Chapter Eleven
Azazel
“I started my apprenticeship today. Father watched me and Elite Angelo work the entire time. After, he said the elite was an idiot and that he’d be the only one training me from now on. There goes my reprieve.”
Tershetta liked her food crispy.
I knew that because she did this little shimmy when she bit into something that audibly crunched.
Tershetta preferred a cold room with lots of blankets and quilts.
I knew that because sometimes she’d open a window like an insane person and then take all of the blankets and cuddle up on the sofa with ten books surrounding her.
Tershetta preferred coffee over tea.
I knew that because she thanked me for tea, but she smiled at me when I made coffee the first time.
What Tershetta liked most, were books.
I knew that because Octavia had told me in the letter I gripped between my fingers, her bubbly handwriting reminding me of the brightness she seemed to exude.
I thought of my own mother as I stared at the words on the parchment.
Of her blonde hair with pink tones. Of her cold blue eyes and perpetually downturned mouth.
I could picture the layers of delicate finery she wore, how the cloth wrapped around her like a shield.
Every click of her heeled shoes against the floors of Castle Altair.
Even the cool, sharp tone of her voice was engraved into my brain so deeply I thought I’d never forget.
She was a moon to Octavia Tershetta’s sun. Winter versus summer. And I wondered then if she had ever held the brightness of Tershetta’s mother. If, when she was Elise Brash, she had hoped for love and warmth. If she had ever bothered to hope at all.
Tershetta was still asleep, her lips parted and her hair fanned out across my pillows.
Murder was curled up by her chest, sleeping so soundly she didn’t even purr.
Somehow, in her unconsciousness, Tershetta proved she was the sun too.
And maybe I was a moon, just like Mother.
Perhaps I’d always cast shadows in her presence.
But…but maybe I could also help her shine brighter—could dare to shine in her light.
As I shadow walked, I kept my eyes on her mouth, wondering if they’d be soft despite the cuts and bruises.
Stars, I’m going insane.
Landing just outside of the wards before Castle Altair, I sucked in a breath of the crisp, mountain air.
Snow had fallen over the land since the last time I’d snuck home, coating the trees and sticking to my black boots.
While I couldn’t see the castle, I knew it would look just as it always had.
Pointed, symmetrical towers piercing the sky.
Long, arched windows stained with images of snakes and eight-tipped stars.
Black stone statues of more snakes placed along the towers.
From the outside, maybe some would look upon Castle Altair in awe, but as I stepped through the wards—which surprisingly still let me in—I could only see it as a prison.
Now through the wards, I shadow walked directly to my bedroom, landing just in front of my bed.
I stared at the silk, black sheets, trying to remember what it had felt like to lay in them and think the future held promise.
While I hadn’t felt safe, I had felt powerful.
Maybe I even felt lucky. Why would I care that I had parents who hated me when I was surrounded by more wealth than I could possibly need? More power than I could ever imagine?
Sighing, I snatched the small pile of letters off the silver-padded bench against the footboard, tucking them into my trouser pocket.
After, I went to my closet, the room larger than what had been given to me back at Elite Academy.
Oh how I missed this space. I wished I could bring everything with me.
Looking nice made me feel nice, and that was vital when I was likely about to go back and tell Tershetta about the rebellion.
Maitoza wouldn’t give me more time, that I knew.
With a groan, I picked out a few more sweaters and trousers, opening my jewelry stand and grabbing the first Altair signet ring I had ever received. Sending all of it back to the cottage, I left the closet with a sad sigh.
From there, I made my way to the shelves along the eastern wall.
If Tershetta liked old books, then I’d have an excellent surprise for her.
Each time I grabbed one, I willed it to my cottage, picturing it landing safely on the worn wooden table in front of my sofa.
After I had picked out eight books, a voice rang out in the distance.
Not just any voice, Mother’s.
Getting caught wasn’t an option. If anyone found me there I’d likely face death, or worse. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from walking towards my door, my boots silent on the plush silver rug. When I made it to the door, I opened it just a crack, listening.
“He says he wants another heir, but I can’t do it, Farrah. They all just keep dying. Azazel was nothing short of a miracle. Iblis said if I can’t give him a healthy heir by next year then he’ll kill me.”
Pressing my face into the black wooden door frame, I caught sight of Mother pacing the long corridor, her hand outstretched as she held up the image of Farrah Otarn, the tech flickering every time she lost focus.
“I’m sorry, Elise. Priya hasn’t seen Azazel since graduation. Trust me, I thought she might have been lying too, but even after Joff nearly drowned her, she still said she didn’t know where he was. “
A faint gasp whooshed into my mouth, and I watched in horror as Mother’s head quirked to the side, her shoulder swaying as if she was about to turn around. Desperate not to be spotted, I shadow walked back to my cottage, wishing I wouldn’t have been such an idiot so I could know how Pri was doing.
My boots sank into the snow upon the mountaintop in front of my door, smoke twisting in the air from the brick chimney. Inside, I could hear an odd clatter, as if someone was knocking things over repeatedly. Nervous now, I burst through the door, my eyes darting across the space frantically.
A scream barreled out of Tershetta’s mouth from where she stood in the kitchen, her arms flying up as if she was going to beat me with the pan she held.
I yelled too, caught off guard as she pinched her eyes closed.
Murder was sitting on top of the counter, her back arched and her black fur standing up.
Heart hammering, I gripped my chest and lifted a hand, trying to speak through my own terror.
“Sorry…I thought…someone…was here…trying…to hurt…you…”
Little Void raised a brow as she lowered the pan back to the blacktop, her head falling forward and then bouncing up again. “You scared me! Where did you go? What are you hiding?”
“Why are you so…suspicious of me? Shit…hold on…I need to catch…my breath.” I bent low, placing my hands on my knees and sucking in air.
It had been a long time since I’d been scared like that.
When was the last? Had to have been Cal on my birthday a few years back.
He always said it kept me young, but I was pretty sure if it wasn’t for the magic in my body I would’ve aged twice as fast as normal.
“Are you really going to stall like that? Just tell me where you were. Does this have to do with your plan you won’t tell me anything about?
” She pointed a wooden spoon at me, her feet seeming to take her forward against her will as her upper body fought by arching back.
She wore a pale blue form-fitted top, the long sleeves bunching at her wrists and around her hips just below where the thick and loose black pants gripped her waist. On her feet she wore wool socks, which she seemed to favor.
I should have grabbed the pairs I had at the castle, if only to see her wearing my clothes again.
Exhaling heavily, I stood, swiping my hand through my hair.
Did it look good? She wasn’t looking at it at all.
Did she like my outfit? It was one of my nicest sweaters, made with black cashmere knitted tightly, a silver snake etched into the left breast. Below it I had placed a silver button-up, pairing it with black trousers and my best leather boots.
I only wore my rings for jewelry, but at least it was something. Did she hate it?
Wait…what did she ask me?
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“You’re insufferable, Altair. Tell me what you’re hiding right now or I’m leaving!
Don’t think I’m not aware that your plan involves me in some capacity!
” She was shouting, but she always did that around me.
Her cheeks were flushed, her big eyes wide and her mouth downturned.
Finally, she looked up at my hair, her nose scrunching before her eyes quickly looked me up and down, rolling after.
“I snuck back home to get you some books.” Once again, her arm fell, her head cocking to the side as she raised the left side of her upper lip in time with her right brow.
“Come again?”
Instead of saying anything else, I simply pointed at the small table in front of the sofa, the stack of books sitting there undisturbed.
Gaze locking on the books, she gasped, letting the spoon fall to the ground.
It clattered loudly against the wooden floors, making Murder hiss and leap away.
Tershetta spared me one last glance before walking towards the sofa.
I watched in barely contained glee as she sat down and began reading the titles.
“These are…wow. I almost feel bad for yelling at you.”
“Almost?” I made my way to her slowly, catching the way she bit her lip, her teeth tugging at the skin.
“Well, I’m not stupid. You are hiding something from me. You said it yourself, you have a plan. If I wasn’t a part of it, you wouldn’t let me stay here, loneliness aside. You’ve never been that desperate.”
Sitting down at her side, our thighs nearly touching, I leaned back into the cushions. “I’ve never needed to be desperate to seek your company, Little Void.”