With sightless eyes I stare out into the dark. What can I do? I can’t possibly give Sitri what he asks for. My freedom isn’t worth Dominic’s life—I already decided that I won’t use a sacrifice to release my curse. No way will I even entertain the idea of Dominic being the martyr, saving me. Sitri has forced my hand. Called my bluff. I think he believes I won’t take the final drastic step to be free of him. He has no idea. But first, maybe I can spend the next couple of days imprinting this city and its people deeply into my heart, absorbing as much as I can. Before I… I shake my head. If I can’t think it, how can I do it? Can’t back out now. But how do I say goodbye? Small slivers of pink and orange caress the horizon, fan slowly across the sky. Morning is breaking, and with the rise of the sun I shake off my morose attitude. Aggie, Dominic—they’re right about what they said. My life is my own. Sitri has no power over me anymore. There’s an odd sort of freedom that comes with accepting my fate.
