Wild and Wicked Things

One for malice Two for mirth Three for a death Four for a birth Five for silver Six for gold Seven for a secret never to be told Eight for heaven Nine for hell Ten to the devil wherever she may dwell

Just a glance from Emmeline and I wasn’t myself. Or maybe I was more myself than I’d ever been.

The rich ones always made the easiest marks. They wanted things only real magic could buy: love, happiness. They had all their money, but they didn’t have it all.

Our fates had been tied together since the first moment we met—because, magic or not, I had never wanted anyone or anything other than her.

The girl did not see me. She inspected her palm, holding it up to the silver moon like an offering. Blood trickled, dark against the rocks. The magic I could taste was untamed— fierce and angry. She lifted her hand to her mouth, tongue hungry, and when she pulled it away her lips were smeared bloody red.

I do it because... because this life chews people like us up and spits them right back out again. Because I have never asked for anything more than the safety of my brother and sister, yet all we get is tolerance at best and downright hatred at worst. I've watched my family crumble and not been able to do anything about it. People don't think of us as being human. They don't care if we live and live well as long as their needs are fulfilled.

A tiny thought at the back of my mind whispered that when I looked at this place I could almost taste magic on my tongue, could feel its promise of transformation humming in my veins. There was just enough of it in the air to make me feel brave.