Chapter 2 Break | The Second Piece

“But I don’t want to wish! Wishes are for helpless, little girls who need to rely on magic to find their way in the world,” Serafina retorted, stamping her foot. “Father said that–”

“–hush now, child.” Nanna instructed her ward. “Do you want them to come again? You’re not allowed to–”

“I will say his name. I will!” the little girl yelled, full of purpose in the dimly lit hallway. Running up to an empty part of the wall, she pointed to a place where, until recently, a picture had hung. “I am not afraid of them, Nanna. I will say his name and there’s nothing they can do about it.”

At this Nanna clasped her chest and hung tightly to a leaf-shaped locket. “Do you know what they’ll do, Serafina?”

The girl shook her head, sadly.

“For every Seal you break, a life you’ll have to take,” Nanna shook her head. “He’s cursed, and there’s nothing you or I can do about it.”

“But that’s just a bedtime story, Nanna. There are no Seals.” Serafina regarded her nanny with a face full of confusion and doubt.

“Believe ye what ye will, child. If I were you, I’d make that wish and go see your grandmother.”

The battle lost, Serafina unhooked a long veil that hung from the side of her dress. Covered with geometric, gold markings in the shapes of stars, lotus blossoms and squares, Serafina covered her face with it–all except for her eyes. “Yes, Madam.”

Nanna breathed a sigh of relief; there were one too many Oathmakers running around these days. One too many. “Good girl, now please. Make your wish.”

Serafina straightened, clasped her gloved hands in front of her, and closed her eyes. “I wish…I wish…”

“Oh wait, dear. You forgot your grandmother’s gift!” Nanna scurried to a small table at the end of the hallway; Serafina thought she looked rather like a rabbit running a race. Fancy that.