Daughter of Chaos

by Sarah Rees Brennan

“There are people I have to protect.”

  “Who?” Nick asked.

  “Not witches,” said Harvey.

  If it was only him, he supposed he’d be lonely enough to try and love witches, but it wasn’t only his life and heart at risk. He had others to think of now.

  He’d imagined, at the beginning of this week, that he’d lost Roz and Susie. But he hadn’t. They were still his friends, infinitely beloved and infinitely fragile. Roz was cursed; Susie had been attacked. They were under threat from the magical world. Witches didn’t need him, but his friends would. He had to pick their side.

  He’d always wanted to get away from Greendale. Now he couldn’t imagine leaving his friends in danger.

  “Be a coward or a witch-hunter or whatever you like,” Nick sneered. “I don’t see why I should help you.”

  “You don’t have to,” said Harvey. “I can’t make you. But what is there to lose?”

  Nick’s gaze on Harvey was bitter. “Nothing at all.”

  Harvey nodded. “I can’t help you with Sabrina anymore. And … nobody but you thought you’d need much help to begin with.”

  The sneer distorting Nick’s mouth faded.

  “I saw her with you,” said Harvey. “She’s … going to really like you. You’re both … you’ll be great together.”

  His throat felt as if it might close up again, with the bleak misery he’d felt last night. He wanted this discussion to be over.

  “Well.” Nick sounded less mad. “I hope so, but—”

  “I would’ve thought you’d be happy to push me further out of your world,” he interrupted. “Sabrina’s in it. What if I decided I could accept the magical world, and I went to Sabrina and begged to be her one and only again?”

  The idea seemed to startle Nick. Harvey supposed Nick had never considered him a real rival. It probably hadn’t occurred to Nick for an instant that Sabrina might actually pick Harvey.

  “Is that what you’d do?”

  “I’m in love with her, Nick!” Harvey snarled. “What do you think that means?”

  “I don’t know yet,” Nick snarled back.

  “Well, think about it,” said Harvey. “I’m sure it’s hard for you to imagine, but what if you were the one left out in the cold? You want that?”

  “No,” said Nick.

  Harvey thought of Prudence in the back of his truck, refusing to go into the Spellman house where she wouldn’t be loved. Nobody wanted to be left out in the cold.

  “So why won’t you do the spell?”

  “I don’t feel like it,” Nick drawled.

  “Please,” said Harvey. “Did you only want information to help with Sabrina? Or were we—were we ever friends? Even for a minute? Sometimes—sometimes it seemed like we were. If we were, then I’m asking you to do the spell.”

  Nick watched him with the eyes of an animal held at bay.

  Harvey nodded, accepting silence as an answer. “Guess not.”

  That was what he’d figured. He’d thought it would be easier to know for sure, so he could turn away from the witches and be certain they were impossibly distant from mortals. All save Sabrina.

  Now he was certain.

  He turned and walked away.

  Before he made it off the bridge, Harvey heard the thunder of footsteps running after him. His arm was grabbed in a vise hold. For a split second of panic, he thought: Wait, stop. I was sure you wouldn’t do it.

  Nick Scratch said: “Come here.”

  She didn’t dream a dream of hate, but sometimes the dreams the cunning brought were worse. Roz tossed on her bed as, in dreams, she drifted through the underworld.

  There was a tower, high and burning, and the sound of the flames was a scream. Therefore is the tower called Babel, Roz remembered. The Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them.

  There was a flame with the head of a hawk, and as Roz watched, the bright terrible flame traveled through the air to a dark throne that shadowed the whole land. She couldn’t see the face of the Lord in that throne, but she saw the demon of fire and discord prostrate himself at his lord’s feet.

  “I have done as you commanded,” said Pruflas, proud prince of hell, bowing his burning head. “The seed is strong. Praise Satan! The girl is strong. I saw her robed in the light of dying stars, wielding power as both blade and scepter, with the boy you chose by her side.”

  “As I commanded him to be,” murmured the Dark Lord on his dark throne. “Those whose hearts are touched by Satan will be kept by me forever. He has no choice but to obey. Nor will she, in the end. Now, lie to all the world, but not me. Something in our plans went awry.”

  “Very little, my lord,” said the prince. “A trifle. The girl had the power to turn me away, and that is well. But the spell of discord I laid upon the people, which should have resulted in beautiful bloodshed … There were too many in the town who fought against it, witches and mortals alike. They should not have been able to resist the tide of hatred, but they gathered together and toward the girl. I fear—”

  The Dark Lord, on his dark throne, laughed. “I fear nothing and never have. Learn from me. Of course the girl will rebel at first. Consider whose daughter she is.”

  “The daughter of the Great Rebel.” The prince kissed his god’s feet. “Praise Satan. Praise Sabrina!”

  Oh my God, Roz thought, half horror and half prayer. Her mind fragmented into panic, her thoughts scattering everywhere, with only one thing clear.

  Sabrina wasn’t unlucky, she wasn’t bringing trouble upon herself, she was a target. She was Rosemary’s baby, all grown up and in terrible danger. This beast on his throne was after her, wanted to make her his own. Roz had to get to Sabrina and warn her.

  I know what to do, she’d tell Sabrina. We have to gather together, we have to—

  That was when he turned his head, and the throne drew in her dreaming self as though it were a black hole.

  “Oh, little cunning child,” the devil whispered, his face coming close to hers, beautiful and beastlike. “You can’t see this.”

  Roz screamed as he laid a burning hand upon her eyes.

  The scream woke her up, ringing against the walls of her room. She sat up in bed, blinking hard. She’d been sleeping so much these past few days. She hoped she wasn’t coming down with something.

  Roz checked the time on her phone and scrambled out of bed. She was late to meet Harvey and Susie.

  Prudence walked down the main street of Greendale, strolling by Nick Scratch’s side and licking a large blood-and-toad-flavored lollipop he’d given her as a bribe. She was spending so much time among the mortals lately. She’d have to arrange a whole impurifying spa day with her sisters.

  “There,” said Nick.

  They brushed by the witch-hunter, who was walking with his arms around the shoulders of those two mortal friends Sabrina ceaselessly banged on about. The tiny short-haired one was telling a joke. The witch-hunter was laughing, his head tipped back, and the tall pretty one was gazing up at him.

  Lucifer in a lounge chair, Roz with the great hair liked him. Girl, Prudence wanted to tell her, you are beautiful, you can do better. Don’t waste yourself on the witch-hunter.

  It was a little strange when the witch-hunter looked straight through her, and then frowned slightly in faint recognition, eyes widening as he glanced from her face to Nick’s.

  He said tentatively: “Hi?”

  Nick gave a curt nod. “Harry.”

  “What a jackass,” muttered the witch-hunter as he and his friends passed them by.

  Prudence took a lick of her lollipop. Across the street, a boy became distracted and walked into traffic, but that wasn’t Prudence’s problem.

  “Yep, looks like it worked. Well done. Nice strong spell. You have to set them really firmly, so they can’t get the memories back via suggestion. I did it for one of Agatha’s mortals once.”

  Agatha’s mortal had kept hanging around. It hadn’t been safe,
not for the mortal and not for her sister. Agatha was upset when she thought the mortal had lost interest, but it was for the best.

  Nick nodded, walking rapidly down the street. It was getting rather difficult to keep up with him.

  “He looks—happy,” Prudence commented.

  “You were right. Witch-hunters are all the same,” Nick said calmly. “I hope he chokes.”

  Prudence considered the matter and smirked. “That would be hilarious.”

  The snow was still falling, each flake catching daylight and winking. Maybe it would keep snowing until Sabrina wanted it to stop.

  No, Prudence told herself. Witches couldn’t wish the weather into being. She’d been enduring enchantment, dealing with demons, and making poor personal life choices by hanging around Sabrina and Nick. She’d been confused when she thought she saw snow burst from a clear sky last night.

  She shook off the strange thoughts and glanced at Nick. He’d just cast a swift look behind him. The mortals and the witch-hunter were being shamelessly affectionate, right there on a public street where children could see.

  “Aw, are we sad? Did little Nicky think he’d made a friend?”

  She mimed tears with her free hand. Nick’s set face turned into bared teeth and satanic eyebrow action, which was a big improvement.

  “No, sweetheart,” he answered. “I know I don’t have any friends.”

  There was something in the way he said it that made her recall what she’d told him in the library. She almost protested, but she didn’t, and he was continuing relentlessly.

  “Don’t have any, don’t want any, don’t need any. I’m going to be Sabrina Spellman’s one and only. I’ll do everything she wants, and she’ll love me best of anybody. That’s how it works, right?”

  He flung her a demanding look.

  “I never want to be asked any disgusting questions about love ever again,” said Prudence firmly, “but yes, I assume so. I mean, I expect men to do everything I want.”

  Nick nodded to himself with gathering resolve. “Since we’re among the mortals already, I think I’ll walk Sabrina to the Academy.”

  “You make me feel unwell on a daily basis,” said Prudence. “Have fun.”

  Nick set off away from her and across the street, but he stopped under a lamppost and looked back.

  “Hey, Prudence,” he tossed over his shoulder, with a curving smile. “We may not be friends, but you’re my favorite ex-girlfriend.”

  She hadn’t thought he’d hold a grudge long. It was a well-kept secret, but under the bravado, Nick Scratch was nice-natured. For a witch.

  Prudence, who had no such personal flaw, made a swift gesture that blew snow in his eyes. “That’s because you never appreciated my sisters as they deserve, you cretinous tart.”

  Nick saluted.

  “Oh, I give up,” Prudence said. “If you want Sabrina, go get her. She dumped the mortal for you, didn’t she?”

  “No, that’s not remotely what happened,” said Nick.

  “Come on, Nicholas.” Prudence waved a hand and made the snowflakes dance. “You’re a witch. Make it true. Good luck with your disaster-area girl. You’ll need it.”

  He laughed and left, his path leading inexorably to the Spellman house and his lady.

  Sabrina, who would do anything for her friends and who expected them to do anything for her. Sabrina, who didn’t even know she expected too much from people. People who’d always had too much didn’t have any concept of what things really cost.

  Prudence knew. Prudence wanted power and security, and she was prepared to pay the price.

  Prudence saw the path before her clearly. She didn’t have time to waste on Sabrina. Or Nick Scratch, with no friends left, wolf-hungry for love and headed for disaster. Or even adorable Ambrose. They couldn’t help her. Perhaps Zelda might, but Prudence couldn’t make Zelda like her better than Sabrina.

  Prudence had to focus on Father Blackwood. She had to make him believe she was the ideal daughter, prove to him that she was cruel and heartless and perfect. She couldn’t be distracted by people who would never choose her. Prudence had to choose herself.

  She made for home, and her sisters.

  What a jackass,” muttered Harvey.

  “Who was that?” Roz asked, peering after the couple as they walked on.

  Plenty of people were staring. Greendale didn’t see a lot of glamorous strangers, but Roz was squinting at their backs with a worried look, as though not sure she would recognize people she knew. He wouldn’t let anything trouble Roz, not if he could help it.

  “Don’t worry about it. He’s some guy I met once,” said Harvey. “We didn’t get along.”

  Susie grinned. “He clearly found you memorable.”

  Harvey and Susie had a brief scuffle fight, which Susie won by pulling Harvey’s woolly hat down over his eyes. Harvey ended up turned around and trying to fight with a lamppost.

  “Oh,” he said when he rolled the hat up. “I thought this seemed too tall to be Susie.”

  “Whatever, loser,” said Susie. “Gotta do chores. Catch you later, Roz. Harry.”

  “Not going to tell us your New Year’s resolutions?” asked Roz.

  The impish smile faded. “I will tell you, Roz,” Susie promised. “Soon.”

  Harvey grabbed Susie back for a three-way hug, before he let Susie run off, stepping lightly into the dancing snow. His arm was around Roz’s neck. He kept it there, walking with more care than he usually did so he could unobtrusively guide her. If she needed it.

  Nick Scratch, the weird warlock guy in all black, turned his head and caught Harvey’s eye. It was strange he was with that girl, the one Sabrina had called Prudence. Harvey guessed Prudence must be a witch too, but he’d been very sure Nick was interested in Sabrina. Maybe witches did that kind of thing differently.

  Whenever he thought of magic, his mind scrambled from panic to fear, and whenever he thought of Sabrina, he was so angry. He wished she would come back to him. He wished he knew why she’d told the lies that led him into a nightmare. If he could just understand, he could forgive her.

  Still, there was something more important than resentment or terror. No matter what, Harvey wanted the best for Sabrina.

  He might be a jerk who’d forgotten Harvey’s name, but when Sabrina asked, Nick Scratch came through. Harvey wanted that for her, in the strange world she’d gone where he couldn’t follow.

  Roz yawned, calling his attention to her. “You didn’t sleep well?”

  “I slept way too much, these past few days,” Roz told him. “My head’s still foggy. A lot of people are stumbling around looking ashamed of themselves and asking what happened last night. Maybe that’s normal the day after New Year’s, but it seems like … it might be something more. Knowing our luck, something magic.”

  “Yeah,” Harvey said softly. “I think you’re right. But I guess I’m like everybody else. I don’t really remember. I hope I didn’t do anything to be ashamed of.”

  It was possible he had. He was always messing stuff up, but he thought he remembered the important things. He’d gone to pick up Sabrina when she was in trouble. He’d visited Tommy’s grave at last, and he felt lighter for it. He’d been out shooting with Susie, and they’d promised to fight against magic together.

  Roz laughed. “I doubt you did, Harvey.”

  “Thanks for believing in me.”

  “Anytime,” she murmured, a slight flush rising on her golden-brown skin. She leaned against him, and Harvey blinked down at her.

  She wants you, said a voice in his mind, but that was ridiculous. Of course she didn’t.

  “Sabrina!” Roz exclaimed suddenly. “I was thinking about Sabrina. I’ve been freaking out over this magic stuff, but I want to try and do better. I’m ready to have a real talk with her.” Her eyes searched Harvey’s face, unfocused and anxious. “Don’t you want to talk to her?”

  He wanted so much he couldn’t have. You have nothing a witch needs, he thought, as
if someone was whispering truth in his ear. It broke his heart.

  “Yeah,” Harvey said eventually. “I do want to talk to Sabrina.”

  “We’re back to school soon. We’ll see her then.”

  “Let’s enjoy the last of vacation first. Want to go to the movies later?” Harvey asked.

  Roz beamed. “Sure.”

  “Cool, I’ll text Susie,” said Harvey, and was startled to see Roz’s smile dim.

  “Great,” she told him after a momentary pause, and pulled away.

  He found, unexpectedly, that he missed her warmth. There hadn’t been a lot of warmth for him lately. He tugged her back in for a hug and felt her burning cheek against his.

  “Happy New Year, Roz,” he whispered.

  She stepped back, still blushing and smiling. “Same to you. Happy also.”

  She wants you.

  Maybe.

  Maybe, if it was true, he could work out whether he could possibly do something about that. For now, he was happy to be going to the movies with his friends.

  He walked home whistling and found his father outside fixing up the basketball hoop around back of his house. His dad was wearing an old long-sleeved sweatshirt Harvey hadn’t seen in years, not since the days when he and Tommy were kids and his dad stayed sober enough to play with them in the evenings.

  “Hey there, Harv,” his dad said. “I know you weren’t too keen last time we spoke, but I thought you might change your mind and toss around a ball with your old dad.”

  He rubbed a hand through his graying hair. Harvey watched the hand warily.

  “I’d like to clear some of the cobwebs out of my mind,” his dad urged. “The past few days are kind of muddy. But I haven’t been drinking again. I swear.”

  “I know that.”

  Sabrina had stopped him. He hadn’t been able to stop himself.

  But it was still good that his dad wasn’t drinking. Harvey offered him a cautious smile.

  “From what I do remember …” his dad said slowly. “I think you handled yourself pretty well, Harv.”

  First time you’ve ever thought that about me, thought Harvey, but he didn’t say it. He’d learned a long time ago not to mouth off to his father.