Page 1 of The Halo & the Heathen
The Edge of a Knife
Skye won’t stop fussingwith my hair.
I sit on the floor at the side of her bed and she puffs out one of the space buns she’s tied.
“You have to look amazing.” Her words are faint, but I still hear the smile beneath the exhaustion.
I don’t tell her that no one will care about my hair—no one will pay any attention to it—becauseshecares about my hair and that’s what matters.
The half of it that isn’t in the two little balls atop my head brushes my chin as I turn to look up at her.
“With the dress you picked out, I’ll be stunning.”
Skye’s smile is tired, but she twists another strand of purple out to frame my face. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“Me too.”
Her smile falters as she turns away, pulling off her wig—yet more of my hair—and setting it on the foam mannequin head.
“I wish I could come with you.”
I don’t.
My baby sister looks ten years older than me, not the other way around.
She isn’t old enough to dance for the Devil… but her body has been failing her for years.
I scurry to stand as she reaches for her pillow and help her lie down. I shouldn’t have let her sit up for so long.
Skye shifts, grimacing as she tries to get comfortable and I pull the bedsheets up around her. “You need to rest.”
“I’ve been resting for years. Surely it would have solved something by now if that was the answer.” She smiles up at me, but it’s a tired, frustrated thing and then a yawn wracks her body, making her bones pop and crack.
“Maybe you’re right.” She cringes. “One more night of good sleep, and tomorrow, we will tackle our problems together.”
Squeezing her hand, I don’t agree with her.
I promised myself I would never lie to her and sometimes it’s easier to say nothing at all.
“Sleep well.” I turn off the lamp at her bedside and kiss her hot forehead before leaving her to sleep through another hellish night.
Thankfully, she’s seventeen for a few more weeks. Her hell won’t be literal this year.
Closing the door quietly behind me, I pause in the hallway of the convent, looking down at the black and white tiles beneath my feet.
I don’t belong here.
The sisters tolerate me out of the love in their hearts and by the grace of God… or so they say.
But they don’t let me have any peace.
As I turn to walk to my own room, I hear the clicking of heels and know that tonight won’t be any different.
“Iona! Come say your vows before it’s too late.” Sister Norris hurries up beside me, her countenance grim, her habit fluttering behind her. “Not tonight, sister.” I offer her a smile I know she won’t understand.
“You cannot mean to go through with this.”
We’ve had this argument before. “I know what I’m doing.”
