“Anna!” Katie shouted after me, but I was already through the door.
Chapter 47
“Do you have a bathroom?” I asked the butler when I saw him inside. There were tears streaming down my face.
He pointed an impassive finger down the hallway. “First door on your right.”
I ran down the hall as fast as I could and slammed the door closed behind me. Like the rest of the house, it was filled with dragons, from the faucet to the painting on the wall, and every inch of the room was trimmed with gold. As I stared into the mirror, a dragon painting stared back at me.
I couldn’t believe Katie. I had just gotten her back, and we had just professed our love for each other, and now she just wanted me to throw it all away and get over her. Like it was that easy to get over somebody. If you could just give your love to somebody else, wouldn’t that make things too easy?
I grabbed a wad of tissue paper and blotted my red eyes. As I did, I heard a knock at the door. “Can I come in?”
It was Samantha. I ignored her but she knocked again, and then a third time. I knew I couldn’t avoid answering her. “It’s not really big enough for two people.”
“I’ll sit on the toilet, or something. Please let me in.”
“Fine.” I pulled open the door and Samantha squeezed inside. “I told you it was small.”
“It’s fine.” She sat on the toilet seat. “Are you okay?”
“The love of my life just told me I should give away my love for her, as if it was just that easy.”
Samantha took a deep breath. “I know this is hard to hear, but you’re being a baby.”
“Excuse me? I thought you were here for emotional support.”
“That’s never been my strong suit,” she replied. “I’m very good at telling the truth, though, and the truth is we’re screwed without that book.”
“No. There has to be another way to get that spell.”
“Before the hole opens even wider and we’re all consumed by it?”
“I can’t do it, Samantha. I just can’t give up my love for somebody, like it’s nothing.”
“Who said it was nothing? I was there, too, and Katie seemed every bit as upset as you. She’s just being practical. What are you going to do? Pine for a ghost your whole life?”
My eyes dropped to the sink. “Maybe just until college.”
Samantha shook her head. “It’s not practical or smart, Anna. You don’t have to give away your memories, but don’t be an idiot. You’re going to move on some day. It might as well be today.”
I blew my nose. “I don’t want to move on. I’m not ready yet.”
“Katie wants you to move on. She wants what’s best for you. That’s what people who love you do. They look out for you, okay?”
I spun around to catch her eyes. “Just because you’re right doesn’t mean I have to agree with you.”
Samantha stood up and placed her hands on my shoulders. “You don’t have to agree with me to do the right thing, either.”
Samantha was right, but I didn’t have to want her to be right. It just didn’t seem like enough, to give away the love of my life for a stupid book. It didn’t seem big enough, grand enough.
I looked past Samantha’s head, to the dragon on the wall behind it, and then I had an idea. It wouldn’t make me feel any better, but it might make it more worthwhile to give up the only love I had ever known.
I pushed open the door and walked back outside to meet the dowager. When I did, Katie turned to me. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m horrible, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do it.”
“So, you’ve come to your senses,” Vermilda said, taking a long drag of her cigarette. “I knew you would. They always do.”
“Not so fast,” I said. “Your deal isn’t nearly good enough. I need more if I’m going to give away the love I feel for Katie.”
“Piffle,” Vermilda said, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m giving you the key to save the world. What more do you want?”
A slight grin came across my face. “I want dragon fire.”
Vermilda scoffed. “Please. What makes you think I have access to dragon fire?”
“The thousand paintings of dragons in this house. Either you have it, or you know how to get it. I want the book and dragon fire, or there’s no deal.”
Vermilda slammed her hand on the table. It wasn’t the dainty fingers of a movie star, that’s for sure. Her fingers were long and scaly, with dark, black talons. “You are lucky I need your power to maintain my disguise, or I would eat you right now.”
“What’s going on here?” Samantha said, stepping onto the patio.
I gulped loudly. “I think we’re the first people to see a dragon in over a thousand years.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Vermilda said. “Many have seen me, just none in my true form. I haven’t been able to leave the house in ages, what with my teeth like they have been. And now, it’s getting worse.”
“Do we have a deal, then? Since you need what I have so badly?”
“Do you have something to transport the dragon fire in? Or should I just burn you alive?”
I nodded. “I have an enchanted jar in my car.”
“Then we have a deal.”
I turned to Katie. “I hate that we have to do this. I was prepared to love you for the rest of my life.”
“I don’t want that for you. I already loved you for all of mine. I want you to find somebody, grow old, and make memories. We couldn’t have done that together. The fates wouldn’t allow it, but I don’t want you carrying a flame for me forever.”
“I hate this,” I said, crying again.
“I do too,” Katie replied. “But it’s the right thing. The best thing for
