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you home.” As soon as the words were out, Rachael regretted them. Home to Cephy was the burning ruin behind her, not a frozen spot on the ground, and there was definitely no going back there now.
    “I just wanted to see her one more time. He saw me, and hit me, harder than he ever did before. And I-” Rachael pulled her into her arms before Cephy could say another word. She could imagine what had happened after that.
    Carefully, Rachael picked her up. It took all her effort to carry the girl on her back, but she managed to walk and began to make her way back through the crowd.
    No one tried to stop her. The looks they threw Cephy said more than words could have done, and Rachael hoped that Cephy had her eyes shut so she wouldn't see their disgusted, hateful glares.
    She knew if Cephy hadn't just burned down a whole house by herself, if the damage had been any less, things would have been a lot worse.
    For the first time, Rachael wondered if maybe their curses were actually small gifts. Everyone knew what both of them could do and no one was going to arrest someone who could give you the details of your death, or who could so easily reduce a building to ashes.
    Cephy had committed a crime.
    And thanks to that, they were safe.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    That night Rachael fell asleep cradling Cephy in her arms. She had been awake for several hours before the gentle cloak of sleep had finally embraced her, wondering just how her life had taken a turn such as this.
    Not long ago she had been content with being on her own. Somewhere along the line she had come to look after a small child – not any small child, but a child who had a talent far more dangerous than hers.
    She held Cephy, and reminded herself that despite what she told herself now, she had not been content. She had been lonely. She had wanted the warm embrace of a loving mother, just like Cephy had craved one last hug from her own mother. Telling herself otherwise had been a necessity, but now that necessity was obsolete. Still, sometimes she almost missed being on her own. She had no experience in looking after someone else, and if Cephy were caught the punishment would be on her head, too.
    Eventually, Rachael fell asleep, wondering what she had gotten herself into.
    The villagers had always done their best to avoid Rachael. Now, after what Cephy had done, they went out of their way to stay clear of them.
    No one left food out for them now. The few people who had sometimes granted them a pitiful smile no longer did so, and even the fearful whispering behind their backs had stopped.
    Where people had watched them carefully before to make sure that their paths wouldn't cross, no one as much as glanced at them now. It was as though they had become invisible or like the people of the town had jointly decided to ignore them.
    It made Rachael feel uneasy and put her every thought on edge. The town's people had thought of them as dangerous before. While most of them hadn't witnessed Cephy use her curse in any way, they had been accustomed to Rachael bringing death upon people. They had been used to it, and had said hateful things behind their backs regardless. Now they had become a bad sign, a bad omen surrounding Blackrock. Rachael who predicted death, and Cephy who delivered her judgment. Had Cephy's actions really changed things that much?
    She was worried the fire had been the last straw.
    The snow was falling heavier every day, and Rachael knew that their fates were sealed if they couldn't find something to eat soon. There was no more sympathy to find amongst the people, no more mercy to be granted by people who had children themselves and who prayed to the Maker that their own family would never have to live on the street as they did.
    Rachael had considered leaving Blackrock many times, but the uncertainty of the world behind the walls had stopped her every time. People like her were hated everywhere; they'd fare no better in another town. Neither of them had ever