Otto didn't stop riding until the castle lights disappeared behind the thick wall of trees.
Fog curled low around the forest floor, swallowing their path with cold, ghostly fingers. Branches snapped beneath the horses' hooves, each sound too loud, too sharp, too dangerous.
Jasmine clung to the reins, her bare feet tucked tightly beneath her, toes numb from the freezing wind.
She kept looking back over her shoulder.
Even though she had followed this path so many times to see the Siren, she still felt scared and isolated.
She had never been here this late.
Even though she knew Hildegard was gone.
Even though she knew she couldn't return.
Even though her heart hurt so much she could barely breathe.
"Jasmine," Otto said finally, his voice tight. "Stop looking back."
"I can't help it," she whispered. "She's in there. Alone. Because of me."
Otto's jaw clenched.
He felt sick too.
He felt like vomiting from guilt.
But he forced himself to stay focused.
He had to.
