Chapter 34
It really does look like a medieval castle, but cleaner, smelling of sand and dust. Completely abandoned, despite what Malakai said about there being servants.
Not a single soul is around, and the emptiness feels utterly depressing.
Instead of the dark brown stone ceiling from the city, thick gray clouds loom above, seemingly permanent. Living here seems awfully off-putting.
The door to the throne room creaks open behind me. I spin around to see Malakai step out, followed closely by Yblis.
“Glad to see you didn’t kill each other.” I grin.
Malakai pulls me into his arms. “You know we can’t, love.”
“Looked like you were trying, though.” I glance past him at Yblis. “Both of you.”
A faint smile tugs at Yblis’s lips before he turns away. “I’ll show you to your room.”
I’m not sure what to make of him yet, but overall, I don’t sense any harm from him.
I don’t know the details of what happened between them, nor their past relationship, but I hope they can work it out.
Their fight seems to have accomplished some of that, as both brothers appear slightly more relaxed in each other’s presence.
We enter a hallway, leaving the grim exterior of the castle behind us.
Inside, the walls are the same dark gray stone as the throne room, but electric lamps adorn the ceiling—a striking contrast that suggests a blend of old architecture and modern convenience.
The air inside is crisp and fresh, at odds with the outside.
The silence stretches here as well, and it’s slightly unsettling. Is he here alone all the time?
Yblis stops in front of a door, hands in his pockets. “Make yourselves at home,” he says, gesturing with his chin toward the door. “Don’t wander around. I’ll come for you once I get a hold of Nahesa.”
He leaves us in the hallway, walking away without a glance back. Malakai pushes the door open and pulls me inside after him.
The room is enormous. We step into a sitting area with plush sofas and a cozy fireplace.
The flames flicker, crackle, and pop, spreading heat throughout the space, and the smell of burning wood immediately puts me at ease.
Closing the door behind me, I see a spacious bed and a wardrobe on the right side of the room, while a desk lines the opposite wall.
Stepping farther in, I can make out a luxurious bathroom behind an open door at the back.
The entire room is stylish and modern, dominated by white and gray tones, with carpeted floors and tall windows showcasing a lush garden outside. The burst of green and vibrant colors leaves me momentarily speechless.
“Yblis likes to keep the public spaces plain to avoid distractions from the business at hand. As you can see, his private quarters are quite different,” Malakai explains, gesturing toward the garden.
“It must be depressing to look at nothing but dark stones all day,” I say. Malakai raises an eyebrow at me. “Our prison was depressing.”
He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “True. But I understand where he’s coming from. He’s a king, and the cold, distant decor earns him more respect.”
I sink into one of the sofas with a soft exhale, relishing the warmth of the fire against my skin. “Now what? We wait?” I ask.
“You could start on the summoning spell?”
Throwing my head back, I groan. “I’m still traumatized from the last one,” I reply, running my hands over my face.
Malakai laughs. “He has a library,” he adds, “and a collection of the rarest books.”
I turn to look at him. “For real?”
“Want to go see?”
“I’m pretty sure that falls under wandering.”
“That’s not what I was asking.” Malakai’s face is serious, but his golden eyes sparkle with mischief.
“Yes!” I jump up from the sofa. “You know the way?”
“Of course,” Malakai replies, offering me his arm. “I lived here for years. I know this place like the back of my hand.”
“You did?” I ask as we step out, unable to hide my surprise.
“Yblis built this castle from the ground up when we first settled here, for all of us to live in. Most residents left in the years that followed, establishing cities in the Underworld. But Yblis, our other two siblings, and I stayed.”
Malakai guides me through the hallway back out to the courtyard. “I lived here until I was imprisoned. The others split their time between here and elsewhere.”
We cross the courtyard, and he holds a door open for me before we enter another hallway.
“So there are four of you?” I ask, turning to face him, hands behind my back, grinning. “Let me guess, you’re the youngest?”
“Is it that obvious?” Malakai laughs, hooking his arm in mine and spinning me around once more.
“Maybe.” I laugh softly. “I’d love to meet your other siblings. One day,” I add when Malakai glances back at me.
“You will, eventually.”
As we turn a corner, I start to wonder just how large this place is.
“Yblis is a magic user. So are your other siblings as well?”
“They are,” Malakai informs me. “Though blood magic is unique to me, we are a family of magic users. Each of us has our own specific kind—our trademark.”
“Do other inhumans not have magic?”
“They do, but a different kind. Our magic draws from something within us—like blood, or bone in the case of Nagamaru. Other inhuman magic users draw magic from both internal and external sources. Their own energy can only be used for party tricks, needing to add something external to make it count.” I give him a confused look, and Malakai elaborates.
“Fire magic, for example. They can light a candle using their body heat, but anything more than that needs an external source as fuel.”
“Can’t they use that small flame to create more?”
“Only the really powerful ones, and those are few and far between.”
“Where does my magic fit into that?” I ask, my fingers brushing the pendant around my neck.
Malakai’s eyes catch on it, and I can tell he remembers telling me that my magic is still merging with his, not completely finished yet. I have no idea what the end result will be.
His lips tilt in a secretive smile while he continues to guide me through the castle. “That would be telling.”
“Oh, come on,” I unashamedly whine.
“Fine.” Malakai laughs. “I won’t tell you, but just know that it should turn out quite unique—a combination of my blood, your earth, and something that’s all you.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, surprised. I had no idea earth magic was supposed to be part of the mix. Did he plan for me to get this magic in advance to make the final combination possible?
“And what’s ‘all me’ supposed to be?”
He shrugs, that smile still on his face, clearly enjoying the suspense. I make to slap him, but Malakai spins out of reach, then opens a set of heavy double doors, slipping inside before I can use my magic against him. I follow him into an enormous library, larger than the one we had in our prison.
I hold back a gasp as I take in my surroundings.
The space is once again dominated by gray stone, but multiple open floors are supported by stone pillars.
I look up to see that the central part of the ceiling features a large stained glass window, adorned with colorful magic circles of protection hidden among the flowers.
Walking farther inside, I find the ground floor and the upper levels filled with towering bookcases, housing more books than I could ever fathom.
The center of the library is wide and spacious, with desks and sofas scattered about.
A fire burns in the hearth at the end of the room, casting long shadows that dance across the floor and walls.
I spin around in the center of the space, trying to take it all in, noticing candles everywhere providing extra illumination between the shelves. The desks are equipped with electric lamps, creating a fascinating blend of the old and new.
Malakai touches my chin, gently closing my mouth as he stands beside me, chuckling at my awestruck expression. “I take it you’re impressed?”
“Very. This place is amazing.”
“It is,” he agrees, strolling over to one of the sofas and running his hand over its back. “I used to spend a lot of time here. That’s why I had a library in our prison and now one at the house as well.”
“I’m glad we have that in common,” I say, a genuine smile brightening my lips. “Our love for books.”
Malakai returns my smile. “So do I.”
“What part of ‘no wandering’ was so hard to understand?” Yblis emerges from between a few bookcases, a deep scowl marring his features.
My happy mood immediately drops, my eyes nervously flicking from him to Malakai. I told him we shouldn’t.
“Oh please.” Malakai rolls his eyes. “You can’t blame me for wanting to show her around.”
The look in Yblis’s eyes and the annoyed strain in his jaw tell me he most certainly can and will.
“Did you manage to contact Nahesa?” Malakai asks, completely ignoring the disapproving look from his brother.
“I sent her a message, yes.”
“You sent? You didn’t actually speak with her?”
“Contrary to what you might believe, we didn’t stay in touch. The less I have to actually interact with her, the better. Be glad I know how to contact her.” Yblis’s irritation is palpable. Though it’s entertaining to watch them go at each other, they better keep it together.
“Mal.” I place my palm on his back. “Let’s go back to our room.”
“Fuck that,” he snaps, his gaze still locked on his brother. “I won’t let him lock me up again, not even in a room.”
Yblis’s hands twitch at his side, red magic gathering in his palm. Malakai notices as well, and I can feel his own magic rise to the surface.
“Stand down,” Yblis snarls.
“You first,” Malakai retorts, his tone equally defiant.
I roll my eyes. “This is ridiculous. You’re clearly equally matched.”
“We’ll see about that,” Yblis shoots back.
“Then at least take it outside. It would be a shame to damage the books,” I argue.
Malakai glances at me over his shoulder. “You’re one to speak.”