Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver Page A

insisted. “You and I will go. Violetta will stay with Leila.”
    Violetta cleared her throat. “Why do I get babysitting duties? What am I supposed to do while you two are gone? Pick dandelions?”
    “Figure out how Mara is going to die. It's the only way to intercept death,” Wynter said.
    “You two, out of the carriage.” Jasper was short and to the point.
    “We'll meet you in Ophelia’s old room, fifteen minutes before Mara's appointment. That should give us enough time,” Wynter said.
    Reluctantly, Leila climbed out of the carriage.
     
    Jasper drove the carriage west with Wynter in the back. Wynter’s heart skipped a beat, and his stomach tensed just thinking about what was to come. Was he stupid? Leila didn’t even love him, but he couldn’t allow her to lose her sister. He knew what it felt like to lose a sister, and he’d never gotten over Hannah’s death.
    “You’re an idiot.” Jasper glanced back at his friend. “Juliana is the devil, and you’re about to make a deal with her.”
    Wynter held his tongue. Maybe he’d been wrong about Juliana. Although he doubted it. She hadn’t helped the last time he’d sought her assistance. Years ago, he’d traveled to Seora, when he’d been going through a rough patch. He’d sought her out, and she turned him away. What made him think she’d change her mind?
    “You have to help.” Wynter showed Juliana the scroll. It wasn’t the name, but the age of the child that he hoped would convince her to help.
    She stared at the scroll silently. Juliana, the dark angel, sighed and her hand reached out, touching Wynter’s arm. She paused, conflicted. A moment later, Juliana flinched and pulled away as if she’d been burned. “No.” She gasped and took a step backward. “I can’t help you, Wynter. Please don’t ever come here again.”
    He knew it was a risk, going to visit Juliana. She wouldn’t want to see him, but Mara’s life depended on it. She was fourteen and the next in line for the throne. Surely, Juliana would consider his request this time? Mara was important, and Juliana was allowed to save only those who mattered in the grand scheme.
    The carriage jolted along the dirt path. Wynter gripped the seat as he bit his lower lip. He was nervous to see her again. Maybe Jasper could walk up to the dark angel refuge and convince her to help. Juliana wouldn’t recognize him.
     
    Leila grumbled under her breath and wrapped her arms around herself. The night air was cool, and they had to walk back around the castle and sneak in without being seen.
    “Come on.” Violetta pulled Leila close to her. “Let's go find Mara and see what trouble's brewing.”
    Leila glanced at the road. The carriage vanished on the darkened path. Would they be back in time? She had to trust Wynter. He'd given her no reason to believe otherwise. “What do you know about dark angels?”
    “Not much.” Violetta walked alongside Leila around the perimeter of the castle. “They have both the power to give and take life. As reapers, we're forbidden from asking favors of dark angels. They worry it would mess up the system. It's why most reapers are removed from their location for at least a hundred years, to sever their past human connections. Occasionally, when a mortal is murdered and becomes a reaper, the higher-ups let them remain in their district. I guess you're one of the lucky ones.”
    “You think I'm lucky? I had to watch my boyfriend get executed, reap his soul, and now my little sister is about to die. I wouldn't call my life lucky. I'm anything but lucky.” Leila walked to the hidden entrance and swung open the door. She snuck inside and let Violetta follow behind her. “What exactly are dark angels?”
    Violetta frowned. “Dark angels were human once, just like us.” Violetta kept her voice low; she didn't want to alert the guards.
    “What happened to them?” Leila led Violetta through the tunnel and made a sharp right and then another left guiding, them