13. Threading the Needle
13
Threading the Needle
Ren
I jerked awake just in time to keep my forehead from hitting the book in front of me. Exhausted, I shook my head and tried again to focus on the dusty tome. One more chapter. Just a little more research and then I’d try to get some sleep.
Yet as I scoured the faded pages for any mention of the cult of Dagon, the words began to blur together and my eyelids grew heavy again.
The words swam before my tired eyes, ancient references to blood rituals and sacrificial rites melding into an incomprehensible haze. I blinked hard, rubbing my face vigorously in an attempt to banish the fatigue that clung to me like a shroud. The rune on my forehead seemed to throb in time with my exhaustion-induced headache, a constant reminder of the mystery I was desperate to unravel.
A week had passed since our unsettling encounter with Erasmus, yet his cryptic words still echoed in my mind.
When a soul knows its own name, its true shape, and finds itself mirrored in the heart of another, it becomes a force not easily claimed.
The words haunted me, taunting me. I couldn’t make sense of them, and I couldn’t find any reference to what he was talking about in any of the library’s books, either. I felt like I was grasping at shadows, chasing whispers that vanished like smoke whenever I drew near.
With a sigh, I pushed back from the table, my chair scraping loudly against the library's worn wooden floor. The sound echoed in the cavernous space, and I winced, glancing around to see if I had disturbed anyone. But the library was empty, the only other presence one of the library’s many regular ghosts hovering over near the applied curses section. The spirit ignored me as I walked by, my backpack slung on my back.
As I stepped out into the crisp autumn night, the cool air helped to clear my head. I breathed deeply, letting the scent of fallen leaves and distant bonfires fill my lungs. The campus was quiet, most of the students already ensconced in their dorms or eagerly preparing for the Samhain masquerade ball on Monday. The campus was closing for a whole week to celebrate the holiday and kicking things off with the masquerade. I still wasn’t sure I was going, but at least the break meant I could focus on my research instead of trying to do it between classes.
I trudged back to my own room, my mind still racing with unanswered questions. I pushed open the door to my dorm room, still lost in thought, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight. There stood Luca, my roommate and closest friend at Blackstone, bedecked in an elaborate costume of vines, flowers, and what looked suspiciously like actual tree bark.
“Ren!” Luca exclaimed, his face lighting up as he turned to me, a wreath of small blossoms perched precariously on his horns. “What do you think? I'm going as a dryad for the masquerade!”
I blinked, taking in the sight before me. Luca's gentle features were alight with excitement as he gestured to his ensemble, greenery rustling with each movement. Despite my exhaustion and the weight of my thoughts, I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
“It's...wow, Luca. You've really outdone yourself,” I said, setting my backpack down on my bed.
“What are you going as?” he asked.
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “I don't think I'm going to go to the masquerade. I have too much research to do, and I'm no closer to figuring out this rune or what Erasmus meant.”
Luca's expression softened, and he moved to sit beside me, the bed creaking slightly under our combined weight. “Ren, you've been working yourself to the bone. You need a break before you burn out completely.”
I wanted to argue, to insist that I couldn't afford to take a break, not when the answers I sought seemed tantalizingly close yet still out of reach. But as I met Luca's gentle green eyes, I felt my resolve waver.
“I know you're driven to uncover the truth,” Luca said softly, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. “But you can't keep going like this, Ren. You're exhausted, and it's not just physical. Your spirit needs rest, too.”
I let out a shaky breath, suddenly aware of the tightness in my chest, the weariness that seemed to have seeped into my very bones. “I just... I feel like I'm so close, Luca. Like the answer is right there, just out of reach. And if I can just push a little harder, stay up a little later...”
“Then you'll run yourself into the ground,” Luca finished, his tone gentle but firm. “And where will that leave you? Too burnt out to even think straight, let alone pursue a certain talented necromancer professor.” He nudged me with an elbow.
I groaned and flopped onto my back. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”
I closed my eyes, trying not to think about Dorian’s intense green eyes, his wavy auburn hair, and his smile… Gods, how was I ever supposed to not fall for him?
“It's just not fair, Luca,” I whined, dramatically flinging an arm over my face. “He's so... ugh. Perfect . And he actually likes me too! But nooo, he had to be all 'it wouldn't be appropriate, Ren.' Stupid sexy Dorian and his stupid sexy ethics.” I let out an exaggerated, long-suffering sigh.
Luca snorted and patted my knee. “Alas, poor Ren, cockblocked by the code of conduct yet again!” He placed a hand over his heart.
I grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. “You're enjoying this way too much.” But I was fighting back a grin.
Luca laughed and dodged my halfhearted pillow assault. “I’m just here for the drama. And the snacks. I love snacks.” He paused before adding. “Besides, what are roomies for if not listening to you complain about how badly you want to moan under Professor McHotPants?”
I choked on air, my cheeks burning. “LUCA!”
Luca waggled his eyebrows at me suggestively. “You can't tell me you haven't imagined what that man is packing under those tailored slacks. With the big dick energy he radiates, Dorian's got to be hung like a—”
“Luca, I swear to the gods!” I cut him off, burying my flaming face in my hands. My words were muffled. “I am not discussing this with you! There are lines !”
“Mmhmm, I bet you'd love to see his 'line',” Luca teased mercilessly. “All eight inches of it.”
“OKAY, that's enough!” I practically shrieked, launching myself at Luca. He cackled gleefully as I wrestled him into a headlock, the flowery wreath tumbling off his horns. We rolled around until I had him pinned on his stomach, one arm twisted behind his back.
“Okay, okay, uncle! I yield!” Luca gasped between fits of laughter. I released him and he rolled over, clutching his sides. “Fuck, your face is so red!”
I glared at Luca half-heartedly, my cheeks still burning. “You're the worst, you know that?”
Luca just grinned up at me, unrepentant. “You love me anyway. And you know what you need? Some good old-fashioned retail therapy! Let's go hit up the shops in town tomorrow and find you a killer masquerade outfit.”
I groaned, flopping onto my back beside him. “Luca, you know I can't afford anything fancy. I'm here on scholarship, remember? My budget is kind of non-existent.”
Luca waved a dismissive hand. “Pfft, don't worry about that! One of my dads sent me some extra cash for the holiday. He always goes a bit overboard.” He rolled his eyes fondly.
I turned my head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Which dad was it this time? The lawyer, the artist, or the druid?”
He gave me a shove. “They have names, you know. It was Bailen.”
I arched an eyebrow.
Luca rolled his eyes. “The lawyer,” Luca finally clarified. “I think he's trying to outdo the custom enchanted easel Mom and Mama gave me for my birthday.”
I shook my head, amused. Wrapping my head around Luca’s polycule family dynamic had been confusing at first. With two moms and three dads, there were a lot of family names to keep straight.
I chuckled. “Ah, the joys of having multiple parental units trying to one-up each other with gifts. Must be nice.”
Luca grinned sheepishly. “It has its perks. But seriously, Ren, let me treat you to a killer costume for the masquerade. It'll be fun! And who knows, maybe a certain dashing necromancy professor will be so blown away by how hot you look that he won't be able to resist sweeping you into a passionate, forbidden embrace right there on the dance floor...” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I snorted and shoved at his shoulder. “In your romance novel dreams, maybe. But fine, I'll let you drag me costume shopping. But nothing too over the top, okay? I do have some dignity to maintain.”
“Sure, sure, whatever you say,” Luca agreed, a mischievous glint in his eye that told me I was definitely going to regret this. “Operation Get Ren Laid is a go!”
I smacked a palm to my forehead. “I changed my mind. I'm disowning you as a roommate and a friend.”
“No, you're not,” Luca said confidently, reaching up to adjust his wreath of flowers. One of the blossoms had started glowing softly in the dim light. “You love me too much. Besides, who else would feed Grim pages from their herbology textbook when you're too busy mooning over Professor McHotPants to remember?”
I glanced at Grim, who had the decency to look slightly guilty. “That explains why you've been leaving sparkly droppings that smell like chamomile,” I muttered. Grim just chirped and nestled deeper into my collar, clearly unrepentant.
Luca just laughed and ruffled my hair affectionately. “You're stuck with me now. Okay, enough boy talk. You seriously need to get some sleep before you faceplant into your breakfast tomorrow.”
I groaned but didn't argue as Luca shooed me towards my bed. I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow, the exhaustion of the past week finally catching up with me. If I dreamed, I didn't remember it.
Morning came far too early, pale autumn sunlight slanting through the window to fall across my face. I grumbled and burrowed deeper under my blankets, chasing the remnants of sleep. But it was no use. I was awake, and my bladder was insistently reminding me that I'd drank far too much coffee last night while researching.
With a sigh, I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. By the time I emerged, Luca was already up and dressed, bouncing on the balls of his feet with barely contained excitement.
“Finally!” he exclaimed. “I thought you were going to sleep the whole day away. Come on, get dressed! We have shopping to do!”
I eyed him blearily as I fumbled for a clean shirt. “Luca, it's not even nine yet. How are you this perky already?”
Luca just grinned and tossed me a granola bar. “I'm always perky in the morning. You're just a grumpy goose until you've had your coffee. Now hurry up! The shops will be opening soon and I want to beat the rush.”
I grumbled but finished getting dressed, tugging on a soft gray cardigan over my t-shirt. The air had a definite chill to it now that we were firmly into October. Grabbing my messenger bag, I followed Luca out of the dorms and towards the gates of campus.
The walk into town was pleasant, the trees lining the path a riot of vibrant reds, oranges and golds. Grim perched on my shoulder, antennae twitching as he turned his little caterpillar head left and right, taking in the morning. A light breeze sent leaves skittering across the cobblestones and I breathed in the crisp scent of woodsmoke from chimneys. The village of Ebonshire was like something out of a storybook, all quaint cottages with steeply pitched roofs and painted shutters. Oversized jack-o'-lanterns grinned from nearly every stoop and porch, their flickering candles lending a cheery glow.
“Oooh look, they've already got the apple cider stand set up in the square!” Luca pointed excitedly as we entered the heart of the village. “And caramel apples! Ren, we have to get some before we leave.”
Thistle buzzed excitedly around Luca’s horns in agreement.
My stomach rumbled at the mention of food, and I realized I'd completely forgotten to eat the granola bar Luca had given me. “Definitely. I'm going to need some serious sustenance to survive this shopping trip. You're way too energetic about playing dress up.”
Luca just laughed and hooked his arm through mine, tugging me towards the first shop. “Oh hush, you know you'll end up having fun. Now come on, I have a vision for your costume and we're not leaving until we find everything!”
The little bell above the door jingled merrily as Luca pulled me inside Ebonshire's one and only costume emporium. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dimmer interior after the brightness outside. The shop was crammed with racks upon racks of costumes in every color and style imaginable, from classic monsters to the latest pop culture references. Swaths of glittering fabric and strings of twinkling fairy lights were draped from the exposed beams of the ceiling, lending the space a magical air.
Antique mercury glass mirrors lined the walls, their silvered surfaces catching and reflecting the fairy lights in mysterious ways. Crystals hung in the windows, and the whole shop smelled of cinnamon, leather, and that peculiar scent that only old clothes seem to have.
A large raven perched on an ornate stand near the counter, its feathers gleaming with an otherworldly iridescence. As we entered, it fixed us with an intelligent gaze and croaked, “Welcome to Masquerade Dreams, where every mask tells a story.” I could have sworn it winked at me.
“Welcome to Masquerade Dreams!” a cheerful voice called out. A plump, matronly witch bustled out from behind the counter, her silver hair piled in a messy bun atop her head and spectacles perched on her nose. She had on a set of deep plum robes with riotous embroidered pumpkins along the hems. “What can I help you fine young gentlemen find today?”
“We're looking for the perfect masquerade costume for my friend here,” Luca said, giving me a little push forward. “Something dashing and mysterious.”
The witch, whose name tag read Mathilda, looked me up and down appraisingly. Mathilda circled me slowly, her eyes narrowing in thought as she tapped a finger against her chin. “Hmm, yes, I think I have just the thing! Wait right here, dears.”
She bustled off into the back of the shop, leaving Luca and I to browse the racks. I ran my fingers over a deep blue velvet doublet, marveling at the rich feel of the fabric.
“Oooh, what about this one, Ren?” Luca held up an elaborate jester's motley in eye-searing shades of orange and purple, complete with a belled cap.
Even Grim cringed at the sight of it.
Luca pouted but put the jester costume back. “Spoilsport. Oh, how about a pirate? Dorian won't be able to resist a dashing rogue...” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
My cheeks heated. “Luca! For the last time, I'm not trying to seduce Dorian! It's just a costume.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that,” Luca said with a knowing grin. “But I still think you should go for something sexy. Make Professor Hottie's jaw drop when he sees you.”
I was saved from having to respond by Mathilda's return, her arms laden with what looked like an entire wardrobe's worth of costumes.
“Here we are!” Mathilda declared, laying out the costumes across the counter with a flourish. “I have a feeling one of these will be just the ticket for you, my dear.”
I stepped closer, my eyes widening as I took in the array of outfits. There was a highwayman's ensemble complete with a tricorn hat and mask, a dapper Victorian suit with a paisley brocade waistcoat, and a Venetian carnival costume with a sweeping black cloak and an intricately decorated half-mask adorned with silver filigree.
But it was the final costume that caught my eye and made my breath catch. Mathilda lifted a rich emerald green frock coat with delicate gold embroidery along the lapels and cuffs from the pile. There was a matching vest, a tie… It had an old-world charm, like something straight out of a gothic novel.
“Oh Ren, that's perfect!” Luca gasped. “The color will look amazing with your eyes and the cut is so dashing. You have to try it on!”
Mathilda handed me the coat and shooed me towards the changing room. “Go on now, let's see how it looks.”
I stepped into the velvet-curtained changing room, my heart fluttering with anticipation as I slipped on the emerald coat. The luxurious fabric settled over my shoulders like a lover's caress, the silk lining cool and smooth against my skin. I buttoned the gleaming gold buttons with trembling fingers, hardly daring to breathe as I turned to face the full-length mirror.
My eyes widened as I took in my reflection. The coat fit like it was made for me, emphasizing the lean lines of my body and making me look taller, more refined. The rich green hue brought out the warm undertones in my skin and made my dark eyes appear even more intense. I hardly recognized myself.
With reverent fingers, I traced the intricate gold embroidery that twined along the edges of the coat. The thread glimmered in the muted light of the changing room, forming delicate vines and leaves that seemed to dance and shimmer with each breath I took. It was like wearing a piece of art.
The embroidery wasn't just decorative. I could feel the whisper of enchantment woven into every stitch. Tiny protection runes had been worked into the pattern, nearly invisible unless you knew what to look for. When I traced them with my finger, they warmed slightly under my touch, responding to my necromantic energy. Even Grim seemed fascinated, his antennae twitching as he investigated the magical threads.
I emerged from behind the curtain and Luca let out a low whistle. “Damn, Ren! Look at you!” He circled me slowly. “Professor Dorian won't know what hit him.”
“Luca!” I hissed, shooting a mortified glance at Mathilda.
But the witch just chuckled, her eyes twinkling knowingly behind her spectacles. “Your friend is right, dear. It suits you.”
“We'll take it,” Luca declared, fishing out his wallet. “Along with that mask there, the one with the gold scrollwork.”
Mathilda plucked an elegant half-mask from a display and held it up to my face. The mask was a deep, burnished gold that perfectly complemented the embroidery on the coat. Intricate spirals and whorls were etched into the metallic surface, catching the light and throwing back glimmers of fire. I traced a finger over the delicate designs, marveling at the artistry.
“A perfect match,” Mathilda said with satisfaction. “You'll be the talk of the masquerade, mark my words.”
Luca paid for the costume, waving away my protests. “Consider it an early Samhain gift,” he said, pressing the wrapped parcel into my hands. “Every dryad needs a devilishly handsome companion, after all.” He struck a ridiculous pose and I couldn't help but laugh.
Luca grinned, giving me a playful nudge as we stepped back into the cool, crisp air of Ebonshire. “Professor Crowe won't be able to take his eyes off of you.”
I shot him a glare, but the playful teasing only made my stomach flutter. I hadn’t expected to feel so... different in the costume. There was something about the fit, the weight of the mask, that made me feel more confident, more myself , than I had in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, this masquerade wouldn’t be so bad after all.