A Girl in Black and White (Alyria 2)

“Not much. I asked ‘im if he were here for business or pleasure. And he didn’t say anything for a real long minute, before telling me, ‘Let’s just hope it isn’t the latter,’ and then he walked away.”

I frowned. What did that even mean?

“Momma told me to tell ya to come on down and pick up ‘er dress. You can wear it to the dance tomorrow,” Henry said.

I grumbled under my breath. “All right. But go home before you get arrested.”

“I ain’t doing anything criminal!” he protested.

“You’ve escaped their holdings five times now. Someone’s going to remember your cute little face.”

His expression puckered. “Darn it, I ain’t cute. I’m a man,” he said before he walked off, dragging his stick behind him.

My eyes came to Tasha who still sat there, looking at me like I’d just stolen a child’s toy. He stuck his finger at me and squawked something unintelligible.

“I’m sorry?” I feigned confusion. “I don’t speak monkey.”

His shrieks got louder before he followed after his master. I wondered what kind of fur apparel I could make from a monkey. Just kidding. Tash was too small to make anything worthwhile.

I strolled through the crowded streets, and when I realized I’d like a little air without bumping shoulders as I walked, I headed toward the southwestern tip of the city. The deserted part where empty stone houses sat crumbled, with unattended vines snaking up and inside the empty recesses.

A tumbleweed blew across the street in the breeze, orange dirt following like a light spray of ocean water. A well sat in the square at the end of the street, an entire day devoted to it. The Day of Fools. It was said that on that day, this forgotten well filled up, and if you looked inside, it would give you the answers you sought.

It was the reason this part of the city was deserted, the people who lived too close being haunted by what they believed was the well’s doing.

As I looked into the well now, I saw nothing but an empty vessel, a sign of famine and misfortune. The idea that it could be the answer to how to reverse my Fate was doubtful. But it was my only chance.

Though, it wasn’t called The Day of Fools for the hell of it. It was said that not many walked away with their sanity. That the well showed them too much, or maybe it just showed them the truth, and they couldn’t handle it.

“If you have a soul to sell, look into that well,” I whispered, leaning over the dark hole. It didn’t echo. It sounded empty, so vacant a chill went through me.

That was often the saying that went around Symbia if you ever mentioned the Well of Fools because you never came back the same.

Some might call me a martyr. But the thing was: I wasn’t. I knew that I would walk away from this well, just like I’d removed those prisoners from those magical rocks. Just like I’d escaped death. I wasn’t a martyr; I was merely confident I would survive.

It was only days away. Days until I would become a Fool. I was already a tragedy. I might as well go all out. I chewed my lip in reflection of my decision. “If you have a soul to sell—”

My heart stopped as cool air came up to brush my face.

“Look into that well . . .” whispered back at me.

A couple of hours later, after leaving that mystic well as soon as it spoke to me, I awoke from a nap, climbed out of bed slowly, and stretched like a cat. It was late afternoon, the parade had long ended, and I could hear Sinsara and Carmella arguing loudly in the other room about Carmella not petitioning for High Sistership.

Looking down at the small silver charm on my desk, my heart skipped a beat, but then anger rushed me, making my cheeks heat.

I was hesitant to even touch the cursed object, but with an aggravated sigh, I snatched it off the desk before throwing my door open and heading down the hall.

Why did people try to predict my life? I didn’t want to know!

I threw open Farah’s door, to see her lying on her stomach on her bed, some cards in front of her face.

“What is this?” I demanded, holding the object in my palm.

She raised a perfect, dark brow. “What does it look like?”

“Why was it on my desk, Farah?”

She shrugged.