49. Chapter Forty-Nine
49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
ELODIE
“ Y ou look... refreshed.” Alouette smirked as the door opened up, her sage eyes glinting as my cheeks flushed pink.
“I might look refreshed, but I feel like I need to sleep for a few weeks.”
“Ah, don’t say that, I’d miss you so very much.”
“You’d be glad for a break from babysitting.”
“You’re not so bad, Killer.” She nodded down the hall, and I fell into step bedside her, noticing how different I felt from when she first pushed me into the dark. That water definitely was blessed, because my body felt like it could easily take on a hundred-mile run, climb a mountain and fight a bear all without breaking a sweat.
Not that would I do any of those things, but I felt like I could.
My mind, however, was foggy with exhaustion and struggling to piece together the events of the never ending day I had just lived through.
“I think today may have been the longest day of my life,” I mused, as the floor started to slope upwards.
“Tell me about it. Once I get you to your room, I’m going straight to bed. Saying that, I might not even make it and will have to snuggle with you.”
“I wouldn’t even mind if I’m being honest.” Having Alouette in bed with me would probably be quite nice considering everything else.
“So—my new room—straw beds and rats?” I cringed at the thought as she laughed.
“Definitely not, have you not noticed you’ve got some very powerful Fae wrapped around those pretty fingers of yours?”
I scoffed at her, shoving weakly at her shoulder, not surprised in the slightest that she barely moved. I needed to get myself in the gym, build up these muscles if I’m ever going to stand a chance in this place.
“If that was the case, I would be able to convince them to let me go home.”
“And that’s what you want is it, to leave?”
My mind was not sharp enough right now for this conversation, so I just shrugged, letting the paintings lining the walls take my attention as Alouette led me through the castle. I paid no attention to the turns or number of staircases we ascended. Knowing I’d never yet been able to keep track of anywhere I went within the palace, so there was no point trying now. I did notice as the corridor got wider and the carpet thicker. Smooth, dark, grey granite walls held ornate frames, and the clear windows were replaced with beautiful stained glass images of women wreathed by fire, the last rays of the sun beaming through.
The corridor ended in a huge black door dotted with the golden studs they seemed to love so much here. The top of the door, too high for anyone to see through, was made up of red and black stained glass. The walls around the door were no longer grey stone, but black, streaked with veins of red and white that I was sure writhed and twisted the moment my eyes were not directly focused on them.
“This… is where I’m staying?” I whispered in awe as we stopped in front of the door.
“Yep. Now hand,” she demanded, and I held mine out to her, eyes widening as her nail grew into a sharp claw. Jabbing it into the pad of my thumb, droplets of blood welled from the small cut before she pulled me forward and held my hand against the wood, ensuring my blood smeared over the surface.
“Um, what the fuck, Alouette?” I gaped at her over my arm, but she just nodded towards my hand, and I looked away from her as a red glow emanated from the door. My blood fizzed against the wood and energy pulsed under my hand. In a panic, I tried to wrench my hand away but it was bound to the wood.
I turned back to Alouette. “Again, what the actual fuck is going on?”
“Just shut up, and let the door do its job.”
Returning my attention to the door, all trace of my blood had disappeared, the light now focused under my hand. I froze as it slipped into my skin, lighting me from within, and my own magik didn’t do a single thing to stop it. It merely peeked out from where it was resting before deciding I was in no immediate danger and fading away once more.
A loud clunk echoed through the hall at the same time my hand was released, and the light cut out, the wooden door unlatching and opening a fraction. Alouette pulled at the handle I must have missed earlier and stalked through, a wicked glint lighting her eyes.
“Couldn’t give me a heads up?” I asked incredulously as I stared at her.
“It brings me no end of joy watching you shit yourself when anything new comes up, and I won’t apologise for it.” She grinned, and her features had changed slightly. Her eyes a little more slanted, teeth a little sharper.
“And here I was thinking we were friends,” I muttered as I followed by her side, looking down at my thumb that held no trace of her mutilation.
“We are, but I’ve got to get my kicks from somewhere.”
“How kind of you.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“I said we were friends. I never said I was kind.”
“Fair point.” I laughed. “So, care to explain what that was, where I am and how the fuck you can just grow your nails like that?”
We had walked into a circular room, black marble lining the floor and walls. The golden sconces here ridiculously fancy, the flames within them rose high, licking at the walls hungrily. The room filled with a heavy heat that smelled of sage.
“So many questions,” she teased.
Directly ahead was another corridor with two huge, black statues situated either side, again of a woman. In the first, she was being consumed by the angry blaze that tore at her body, her face a mask of anguish as her flesh burned. In the second, she was fury incarnate. A dark goddess rising from the flames; no, not rising from them, she was the flames. The fiery tongues lashing at her skin were no longer burning, they were a part of her and though she was only a statue, it felt like so much more than that. Two more doors were set into the circular wall, but we walked straight, towards the flaming woman.
“Are you going to answer them?” I asked my voice low, not willing to disturb whatever this place was.
She sighed dramatically as she looked at me. “Do you know it’s exhausting trying to keep track of everything you don’t know.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware of how much I don’t know.”
“Maybe we should keep some sort of log?”
“That’s not even funny, now give me some answers.”
“Fine.” We continued on as she spoke. “This is the Igneous wing, where your new room will be. What I just did with the door,” She gestured behind her. “Is how you’re allowed in. I added your essence into the Palace’s fabric, so that you now have its permission. It will recognise you and not try to kill you for trespassing.”
“You’re joking, right?” I stared at her in disbelief.
“One hundred percent not joking.”
“The palace can kill me?”
“Oh yes, quite easily.”
“So why haven’t I had to do that before?”
“You were only in the boring parts.”
“And now?”
“Now, it’s about to get exciting.” Her eyes flashed with delight at my confusion, my mind struggling to hold more information.
We came to a stop in front of yet another dark wooden door. Rubies now replaced the golden studs, and the handle looked to be a chunk of onyx. There were other similar doors further along the hall.
“There are no guards?” I frowned with uncertainty, the complete lack of people somewhat disconcerting.
“You don’t need them here. The entrance will only allow a handful of people through, and I can say with certainty that they will not kill you. The list is very small, very exclusive, and now you’re on it, you lucky thing.”
“How?” It didn’t slip past my sluggish mind she only guaranteed I wouldn’t die.
“I told you.” She lifted up her pinkie finger and circled it. “Powerful people.”
“Who else stays here?” My eyes wandered down the hall to the other doors.
“Right now, only Kaius and Bastian.” I whipped my head back to her, knowing that this was somewhere I wasn’t meant to be intruding on and completely ignoring the ache that flooded my pussy at the thought of Kaius’ room being so close.
It also made sense why she didn’t try and claim I was completely safe from harm. With Bastian being so close, he wouldn’t kill me until he got whatever it was he needed me for.
“I bet Bastian is furious.” The idea made me practically giddily, which was ridiculous. I shouldn’t be actively looking for ways to piss him off.
But I can’t deny I enjoy it.
My gaze snapped back to Alouette as she spoke. “Orders are orders.”
“Whose orders?”
“Go catch up on your beauty sleep. You need it.” She started off down the hall leaving me to stare at the door, the rubies glittering like blood in the light from the flames blazing either side.
“Wait!” I shouted before she could turn the corner, and she turned to look at me, eyebrows raised.
“The nails?”
“Go to sleep, Elodie.”
“What about the snuggling?” I called to her, unsure I wanted to go in there alone, but she just cackled as she walked out of sight.
I was too tired to continue standing in the hall staring at the door. I needed food and a bed, and I had the feeling I was going to like whatever was on the other side. Sucking in a breath, I braced myself, reaching for the onyx handle and sending out a prayer to the palace pleading with it not to strike me down where I stood. Freezing with my hand wrapped around the cold gem, I waited to be vapourised or turned into a puddle of goo. When nothing happened, I sighed in relief, twisting the handle with a soft click.
Darkness enveloped the inside, the only light coming from low flames that crackled in a fireplace on the far side of the room dousing the space in a comforting warmth. Stepping over the threshold, I let the door close behind me. As I did, the sconces around the room flickered to life, flames staying low and leaving most of the room in shadow.
The room was more than double the size of my previous one—probably more than that once I could see better. Illuminated by the fire, I counted three black doors, one thrown wide. Moving further into the room, the heat seeped into me as the heaviness of my mind urged me to find a bed before I even considered doing anything else.
That wouldn’t be hard as through the open door I could see a four-poster bed—big enough that it could easily sleep multiple people. I was desperate to sink into it, but hunger had begun to gnaw at my stomach, and I knew I needed to eat, unsure of when I had last had anything.
As my body grumbled, I walked to the large, black marble table that took up a huge amount of space where dinner sat on a tray in the centre. Curls of pasta in a red sauce sat in a bowl next to what looked like garlic bread, and I groaned in appreciation as I tore off a bite. Eyes closed, I slumped down on a chair, inhaling the rest. While my body no longer ached after my time in the pool, my brain definitely did and everything I went through weighed heavy on my already strained mind.
Stomach no longer painfully empty, I left the rest of the food. Eager to fall into sleep more than I wanted to eat. Ready to dive into what I was sure was the biggest bed I’d ever slept in, I noticed something else on the table.
What I’d thought had been a napkin, was some sort of wrapping. Picking up the square bundle cautiously, the black fabric both soft and rough, I held it in my hands. Turning it over, I pulled at the folds that kept it in place until it fell away, revealing a small, well-loved, brown book with scuffed corners. Black letters stamped across the front read, One Hundred Tales of the Fae of Old.
My breath caught as I gazed down at the cover. It wasn’t the one I had lost, but it didn’t matter. Slowly, I opened it, the spine creaking loud in the silence of the room. The pages had started to yellow with age, and there was a handwritten inscription scrawled in neat letters on the cover page:
To our son.
May all your adventures bring you the joy you bring us.
Swallowing down the emotions that stuck in my throat, I noticed below the message was a drawing obviously done by a child; two boys standing together holding swords that were comically too big for them.
Today had been the longest day I think I had ever lived through, and holding the book to my chest like it was a precious relic, I headed to the bed.
Running my fingers over the silky grey brocade that covered it, I groaned in relief and threw myself fully clothed onto the covers, breathing in the fresh sheets as the duvet moulded to my body. I slid what could be the only possession I now had left, under the pillow, fingers grazing its binding and wanting nothing more than to let sleep take me.
And it did—almost instantly.