Free Forest of Demons by Debbie Cassidy

understand it, but felt its truth, had seen it in his eyes. She didn’t understand it, but she loved him and didn’t have the strength to hurt him. If only he had confided in her sooner . . . She would speak to him in the morning. Tell him that she would keep his secret.
    Her head ached. Sleep tugged at her eyelids. She allowed it to take her.
     
    The next morning she awoke to the sun streaming through the curtains that hung in her doorway.
    She shot up, glancing about in panic.
    Why was the sun so bright? It must be almost midday.
    She jumped out of bed, pulled on her clothes and hurried into the kitchen
    Ma looked over from the stove. “Sit. I’ll fetch you some food.”
    “What’s going on? Why didn’t you wake me? I have to set up the stall.”
    Ma shook her head. “You’ll stay home this morning. The stall can wait.”
    “What?” Priya’s stomach dropped under the weight of foreboding. Guru, this had something to do with Guru, she could feel it. God’s, why had she told Ma what had happened! “Ma, what have you done?”
    Ma pressed her lips tightly together. “What needed to be done.”
    Priya backed away. “Ma, please . . . you didn’t . . . you didn’t say anything to anyone, right?” Even as she asked the question she knew the answer, she could see it in Ma’s eyes, the set of her delicate jaw.
    Priya grabbed her shawl and slammed out the house, ignoring Ma’s cries.

CHAPTER 6
    The market was winding down in time for the red sun’s appearance. She noticed a parade of people moving toward the temple, as if drawn by some auspicious event. Priya’s pulse jumped as she pushed past them, moving quickly to get to the front of the crowd.
    The screams and accusations could be heard clearly, carried on the dry air like sharp motes of dust. They pricked her skin, bringing a flush of shameful horror to her cheeks.
    “You filthy creature! We give you a place in our home, and you repay us with this. Casting your evil spells on my poor boy!” Miriam’s enraged voice was accompanied by distressed wailing.
    Priya heard a meaty thud and a scream of pain.
    She pushed through to the front of the crowd to see Pratip lying at the bottom of the temple steps, his face bloody, his tunic torn. Miriam stood over him with a broom. Pratip’s mother’s screams beat the air with each blow Miriam inflicted on her son, but her husband held her back, his face twisted with revulsion.
    “Please, no. It’s not true!” Pratip’s mother, Hema, cried.
    “It is true. Your son is an abomination!”
    “Get out of our village!” someone in the crowd cried.
    “We don’t want the likes of you among us!” Another voice joined in, and then the crowd erupted in jeers and threats.
    A rock went flying past and hit Pratip on the back. He fell forward onto his face, his body shaking with sobs.
    The temple door flew open and Guru came barreling out, his face red and streaked with tears, his eye swollen and bruised.
    “No, Guru, get back!” Miriam tried to stop him, brandishing the broom as a barrier, but he pushed her aside and fell to his knees beside Pratip.
    “Pratip? I’m so sorry, Pratip?”
    Pratip lifted his bloody face and Guru cried out in horror. Another rock flew, this one aimed at Guru. It found its mark smashing into his forehead with a sickening thud.
    Priya rushed forward. “Guru!”
    Guru lashed out at her. “Get away from me! This is your fault. I thought you were my friend!”
    Priya flinched, wounded by his venomous glare.
    “You did this! I hate you! I hate you, Priya, you hear me!” Blood trickled into his eye, he swiped it away. “I hate you all, you small-minded, pathetic creatures!” His voice broke and he sobbed into Pratip’s hair.
    Miriam screamed in frustration, grasping the collar of his tunic trying to pull him away. “Get up! For God’s sake stop this!” Her anger had morphed into something else . . . something akin to sorrow.
    Priya stared at her in dawning comprehension.