Chapter 20 Aurelie #2
for meeting with me,” she said when she’d recovered. “I know it was a bit last-minute.”
“That’s all right. I’m looking forward to hearing of your progress.”
Aurelie glanced around the room nervously, her eyes landing on a book that looked rather old. “Where did your collection come
from?” she asked, stalling even though she’d vowed not to.
“Here and there.” Everard sat across from her, one long leg folded over the other. “I have a great love of books.”
Aurelie wished she had tea, just so she’d have something to occupy herself with. The more time she spent around Everard, with
his vague answers and bizarre habits, the more resolved she was to end this relationship. And there was no time like the present.
“Mr. Everard, I came here today because I am unable to complete your project.” She paused, not sure what sort of reaction
to expect, but he merely arched an eyebrow. “You see, I have become far too busy with my schoolwork to take on what is clearly
a very important project to you. It’s not fair of me to hold you up further. I will have your supplies delivered here as soon
as possible, and I’m prepared to pay you for all the time I’ve wasted. It was arrogant of me to take on the project in the
first place, and you have my most sincere apology.” She began to reach for her coin purse, but Everard held up a hand, silencing
her.
“It’s only been a few weeks, Aurelie. Surely you aren’t going to give up so easily.”
She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I think part of being successful in life is being able to admit when you’re in over
your head. And I’m afraid that’s where I have found myself.”
“I see.” Everard uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “And there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind? More money,
or more time perhaps.”
“I’m afraid not. As I said, I let my ambition and my pride get away from me. I hope you can forgive me.”
Everard rose and went to the bookshelf that Aurelie had been looking at. He trailed his fingers over the spines of the books.
Aurelie once again heard the clicking of dog paws on the hardwood floor and wondered where the animal was. It sounded large,
larger even than Sheldrake’s hound.
“Aurelie, I chose you for this for a reason. As I mentioned before, I know a great deal about you.” He turned back toward
her. “Beyond what I learned from Mr. Morel.”
She could confront Everard about this lie, but she’d already done what she came to do. She didn’t want a lecture, and she
certainly didn’t want him to offer her something more. She wanted to leave this place and never return. “There’s very little
to know.”
He huffed a wry laugh. “Oh, I don’t know about that. Your inventions, for example. The Helping Hand and the Load Lightener?
Hardly ‘little,’ I’m sure you’d agree.”
Aurelie blanched. “How could you possibly know about those?”
“Because I know about all the demons in Wisteria. I even know about your little pet. Mephisto, isn’t it? One of the oldest specimens in this world, and certainly one of the most benign. It’s no wonder you kept it around.”
He knew about Mephisto. He knew Mephisto’s name. It wasn’t possible, and yet there was no one who could have told him. Aurelie wanted to run, but fear had her rooted in
her chair. “Mephisto is innocent, Mr. Everard.”
“Of course it is. All demons are. They don’t choose to be conjured, and they only act on the instincts they’re born with.
Unless, of course, they’re controlled by someone else.” Everard didn’t make any discernible movement, but suddenly the clicking
sound started up again. It was growing closer and closer, until at last, the “dog” appeared.
Even without its enormous red eyes, no one would mistake it for anything other than a demon. Wolflike, with a long, pointed
snout crowded with teeth, it had two massive horns curling back from its skull. Its legs were long and bent in a strange way,
ending in claws the length of Everard’s fingers. Seated, the demon reached above Everard’s waist. On its hind legs, it would
be taller than a grown man, even one as tall as Everard.
Aurelie shrank back in her chair, hand instinctively reaching for her dagger.
“Not to worry,” Everard said, patting the creature’s back. “Kobal is entirely within my control. It won’t hurt you unless
I tell it to. In fact, it has saved your life.”
“What?”
“The man who died in Aciano Square? He was a predator, and he was hunting you, Aurelie. Kobal killed him at my command.”
The implicit threat was enough to make Aurelie’s limbs go watery.
She would have collapsed if she hadn’t been sitting.
Now she understood why Des believed her to be a demon consorter.
This must have been the creature following Everard the night she met him.
And Des had seen the attack Everard was referring to.
“I don’t understand,” Aurelie said, shaking her head, even as her heart began to drum wildly in her chest. “How can you know
that about the man who died? How do you know about my demons?”
Everard sat down again, with Kobal by his side in some macabre version of master and companion. “Do you remember how I mentioned
that there was a great conspiracy in this kingdom?”
Aurelie swallowed. “Yes.”
“I am a descendant of Prince Florian, who was exiled by his brother, Prince Aciano. I assume you know the history.”
Aurelie nodded.
“Most of what you’ve learned is true, although there are lies that were spread by Aciano after Florian was exiled. Namely,
that Florian attempted to murder his brother. In fact, it was the other way around.”
Despite the tacit air of danger that had descended around her, Aurelie couldn’t help but latch on to what Everard was saying.
She’d always believed there had to be more to Florian’s story.
“When Florian cursed this kingdom, he did so by thinning the veil between our world and the demonic world through the use
of dark magic. Why do you suppose no one ever lifted the curse, Aurelie?”
She shook her head. “I don’t—I assume because it was extremely difficult or dangerous.” What else could it be? What other possible reason could justify keeping such a curse in place?
Everard, keenly aware of Aurelie’s rapt attention, lowered his voice, almost forcing her to lean closer.
“It is both of those things, but there is a far more sinister force at play. The curse hasn’t been lifted because those in power don’t want it to be lifted.
Wisteria has stayed exactly as it is, preserved like an insect in amber, because of a choice made by Prince
Aciano and his father. A choice that has been perpetuated by every generation since. Fear of progress has become so ingrained
in our society that there is no longer a will to eradicate demons. And so everything remains the same.”
Aurelie spoke without thinking, so eager to believe what he was saying. “What would it take to undo the curse?”
Everard smiled. “I was hoping you would ask me that, Aurelie. Because it’s where you come into play in all of this.”
Despite her fear, Aurelie couldn’t help feeling a surge of hope. There was still a chance that she hadn’t made a terrible
mistake. Still a chance for redemption. “But creating this portal will spawn a terrible demon. How is that meant to close the veil between worlds?”
“This portal is a mirror image of one originally created by the court mage, Revenin, which opened the doorway to the demonic
realm. This portal will send demons back from whence they came, and once Wisteria is free of all demons, we will destroy the portal and
end the curse for good.” His tone turned almost chiding. “Surely even you can see that one final demon, no matter how powerful,
is a sacrifice worth making.”
Aurelie had the distinct impression that she was also a sacrifice worth making to him. Perhaps she was. If Everard was telling the truth, and a single invention could
end demonic activity once and for all, then her life meant little in comparison.
But would that be enough to save the people around her?
If Everard was correct and the Crown wanted the curse to stay in place, then anyone defying that order would face severe consequences.
There was no possible way Uncle Leo wouldn’t be punished for this, even if Aurelie could find a way to contain the demon.
A terrible certainty stole over her. That her act of rebellion, of finding purpose, had spiraled into something dark and treacherous.
No matter how much a part of her longed for a world that could progress without the threat of demons, she couldn’t shake the
feeling that this path would lead to something she couldn’t yet comprehend.
Aurelie finally managed to stand, though her eyes never left Kobal. “I am not saying I disagree with your cause, Mr. Everard.
If anyone in this kingdom would agree with you, it is me. But I don’t exist in a vacuum. I have people around me who deserve
to be safe. I can’t endanger my uncle. I won’t.”
Everard rose, towering over her in much the same way Miles did. She hated it.
“I was afraid you might say that. You’re principled in your rebellion, Miss Blake. I’ll give you that.”
She couldn’t help lifting her chin.
Everard grinned, his eyes colder than ever. “Which is why I suspected I might need some collateral to help you see things
my way. Nothing like a little familial loyalty to force the hand.”