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“That’s not good enough!” Talia insisted. “Everything you’re charged with was done to save us!”
“Maybe this is how I save us, too,” I told her.
“So you’re just going to let them hang you at the gallows!?” she shouted, sounding deeply hurt.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have to believe that whatever does happen is part of my prophecy, because I can’t handle accepting the alternative,” I said.
“How about leaving town?” Talia demanded. “Let’s just all go before the trial. We can run away.”
“They’ll hunt us down,” I pointed out. “Do you really think the priestesses would just let us get away?”
Grant’s features darkened. He didn’t like my answer. “We’ll give you a potion like the one you gave Monica. We’ll fake your deaths.”
“We don’t have time to replicate the brew,” Lucas said. “We can’t run from this, you guys. The only way we’re getting out of here is if we win our trial.”
“This isn’t a fair trial!” Talia cried. “You’re naive to think you can win. If you don’t leave now, I’ll hit you with a stunning spell and throw you in my trunk! I’m not kidding.”
I sighed. “Tal, yesterday you had no magic because of the Waning. Can you even cast a stunning spell? If you two want to go, please do. Go, be safe. But if Lucas and I leave now, we’ll be putting you in danger. We’re going through with this.”
Tears welled in Talia’s eyes. “I refuse to accept this is the only way, Nadine. I’m not letting another one of my best friends hang. If you’re not going to save yourselves, then I will!”
Talia pushed past me and stormed out of the room.
“Tal!” I ran to follow her, but Grant stopped me.
“You have to get ready for the trial,” he said. “I’ll go after her.”
I didn’t have a choice; the trial was going to start soon. I knew she’d be safe with Grant.
I dressed in my nicest slacks and a black blazer, and I slipped my wand into the inner pocket—just in case. I left my cloak behind, because Verla said the jurors would sympathize with us more if we dressed like them.
We went back to Lucas’s dorm so he could borrow a suit from Grant’s closet, because he didn’t have one of his own. I piled the cats’ bowls full of food, then stroked Isa’s fur and gave her kisses. She yowled loudly, like she knew something wasn’t quite right.
“You can’t come with,” I told her. “We’ll be back soon, all right?”
I had to believe that.
Verla drove us to the courthouse, and Lucas held my hand the entire way. I noticed more people crowding the streets the closer we got to the courthouse. They’d all come to watch. It made me sick knowing the priestesses were using me as a puppet in their twisted theater.
We drove over a bridge, and the river below looked so calm and peaceful. It seemed so strange to see on a day like today. How could the river not feel the torrent of this conflict sweeping through the coven?
The courthouse stood next to the river, and a crowd so large had gathered out front that I couldn’t even see the steps. They yelled over one another, and I couldn’t tell what they were saying. Nothing kind, I was sure.
Verla drove around to the back of the courthouse, away from the crowd. We were greeted by several police officers, who promptly slapped metal bracelets on our wrists and ushered us inside. My energy drained the moment the metal touched my skin. They were noxite, surely made so we didn’t cast spells in the courtroom.
The officers didn’t say a thing as they led us into a private room. I stopped in the doorway when I saw Mandy sitting there. Had she been called as a witness? I didn’t want our friends being put on the stand like this.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Mandy stood, but it was Verla who spoke first. “Mandy asked me to arrange a meeting before the trial. I’ll give you three a minute, but be quick. The trial starts soon.”
She shut the door, leaving Lucas, Mandy, and me in private. I rushed to speak. “If they called you to the stand, I’m sorry. We didn’t know you’d get involved, and I know you didn’t want to be a part of this anymore.”
Mandy sniffled. “That’s not why I came. I came to say goodbye.”
“We’re not headed to the gallows yet,” Lucas said sadly. “We still have a chance to turn this around.”
“I don’t know that you do.” Tears beaded in Mandy’s eyes. There was so much sadness, but behind that, I saw guilt.
