Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

T he moment the closet door clicked shut behind me, my first instinct was to panic. My second instinct was to press my hand against my lips and feel the tingling that Tallon's kiss had left. Instead, I cupped my throat and tried to breathe slowly and deeply. My heartbeat thundered against my palm, slowing only once my eyes began to adjust to the darkness in the closet.

I'd been expecting something small, cramped even, given that my own rooms did not even have a separate closet, but it certainly had benefits, being friends with the prince. Even in the darkness, I could see the quality of the numerous clothes that hung along the left wall, the shoes that lined the floor beneath, and the dresser along the right wall that held a tray of rings next to seven masks, lined up neatly.

It was the closet of a lord, of someone important and wealthy. Someone I would never be. Someone I never wanted to be.

Seeing the masks lined up neatly in a row made them seem less menacing, less powerful than they were when they adorned Tallon's face. For reasons I cared not to ponder further, it frustrated me. The mask Tallon wore when he was the prince's advisor was physical, certainly, but seeing these masks here, lifeless and empty, was a reminder that the true mask he donned each night was one of Tallon's own creation.

And one that he could don at any time.

I tore my gaze from the masks and let my hand fall slowly from my throat. I needed to get out of here, and return to my bedroom before either Prince Eadric discovered me here, or I discovered something else that I could not ignore.

Voices outside the door had me hesitating, though. Though muffled by the door, if I got close enough, I could still likely hear what they said. I took a step back towards the door, intent on pressing myself against it, but the cat moved in a blur, settling itself between the door and me.

At my feet, the cat looked up at me, a pair of blazing yellow eyes set in a void just slightly darker than the darkness around it. It inhaled, growing unnaturally as its entire body expanded and then contracted back on its exhale. A warning.

Exhaling slowly and silently, I nodded at it, acquiescing that I would not attempt to listen in on its master.

I was calm enough now to follow the cat through Tallon's closet without shaking, though I still had no notion as to how the closet would lead us back to my bedroom.

The cat led me to the back of the closet and stopped in front of an empty space along the wall. It looked up at me expectantly and then back to the wall. The wall was just that, a wall. There was no door, no hinges, and in the low light, no seams or any other indication that I would be able to exit Tallon's room from this spot. I looked down at the cat and it held my gaze as it stuck its paw out, disappearing through the wall. It retracted its paw and blinked at me, looking between me and the wall several times.

"You want me to…" I breathed. I shook my head. It was a Soulshade; of course it could pass through walls easily. It kept looking back and forth. I flinched when Prince Eadric's muffled voice sounded outside the closet door. There had to be a secret passage here.

Leaning forward to inspect the wall in the low light, I pressed my hands against the stone, but instead of pushing to activate a hidden door, I fell right through the wall, stumbling out into the hall. I whirled around, looking back at the wall I'd just fallen through and pushing against it. It was solid stone now.

The cat brushed against my leg, reminding me that I needed to not be here. Shaking my head, trying to clear my thoughts, I cast one last glance at the wall before picking up the ends of my dress and hurrying after the cat.

There had to have been a door. Any other explanation petrified me.

The route the cat had us following was not one I'd taken before, and it led us past a set of glass doors that opened to a patio. Nestled between the stone walls of the castle, it was akin to a courtyard if it hadn't been raised on the balcony.

Rushing past it, I nearly missed the person standing there, only seeing the silhouette too late to avert my path.

From behind, the little figure looked so much like Rhyon, down to the small patches along the back of the vest he wore. I gasped, whispering his name as I slowed.

The figure turned and the world began to spin. It was Rhyon , but he was…wrong. Like in my nightmares, this Rhyon, this Soulshade version of him, had blood dripping down his chin and staining his shirt. A choked sob erupted from my chest, knowing that if Rhyon was here, in this castle, he was truly dead. I'd been too late.

The Soulshade of my youngest brother smiled, revealing his bloody teeth. His eyes flicked to the side of me, and I turned just as more Soulshades poured from the walls as they had that first night in the cellar.

"No!" I croaked, spinning wildly as I tried to find an opening between the apparitions, but there was none. And I would not be so foolish as to put my back against a wall again either.

The cat turned from the top of the hallway, not realizing I'd stopped. Its eyes widened and it came back towards me, assessing the surrounding Soulshades warily. Could it help me, or would they kill it too?

The first Soulshade reached me before I realized, my eyes still darting between my brother on the patio and the cat in the hall. Its icy grip tightened around my marks, burning cold and turning my knees to liquid.

Another reached for my other arm, holding taut as the cold seared through my body. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying to whatever god would listen that Tallon would come again to save me from the Soulshades. Warmth tingled down my arms and a soul-shattering scream echoed along the halls.

My eyes flew open just in time to see that my savior was not in fact Tallon but myself. The marks along my own skin had peeled away again, as they had with Maricara, and the Soulshade holding onto my right arm had vanished. The others stopped their retreat, eyeing the thick undulating strands of jagged black. My marks struck out again at the one holding my left arm. I watched, wide-eyed, as the Soulshade evaporated with another horrible scream.

In the corner of my eye, the cat stalked towards the spot in the crowd of Soulshades that only had one figure between it and me. The cat shimmered, its body shaking and trembling as it grew even larger until it towered over the Soulshade in front of it in mere seconds. With a glance at me, it opened its mouth and, with a forked tongue licking across pointed teeth, swallowed the Soulshade whole.

I blinked once, twice, and the cat was normal sized and back at my feet, looking up at me while continuing to lick its lips.

Its gaze darted to the side, and I didn't need to see past the even more wary Soulshades to know that Tallon had appeared.

"Leave now, if you know what is good for you, or I will ensure you cease to exist permanently." His voice was pure menace, but it worked. With a wave of his hand and a pulsing silver in his eyes I could see even from down the hall, the Soulshades disappeared one by one.

And then, with only the Soulshade cat for company—one I was sure reported to Tallon and could apparently grow to the size of a large man— I was alone with Tallon.

The anger radiated out of him, mirroring my shadows, but I refused to drop my gaze and cower even as my heart raced and sweat still dotted my brow. My shadows still pulsed at my side, not retreating back into my skin as I expected them to. I lifted my hand, studying the way the black mass moved with my fingers. It was intriguing, and yet terrifying at the same time. They snapped out at Tallon, and he narrowly dodged them.

"Call them back in," he said through gritted teeth. His chin jerked at the mass of black surrounding my right arm. "They're more powerful now; you must command them to retreat."

"How do I do that?" I hissed, dropping my hand back to my side. My heart was still racing, and my anger was still burning hot, only stoked by his insults. I had not called them out in the first place.

His nostrils flared. "Visualize them settling back into your skin. You control them, not the other way around, Odyssa. Quickly."

Closing my eyes, I imagined the shadows pulling back into my skin, sinking into the thick black lines across my body. Slowly, the warmth around my arm receded, and I opened my eyes just as the last of the shadows were flattening back against my skin.

They'd barely finished before Tallon had my wrist in one hand and was bending, pushing his shoulder into my stomach and hoisting me over his back.

Livid, I punched at his back, hiding my wince when my hand hit something hard at the small of his back. I cataloged it, noting the dagger there and briefly wondering how long he'd been armed and why, but I didn't stop, driving my knees into his chest and trying to pull myself down. Unlike before, he said nothing save a soft grunt when my knee connected with his stomach. The ground beneath us turned from the stone of the hallway to the black dirt and I froze, pushing myself up on my fists to look around.

My nightmare world. I was certain of it this time. I pushed up high enough to turn and get a glimpse of his face. "What is this place?"

His jaw clenched, but he said nothing, just tightened his grip on my thighs. By his feet, the cat followed obediently, looking straight ahead. The air rippled and we were back in the castle halls, no trace of the cold, black cliffs.

Tallon set me down, though he renewed his grip on my wrist as he pulled me into my room and shut the door behind us, the lock echoing. He whirled on me, and I dropped my hand, reaching around his back to draw the dagger he'd hidden there. In a moment, I had him pressed against the door and his own dagger beneath his chin.

His eyes grew dark, pupils expanding, and his tongue darted out to wet his lips. "What will you do with that, little wolf?"

"I told you the first time you mistook me for a sack of grain that I would not tolerate it." I moved the tip of the dagger to just beneath his chin, forcing him to raise it. "I warned you the second time as well. I will not tell you again."

His eyes flicked down to my mouth and he licked his lips again, though the move was much slower this time, and it had my own attention falling to his mouth.

A stupid move.

Before I could lift my gaze back to his eyes, he had the dagger out of my hand and had reversed our positions. The blade felt cold against my neck, though there was no pressure. Just a reminder of its presence.

Tallon loomed over me. He lowered his head to make our eyes level, holding my gaze as he dragged the flat of the blade against my skin and down between the valley of my breasts. He paused directly between them, lifting the knife so the point pressed into my skin, but did not break it. "If you were not so intent on getting yourself killed, I would not have to resort to such measures."

I said nothing and kept my stare on his own. Shivers ran down my spine and heat built in my belly, but still I stared. I was tired of the secrets and the lies, and I was tired of the callous indifference he had towards my demands.

Slowly, he lowered the knife and stepped back, sliding it into the sheath at his lower back where it belonged.

"What was that place? I've seen it before, with you, and in my nightmares."

He looked at me. For a moment, I thought he would actually answer me, but it never came. He turned his attention to the cat, sitting in the middle of the room watching us patiently. "What part of my instructions was unclear to you? Get her to her room. Keep her safe. That should not have happened."

The cat's tail flicked. And then it spoke. Its mouth did not move, yet I heard a voice in my mind, clear as the morning bells. She stopped following me. I noticed too late. I am still incorporeal, Tallon. What did you expect me to do?

My jaw fell open and I blinked rapidly. "You can talk ?" Disregarding Tallon entirely, I rushed into the room and dropped to my knees in front of the cat. It eyed me warily.

"Yes, she can," Tallon said from behind me. The impatience and irritation in his voice was clear. "We have things to discuss, Odyssa."

I waved a hand at him, focusing on the cat. I didn't know what I felt, if it was awe or betrayal. Perhaps both. "Could you understand me this entire time?"

Yes. The cat tilted her head and stood, pushing against my leg as much as she could. I cannot always speak, but I did always listen, Odyssa.

"Do you have a name?" Tears stung my eyes, and for the life of me, I could not tell if they were from anger or sadness or relief. Perhaps all three. The cat was my only comfort here, and though I always knew she was in some way connected to Tallon, I wanted to know more about this little piece of darkness that made things bearable.

The cat's eyes flicked over my shoulder to Tallon before settling back on mine. You may ? —

"That's enough, Sylviana. This is serious, Odyssa. You could have died," Tallon said from behind me. Grabbing my arm, he hauled me to my feet.

The tenderness was replaced at once with ire as I smacked at his hand. "Don't touch me. I've had enough lies, Tallon. What was that place, why is Sylviana following me, and what has happened to my brothers?"

"The real question is why are you so intent on testing your aversion to death?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What does that mean?"

He stepped closer to me. "You seem to court death at every turn, Odyssa. Despite your best efforts to the contrary, you remain alive. I would not keep testing your luck."

"My brothers, Tallon. The treatment." He would not tell me about the nightmare world, and while I was curious about Sylviana, my brothers were the priority. "What progress have you made? Did you deliver my letter?"

Whatever response he'd been about to give was cut off by a knock on my door this time. I growled in frustration and stalked to the door. "Who is it?"

"Zaharya and Talyssa. Do you have a moment?" she called through the door.

I spun around, intent on telling Tallon that it was his turn to hide and that we would finish our conversation after, but he was gone. Both he and Sylviana had disappeared in the moments I'd had my back turned. My jaw clenched and I blew out a breath, pasting on a soft but neutral expression before tugging the door open to face the women. "Would you like to come in?"

Zaharya hesitated for a moment but nodded and I opened the door wider to allow both her and Talyssa through. Zaharya stopped as she passed me. "We wanted to check on you."

I narrowed my eyes at her back as I followed her inside. "Why?"

Zaharya settled on the corner of my bed, crossed her hands in her lap, and pursed her lips, while Talyssa stood to her side, wringing her hands in front of her. I had a strong suspicion I was not going to like their reasoning. "We've noticed Tallon paying you more attention lately, and?—"

I held my hand up to stop her. "I would just like to get clarity on one thing first, before you continue with what is undoubtedly another warning to keep my wits about me and stay away from him. Am I the only one being warned off, or does the warning apply to everyone? I would like to know, seeing as I saw Maricara pressed up against him in the hallway as I was leaving tonight."

Both of their eyes widened. Talyssa's face flushed and she tucked her hands behind her back as her eyes darted between Zaharya and me.

Zaharya kept my gaze.

"Truly, I understand that we are not here to make friends, and I understand that none of us want to be here. And believe me, I understand the dangers this castle and those close to Prince Eadric pose. I do not understand why, in the face of these dangers, it has been decided that I am some sort of threat to any of you."

The tension was thicker than the red mist outside the window. In the end, it was Talyssa who broke it. "We just wanted to make sure you were safe, that you knew what you were getting into if he continues with the attention. We didn't mean anything by it."

"I think perhaps you mean different things by coming here tonight," I said carefully. Talyssa did seem genuine, but I'd thought the same of Zaharya before I'd heard them gossiping about me that night I went to the cellars. "And while I appreciate the warning, without context, it does me no good."

Zaharya's shoulders slumped as she relaxed her rigid posture and pushed a hand through her hair. "The warning is for everyone. Maricara has been here the longest, and I…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I do not know why she was pursuing Tallon tonight, I truly don't. I admit, I am wary of you. You've attracted far too much attention since you've arrived and I have no desire to be associated with what that attention might bring. But I did come here today in good faith, to warn you that there was a reason your services were needed."

More word games, more hidden meanings. "Speak plainly. I tire of the games."

She sighed. "As do I. We're forbidden from speaking of it directly, but I will try to tell you what I can."

"What forbids you? How would anyone know?"

"The castle knows." She sighed again, rubbing her temples. "I was conscripted into service nine months ago. There are seven attendant positions. Since I began work here, we have welcomed thirteen attendants as we welcomed you." She squinted at Talyssa.

The redhead picked up the threads of Zaharya's thought and continued. "None to my knowledge have contracted the plague. None to my knowledge were granted freedom from service."

My mind went back to the Soulshade of the woman with the slit throat and the pieces began to fall into place. My fists tightened at my sides. The other servants were dead, and it was heavily implied they'd been killed. Both women visibly relaxed as understanding dawned. My jaw ached from how tightly it was clenched. "Who? How?"

Zaharya shook her head. "I cannot say either. But please, heed our warning. Those who live here in this castle by invitation are not safe, not for us." She stood from the bed and both she and Talyssa made for the door. Zaharya clasped my arm as she passed. "I don't know what Maricara is trying to do, but I'd stay as far away from her as you can too. Whatever she thinks you have done to slight her, she doesn't forgive lightly."

"Thank you both for coming," I said after a moment of silence. Despite that they'd interrupted my conversation with Tallon, I did appreciate that they were trying to look out for me in their own way. It warmed something beneath my breastbone, and I smiled, hoping it wasn't too much of a grimace. "Sleep well."

They both murmured their own thanks and departed.

The door closed quietly behind them. I mindlessly moved about to ready for bed and drew the curtains closed before sliding beneath the covers. Pulling my knees to my chest, I stared into the darkness, rubbing at my temples. What she was implying had been clear, that Tallon had played a role in the deaths of the other servants. Camelya had implied that Tallon would be the one to kill me if I made another mistake. But Tallon… Tallon had told me if the prince wanted me dead, he would do it himself.

Tallon could not be trusted, this much I knew already, but the bargain we'd made loomed over my head. If he'd wanted me dead, he wouldn't have made the deal, I reasoned. Unless, a small voice contradicted, it was another part of his games and he had no intentions of keeping it.

I fell back into the pillows and closed my eyes. I needed to assume the letter never arrived, that Rhyon was dead, and that Tallon had told the prince of my plans. As much as Emyl despised me, as much as I wanted to just give in and work here until I was a forgotten piece of the backdrop, I could not bring myself to break the vow I made to my mother. I'd had nothing in this life except her approval.

I would get the treatment. I would get it to Emyl. He would live.

As I was beginning to drift off, exhaustion finally catching up with me, a cold spot settled against my thigh. Sleep, Odyssa. I am here.

"Goodnight, Sylviana," I murmured, letting my eyes close and sleep take me under. A pair of silver eyes flashed from a patch of complete darkness by the window, but I was too far over the edge into sleep to truly see them.