t know them personally.«
»Let’s calm down«, I interrupted, stepping between them
before things got worse. »This isn’t about me being a witch.
It’s about getting out of her alive. We can talk about morals
later on.«
Even though Daciana, who had risen from her place on my
bed, sat down again, the fury in her eyes burned as hot as ever.
The meeting stretched late into the night, long after the sun
had set. Zaria had come home shortly after dusk, and I took
her to bed, reading her a story about a fairy in a faraway land
until she drifted off to sleep. Her gentle breathing gave me a
brief moment of peace before I returned to my room, where
Daciana, Asteria, Calix, Aiden and Kethan were still deep in
discussion.
I stepped back into the room, already knowing they hadn’t
solved our problem – our very urgent, life – threatening
problem. Ideas had been tossed around for hours now, but
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most were shot down by Daciana, occasionally by the rest of
us.
Every time Aiden’s suggestions were rejected, his eyes
narrowed like he was trying to will her into agreement, but in
the end, we all had to listen. Daciana knew more bot the Witch
Trials of Zephyrhain than any of us. She truly understood the
system that had condemned me.
We’d agreed to meet the next day in the forest behind my
house. It was risky, so wer planned to stagger our arrivals to
avoid drawing anyone’s attention. I’d be the last to join them
at five in the afternoon. Before they left, I made them promise
– swear – not to breath a word of this to Zaria.
Maybe, hopefully, tomorrow the forest would reveal the
answers we so desperately needed.
After braiding my waist-length hair into a single plait, I lay
down. Sleep didn’t come easily, but I knew I had to try.
»Make it stop!«, I begged. The woman was there again, a
constant shadow in the corner of my nightmares. I had stopped
believing she would save me. She didn’t try last time, why
would she now?
Yet her eyes – those cold, black eyes – never left me. I felt
them on me, burning holes into my back even when I turned
away.
She never blinked.
Never moved.
Some might think that after enduring this torment night after
night, I’d have grown used to it. But the pain?
It was never something you could adapt to. Every single time
it was the same – the air stolen from my lungs, the weight of it
crushing me as I stood on the pyre, the crowd’s sickening
cheers filling the void.
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I didn't want anything as much as yelling at them all for being
sick psychopaths, nonetheless I couldn't.
I didn't have the strength, nor the oxygen to do it.
»Run«, the word formed silently on the woman’s lips.
I blinked, disoriented.
I was imaging things again. »Run, little witch, run«, her voice
echoed inside my head.
»I’m not a witch!« The scream tore from my throat, raw and
broken.
I bolted upright in bed, heart racing, lungs heaving. The
nightmare had ended, but it had left a bitter aftertaste, more
real than ever before.
I gasped, my breath visible in the air.
It was freezing cold.
I was freezing cold.
I shivered violently, the chill seeping into my bones.
Why was it so cold?
It was midsummer, not a time for frost or biting winds. My
mind raced, trying to make sense of it.
Was I sick? I really couldn’t afford that now.
Exhausted, I forced my eyes open, then immediately squeezed
them shut again.
What the actual fuck?
Ice. Snow. Everywhere.
My entire room was coated in a thin sheen of glistening ice,
the walls sparkling like they were carved from crystal. A layer
of frost had settled over the furniture, creeping across my bed,
my floor, my door. It was melting under the heat of the
summer air, drops of water trailing down the frosted surfaces
already, but there was no way in denying it.
My room was an ice palace.
There were fucking snowflakes in my hair.
My lashes were frozen.
My breath hitched. Trembling, I brought my fingers to my
eyelashes, only to confirm my fears.
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Tiny, solid clumps of ice had formed around them like some
cruel decoration.
My hands, shaking and numb, moved to wipe them away, but
they were cold – too cold.
Everything.
Everything on and around me was freezing cold.
It was like I had become part of this icy world – a statue,
fragile, as if the slightest movement would shatter me into a
thousand glittering shards. I felt trapped in a winter
wonderland that wasn’t supposed to exist.
I want to wake up.
What kind of nightmare is this?
The other one is bad enough.
But deep down, I knew that this time it wasn't a dream. I was
really here. In my room that seemed to be made out of blue
and white.
Did I do this?
I did this.
What the hell? My thoughts spun wildly, panic clawing at the
edges of my mind.
Why? Why me?
What did this mean?
I’m a witch.
The words echoed in my head, growing louder, more insistent,
until they drowned out everything else.
I’m not a fucking witch.
I’m a witch.
I – Cassandra Vallvye – am a witch.
No.
No.
No.
I am though. The realization tore through me, sharp and
relentless.
They were right all along.