20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Evelyn

E velyn’s fingers hovered over the crimson pendant resting on her chest.

Once on, the necklace’s dark magic burned her skin like a branding iron. The hope of taking it off when alone had died the moment she’d dropped it over her head—the thought of taking it off glued her arms to her sides, the compulsion to not touch it freezing her hands.

The night prior, Ingrid had only watched as the altered bloodstone seared her skin on contact. She claimed to not have known the full extent of its power, but she also didn’t seem to care that Evelyn’s flesh sizzled two strides away.

Red, blistered burns ringed Evelyn’s neck under the necklaces chain. Under her oversized sweater, she’d hidden her wounds, but she wasn’t safe from movement, even the simplest twitch. Wool caught on the scabs dotting her chest, and the friction made Evelyn grit her teeth. Tala hadn’t returned since the afternoon before, leaving Evelyn alone with her pain, thoughts, and loss of magic yet again.

Her new form of a shackle shared the same, wicked enchantment encasing the window ahead of her. Made of onyx, it shared a likeness to the castle’s stone, too. Unlike with the bracelets though, the cage around her magic was not as tight with the necklace. It was like a metal setting, a cage wrapped around Evelyn, encasing her magic behind an invisible wall. It moved freely and lively in her blood, but she couldn’t conjure it to the surface or wield it. The contrast was cruel, to grasp hold of it only to be snuffed the last inch before it ignited at her fingertips and raged.

But Evelyn inhaled and exhaled, found her breath, and fought against the temptation to feel the rage so close to the surface. It felt dangerous, as icky and heavy as doubt. She could hold onto her rage, her anger and borderline hatred for what Ingrid had done, but how did that help her?

She’d dealt with challenges before, and despite the unfortunate addition to her situation, last night had granted her insight.

Tala, Ingrid, and Belle weren’t alone in believing the White Lady’s spell wouldn’t work. Riven’s own sister doubted it, enough she’d risked Evelyn’s life for a bit of fun. If so many doubted the spell’s efficacy, why did Riven trust it? The question nagged Evelyn like a terrible itch she couldn’t reach.

One thing was certain as she laid her hand over the black-as-ink brick beside the window. A winter chill seeped into the burnt pads of her fingers. An ooziness, wicked and thorny, wrapped around her sore digits.

It was all the same.

The dark magic in her necklace, the one she’d faced in Callum against the White Lady, as well as the darkness befalling the castle around her. The darkness and the curse were one in the same. That was certain. Evelyn fought her rage and grasped her resolve instead.

Behind her, an audible release of air broke her thoughts. She whirled. Dust fell in the outline of rectangle, like that of a door. Stone gears rattled and grinded unseen as a chunk of the wall fell backward, farther and farther.

Evelyn’s first instinct was to defend herself. Perhaps Visha had returned, Riven’s order thrown to the wind. She didn’t have her magic, didn’t have her staff, and the nearest thing was the unlit candelabra. She grabbed it, taking a step back towards the window .

Behind the door, a curse echoed. A nervous voice. Evelyn’s flighty heart skipped a beat. She recognized that voice as did her magic. Brightness burst from the sliver of darkness and tumbled into Evelyn’s room.

Not brightness itself, but a heaping mass of yellow skirts.

“Oh dear,” Belle said as she rose on shaky legs. She tossed back her golden curls, revealing her flushed face.

Evelyn lowered the candelabra, her grip not lessening with her fear. “What in the Goddess are you doing?”

The witch scrunched her petite nose. “I’m here to learn more about my brotannas.”

“You”—Evelyn shook her head—“revealed a hidden doorway, and you want me to tutor you?” She abandoned her makeshift weapon on the love seat as she hurried over to the new door in her room.

Belle grasped her wrist, halting her investigation. “No, I didn’t risk using the secret passages for you to ruin them!”

The young witch glared at the main door to Evelyn’s room. Ah — the guards. But seeing it was daytime, humans stood beyond the stone walls. Their hearing wasn’t as keen as a vampyrs, but still, Evelyn didn’t chance them listening in.

She whispered, “ Secret passageways? Why didn’t you tell me about them sooner?”

“First of all, I still don’t fully trust you.”

“I feel the same way about you,” Evelyn said. “You failed to mention Visha was a princess. Your sister’s fated is the royal family.”

Belle blinked, rearing back. “I assume you knew Visha by name because she is Tovi’s sister. She’s your friend—”

“Was,” Evelyn corrected. “Though I don’t even know if I believe that. She withheld a lot from me, including the fact she had other siblings besides Riven.”

The blue and green of Belle’s eyes softened, and her shoulders slacked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep that from you, I swear. But I did keep the tunnels from you, because of this.” She gestured her dainty free hand at Evelyn. “You’d want to use them.”

“I am using them.” She tugged out of Belle’s grasp, eager to learn what lay beyond her room—and equally eager to distract herself from Tovi’s bruising betrayal. “How did you even discover the passageways?”

The young witch shrugged. “One gets bored with no friends or anything to do. I found one in my own room, and I’ve been using them ever since.”

“Why?”

Belle furrowed her brows. “Well, it’s easier to get around the castle using them. The vampyrs have no idea they exist, so I stay out of their sights.”

“I promised you I would help with your magic, and I will, but have you considered the fact that the vampyrs you try to stay clear of, and the one’s your sister fears, might be able to walk in the sunlight if I don’t get some answers?”

Belle wrung her hands together. Her gaze landed on Evelyn’s bloodstone. “I hate that Ingrid made that but… she’s my sister.”

Evelyn swallowed, bile rising in her throat. She’d betrayed her own sisters by running away and worried about their forgiveness the most. She’d changed. She knew she had, and Goddess, she wanted Blair and Mirella to witness it, too. It’s why she needed answers, information. But Evelyn understood a sisterly bond, knew the cost of hurting them and didn’t want to place Belle in that position unless she truly believed it.

“I’ll teach you your magic now and navigate the passageways alone if that’s what you want.”

Belle nibbled her lip and gave Evelyn’s hands a firm squeeze. “No. I’ll come with you.”

A draft of colder, mustier air escaped from the hidden passage, and Evelyn glanced through the opening. Glassless windows gave a glimpse of the outside world. A stairwell spiraled down the side of the tower. The darkness below, the fresh air. It buzzed with the secrets of the ancient castle.

And the promise of answers.