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23. Scarlett

CHAPTER 23

SCARLETT

Fuck.

That appears to be my new favorite curse lately, and it nestles into my mind, seeming to be the only singular word that can describe the gravity of my current situation.

One where I'm trapped behind a broken mirror, stuck as an onlooker to the world that passes by outside.

In this case, I found a mirror in an upscale viewing bar. Elites from the Magic Sector have gathered here for this year's annual Monsters Night, which gives me a good view of what my betrothed is up to.

Do I even want him anymore?

What if I find a monster instead?

My stomach tightens with anticipation, although I'm not sure why. I won't be anywhere near Monster City tonight. My real body is asleep in my bed in the Rinhold estate where Beatrix and Julie take turns caring for me.

I'm stuck in a strange in-between state when one of them disturbs me. My spirit might be behind a broken mirror far away, but my body still feels and senses everything back at the estate.

Julie presses a glass of water against my parched lips, and my tongue tingles. My body allows a few drops to move down my throat, working on a difficult swallow.

I'm lucid enough to perform basic tasks in the real world, such as eating and drinking, as well as performing assisted trips to the facilities.

But another part of me wanders the Elite City, and I'm fairly certain it's no dream.

I've been everywhere—except for the Immortal Sector, of course. Those walls seem to keep me out with a dense dark magic I don't understand. But it's clear that Cain understands his most precious sector needs to be protected from threats that aren't always physical.

Which means I can't approach Cain unless he leaves his tower again, which he hasn't. His blood did this to me, so I suspect he'd be able to see my spirit if I found him.

Instead, I'm stuck here, hoping to hear word of where he might appear next, and spy on Edward in the meantime. It would be so much simpler if I could float on over to the glass he's drinking out of and demand answers, but I suppose it's good that I can't. When I talk to Edward again, it's going to be a serious conversation, one with answers, if I have my way.

Because he knows where I'm from. He knows the name of my birth village.

He doesn't seem very broken up about my state as he converses with another Earl. I can only watch from my perch inside the broken mirror that has a wide view of the bar I'm observing. It reminds me of when I was a child and I found secret passages in-between walls. I would find a peephole and watch the comings and goings of my parents and other families for hours.

It's how I learned I was adopted.

It's also when I discovered that everyone wears a mask. When someone thinks they aren't being watched, they're a different person entirely.

The past two days have certainly given me numerous observations to think about, including how I feel about my betrothed. The Earl he was talking with has left, and I watch Edward now as he perches on one of the stools. He seems pleased with himself as he hooks his boot into the rung. Blood diamonds glitter over his apparel tonight, the fashion having changed from blue and teal accents to something richer.

Other families are donning rubies, which is a more affordable gem than what my betrothed wears.

I had already witnessed him taking numerous bets on the Offerings for Monsters Night, and I suspect that's what his last-minute conversation was about. I'm not sure how he knows which selections will be the most successful, but I have a feeling the Rinholds will be filling their coffers tonight.

And, most disappointing of all, he isn't back at the estate caring for me after what he did. The trauma of our encounter and tempting the blood contract are what put me in this dream state in the first place.

At least, that's the only logical conclusion I can come to. I have Cain's blood dancing through my veins, and after experiencing Edward's desire, I was met with a figment of my own.

One who gave me exactly what I wanted.

Did my figment really take my virginity with his tongue?

A thrill runs up my spine with the memory, but I can't confirm it. Cain's blood might be powerful, but I'm not so sure if the Dream Eater can make a dream as vividly realistic as that.

Was it some sort of test that I failed?

Maybe I am meant for monsters.

Or maybe it simply was just a dream.

There was no blood found on my body or on the sheets when Beatrix found me and dressed me, so I'm not sure the truth of the matter.

She knows something happened, though, which is why either she or Julie has remained by my side since then.

No matter my efforts to speak, either in the real world or through a mirror, I can't tell them that I can see them.

I suspect only one can hear me.

Cain's blood did this, so I need to find him. I've been able to travel all across his city after that night, and I know it's because of some sort of foothold his blood has given me in a world he must know more intimately than I.

A dream world.

I don't know what to call it, and I desperately wish I could ask him, but I only seem to be able to travel through reflective surfaces. Broken ones work best, allowing me a peephole to peer through.

One which I utilize now as I observe the magical screens coming to life in the viewing bar, making the crowd gasp.

Edward glances up to watch the show.

I do the same.

Monster City comes into view, a place of impressive buildings and trees infused with iron. I've never been there, but my spirit longs for it as if my soul knows I was always destined to be an Offering wandering those streets.

An announcer counts off villages and their Offering numbers, and I perk up when they reach the Nightingale numbers. Our particular announcer will focus on the Magic Sector, but there are many families in this sector. It's unusual that the focus would be on the Nightingales.

Perhaps my blood contract has caught the interest of the entire sector.

That can't be good.

The screen zooms in on a male and female, a pair who seem to be close.

"And here we are on Nightingale's selections!" the male announcer declares, earning an abnormal cheer from the crowd.

As Edward beams, I realize they're trying to impress him now that a Nightingale Lady has become his future bride. No one questions why I'm not sitting with him, which disgruntles me further.

But I keep listening as I watch for any news of where Cain might be. I can only assume he's still in his tower. He never participates, as far as I'm aware, but I fully intend to take note of the most successful pairings, because Cain might visit those estates as a reward. That'll be my best chance to talk to him.

"The betting pool places these three at the top of our charts, so we're going to be following them for the majority of the night. If you placed bets on other Offerings, tune in on the alternate projections…"

The announcer drones on, advertising the other channels no doubt sponsored by various families hoping for more of a spotlight. The game is for selections to match to the most powerful monster categorized by ranks, but it's no secret that the betting games highly contribute to family survival, too.

Why doesn't Cain put a stop to the gambling? I ponder as the announcer zooms in on the first two selections.

I already know the answer. It works. The gambling often features underdog families like mine, helping them elevate to the top. Competition is what drives Elite families and, ultimately, what helps the monsters find their compatible mates.

"Bartholomew and Miranda!" the announcer shouts. "My, they seem cozy, don't they? And, oh, what about the third surprise Offering? Her chart says her name is… Alina! She has broken the record for entries in the Nightingale Village, so she's a watcher. Let's revisit their departure from the train before the night begins…"

I lean into the mirror as the screen flashes to a depiction of my father exiting a train car with a female on his arm who I can only assume is Alina.

She's gorgeous, but her expression suggests she's mightily pissed off. She is stiff in her corset as if she's not accustomed to wearing one, but it suits her nicely.

What stands out about her is a mask I've never seen before.

Because it's white. I can't even see her eyes beyond the veil of power that cloaks her from head to toe.

Have they done something to her?

Or is there something otherworldly about her that makes her a perfect Offering?

"Thank you for your sacrifice," my father tells them before the screen cuts back to the live feed.

Other selections are giggling and excited, as they should be. I recognize them from families in the Immortality Sector, so the announcer only briefly introduces them. We're supposed to be competing with each other, but I find it interesting how the immortal families have obviously trained their Offerings.

They seem excited.

They're boasting about what sort of creature they'll seduce, while others say it doesn't work that way. Offerings are formed to fit the monsters, not the other way around.

At least they're well educated when it comes to Monsters Night.

I know it's a beneficial pairing, and I'm reassured when I hear that exact language from the Offerings themselves as they discuss it before the countdown.

The Nightingale selections don't seem so confident, though. It makes me question what our village is really like to make the first two so frightened while the third wears a veil of power so thick I can hardly see through it.

The coverage of the Nightingale Offerings has never been this detailed, so it's the first time I'm seeing their emotions and any genetic alterations firsthand.

I decide that there's just something different about Alina that the others don't seem to see, because the announcer doesn't comment on the white sheen of power. Instead, he seems more interested in Bartholomew and Miranda.

She's the one who'll attract the most powerful monsters, you idiots.

No matter their fate, the three Offerings freeze when the countdown begins. Another voice echoes through Monster City, the terminology and accent foreign to what I'm used to in my city.

"Fifteen!"

The one named Bartholomew turns into a dark alleyway, earning a gasp from the crowd. If they're trying to avoid monsters, that's a poor selection.

Then again, I notice right away he has avoided the camouflaged buildings where monsters watch through one-sided windows. To him, the empty alleyway might seem like a better choice.

Meaning he can see them.

It's a positive indicator that Bartholomew, at least, is suited to a powerful monster if he can see through magicked disguises.

"What's this?" the announcer excitedly asks as the trio enters one of the empty buildings. "They've walked onto a portal platform floor! Any bets on a mate pairing in the first ten seconds? Because we're about to see it, Dukes and Duchesses! Ladies and Earls!"

The female named Miranda starts to cry, twisting my heart.

It's not supposed to be like this.

This isn't how the Offerings who keep our families alive should be treated. They shouldn't be afraid .

"What do we have here?" the announcer asks as Bartholomew goes to Miranda, who has crumpled, and brushes his lips across her cheek to her mouth. "It seems we have a two-for-one pairing for a lucky monster!"

The crowd cheers, because that means extra points for the Nightingale tally. It's rare a monster will take more than one human mate.

But my eyes are on the female watching them. Alina seems frustrated, like she doesn't know what to do with herself.

And her power is fluctuating all over the place. She might as well be a beacon for the monster she's calling.

I grow weary of the announcer as he joins the countdown with Monster City's voice, echoing each number as the screen loses the female who has darted into a nearby hallway.

Three!

Two!

One!

Everything goes black, including the viewing bar as the crowd goes silent.

Then the air rips with screams.

After a moment, I realize the screams aren't coming from the Monsters Night feed.

They're coming from me.

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