The Polenitsy began to wander away, disappearing into the birch tree woods surrounding the town. Like sylvan spirits they melted in among the branches and trunks and snow-layered earth. Vasilisa walked with them, then paused at the line of trees, on the edge of the darkness.
"WHEN YOU WEARY OF YOUR WORLD, COME TO US, BILLI. WE WILL BE WAITING."
"What about Baba Yaga? What did you do with her?" Billi shouted. The girl was a white shadow now, barely visible in the snow, as though she were already melting into the elements.
Vasilisa lifted a finger to her endlessly dark eyes. "CAN'T YOU TELL?" Then she laughed, and among the multitude of voices, Billi heard the brittle cackle of the witch, Baba Yaga.