She slipped along the corridor, the shadows aiding her, though she passed no one.

Burn the witch.

As she met the water, she could not shake the feeling of being watched. She tried to ignore the warning feeling in her gut telling her to return to her room and wait till morning.

Burn the witch.

She began to swim, desperately pulling herself away from the shore. She willed the girl to be in the forest when she arrived.

Burn the witch.

They would not touch her.

Sapphire stumbled on to the shore, eyes searching the area frantically.

‘Ashes?’

Her voice echoed through the forest.

‘Ashes? Please.’

She tried not to panic, to not let the fear consume her, but Ryvinika’s words rang in her mind.

The monster you know, child, is the danger you should fear.

‘Sapphire?’

Ashes stood nearby. Her eyes were wide with worry as she stared at Sapphire.

‘You’re safe.’ Sapphire jumped to her feet, throwing her arms around the girl, pulling her in tightly.

‘You sound surprised.’

‘They hurt you. They –’ An unexpected sob escaped her lips, and she refused to loosen her grip on the girl. ‘They burned you.’

Ashes stepped back, far enough to cup Sapphire’s face in her hands. ‘Take a deep breath, highness.’

She opened her eyes finally to meet Ashes’ gaze, blinking back tears. ‘Sapphire.’

‘Hmm?’ the witch cooed.

‘My name,’ Sapphire whispered between shuddering sobs. ‘Can’t you just call me by my name?’

‘Tell me,’ her tone was soft, ‘Sapphire. Tell me what happened.’

Sapphire stepped away from her touch, blinking a few times. When she met the girl’s gaze, she found panic there. Panic that did not suit her. So Sapphire obliged, her voice tight as she described the secret dreams. The heavy weight of the images that settled within her chest. Ashes’ screams. The desperation. The emptiness that followed.

When she finished, Ashes did not immediately speak. She did not reach out a hand to comfort Sapphire. She did nothing but stare out at the black water, her eyes dark like the storm that was forming overhead.

The witch began to pace the shore, rigid with panic. She was murmuring spells or prayers that Sapphire couldn’t understand. Sapphire’s frustration swelled.

‘No twisted riddles, Ashes. Tell me what is happening.’

The monsters you know, child, are about to show their teeth.

‘Leave us,’ Sapphire seethed, pushing Ryvinika away inside her head, and she moved towards Ashes. The presence left without a fight.

‘Please, Ashes – just talk to me.’

‘For years, the barrier has been weakening. Long before either of us walked this land, the magic began to wither away. And despite the gifts and offerings presented by your people, the Elders have not responded. Surveyors studied the fractures, trying to make sense of the failing magic. There is no answer … or not one your people want to believe. Have you not noticed the king and queen’s absence?’