14. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
I t’s the morning of December 1st and the chill in the air can no longer be ignored. When I come to stand at the edge of Graf Hill, the students down there register as mere spots, yet you can still notice the urgency in their steps. They’re rushing to get inside, either to get settled around the fires in their respective Towers or to warm up with a bowl of stew in the cafeteria.
I pull my shawl tighter around myself and smile. It’s been strange — this little nineteenth-century adventure of mine. For the past three months, I’ve lived in a weird workshop slash unfurnished house at the top of Graf Hill with the grumpiest prince in existence, playing his wife in front of his royal family, and trying to keep my cursed friend and former professor turned father from losing their minds.
But it all stops today. My smile growing bigger, I turn around and go to the bathroom. I’ll take a bath, spend the very last day pretending to be the prince’s wife and then go back to my own time.
I fill the tub and get inside, the hot water instantly easing the chill in my bones. I fix my eyes on the window across from me, but it’s not the gloomy sky I see. I don’t see anything in particular. I just keep mulling things over as I run the sponge down my legs.
It doesn’t even matter that I probably won’t go back to the day we met. De Groot will give me plenty of warning and I’ll still manage not to screw things up the way I did the first time around.
Both flutters of excitement and a pang of longing twist my stomach at the very thought of seeing him again. I get completely lost in the daydream of our second chance, so much so that I don’t notice the water going cold.
The moment I do, I make myself snap out of it, get out, put on my nightdress and pad out of the bathroom.
It makes me stop midstep, when I see the prince walking down the corridor in my direction, lost in thought.
I just keep standing there, not knowing what to do with myself all of a sudden. Then he spots me and stops as well, his eyes darting down my nightdress. The look gets me all flustered.
And when I see him turn on his heel and walk away without a word, there’s this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach urging me to go after him.
Frowning and letting out a sigh, I shove it down. This is what it is and there’s no helping it.
But soon, everything will be over, and that includes this particular weirdness, so there’s no real reason to worry.
I make myself get moving and head for my room, passing the kitchen on my way.
It’s this faint scratching sound that makes me stop and remain standing where I’ve found myself.
There’s this sudden recollection of having left some of my books on the kitchen table, coupled with an image flashing through my mind — of all the tiny teeth marks I’ve been finding on the edges of my books’ covers.
It’s at my own recklessness that I shake my head and enter the kitchen, my eyes narrowing as they sweep over the space.
Empty, the books lying on the table untouched.
My shoulders relax.
Then I spot a dark puddle slowly spreading from under the table and I dart around it, my eyebrows pulling down as I struggle to take in the sight.
She’s spilled the ink bottle, knocked a book straight into it and is now lying sprawled on the floor on one side, industriously nibbling and clawing at one corner of the book while kicking the other with her hind legs.
For a split second, I just blink at her. Then my frown grows deeper. “Nymeria,” I grit out in a warning.
She stops to throw me a curious look, then proceeds as if I’m not even there.
“Why you little…”
As soon as the plan forms in my head — to grab the broom and try to push her away from the book without getting her claws in my skin… something strange happens.
The Runes around my neck grow warmer, but before I can look down, this strange vibration makes my head snap to my right, where I find the broom leaned against the counter. Vibrating .
My jaw dropping open, I listen to my instinct and push harder, making the broom tear itself away from the wall before it comes crashing down.
For one long moment, I just stare at it in wonder. Then I look down to see one of my Rune stones now has a carving — the symbol for Movement.
My heart leaps in my chest.
I’ve unlocked my first Rune.
Quickly, I fix my eyes on the broom again, I put my fingers in the position and do the gesture for Movement.
With bated breath, I keep staring, watching for the slightest movement.
Nothing happens.
I let out a sigh and turn back to Nymeria, but the furry lady seems to have gotten fed up with destroying my stuff and has left me alone with the mess.
*
Despite the early morning annoyance, it’s with a wide smile that I make my way to Lorcan’s with Raven flying high above my head. The smile only grows wider when Lorcan brings out two cups of piping-hot coffee for us to drink around the table under the giant pine tree, the steam rising up into the clear, cold sky.
As usual, we spend some time in pleasant silence. I watch my breath puff in front of me, inhale the leathery scent of the stables, listen to Raven shifting pine needles as she skips around in search of food…
Then I can’t keep silent any longer. I take another sip and turn to Lorcan with a grin, finding him staring in the direction of the castle. “What’s the first thing you’ll do once we’re back?”
Slowly, he turns to look at me. It does and doesn’t surprise me when he gives me a joyless shrug. “Go straight home and have a glass of whiskey in my favorite chair.”
I don’t give up. It’s our last day here and I’m going to make them feel happy about that. “What about your daughter? She doesn’t live with you, does she?”
He looks away, turning even less joyful. “My daughter…” He hesitates, making my ears prick up. “Even before all this, I’d been trying to find my way back to her.” He shakes his head. “She’s not exactly a grateful child.” The next bit he has to force out of his mouth. “It’s been seven years since she last bothered to return my calls, let alone see me. So no, I don’t think seeing her will be the first thing I do once we’re back.”
I keep staring at his profile, my heart sinking. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Lorcan,” I say softly.
“Yes, well…” He lets out a pensive laugh. “I only gave her everything.”
He turns to look at me. It surprises me, when he stays silent for a moment, observing me as if he’s seeing me for the very first time. “Sometimes, Anna,” he finally starts, his voice low and pensive, “I find myself wishing she were more like you. Loyal and caring to a fault.”
I shake my head. “I’m sure someday you’ll regret ever having thought that.”
“Yes… Maybe.” At that, he gets up and moves to go back inside.
I take the hint, I get up myself and I hold my cup out for him. “I’ll see you tonight at midnight.”
He nods and I take my leave, Raven flitting up to follow me.
“What about you , Raven?” I ask as I start making my way to the castle, doing my best to shake off the sadness. “Do you realize exactly how soon it’ll all be over? In less than twenty four hours, you’ll be back to picking at your food with a fork, having to use the bathroom, not knowing what to wear... You’ll be back with Alaric, Raven.”
She doesn’t say anything. She just keeps circling the air over my head.
And my steps are heavier and my shoulders slumped, but I just keep saying it over and over in my head.
It’ll all be over today.
*
It’ll be my last shift in the Library, at least in the nineteenth century. Confused and smiling at the same time, I keep moving in the direction of the Service Desk, but I’m letting my eyes wander over the grand space.
The study area is crowded, no prince to be seen. Maybe for the best — I could do without the forced pomp his presence brings. I spot that sneering fae, well, sneering at me from his spot next to one of the bookshelves across from the Service Desk, but the others pay me no mind.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Your Grace,” Master Walsh greets me when I come to a stop in front of him and he starts slowly lifting his aching body out of the chair.
I raise my eyebrows at him. “They must have really gotten on your nerves,” I poke as I patiently wait for him to stand up. The weather hasn’t been kind to him.
“The closer we get to the first-term exams,” he complains, albeit with a smile, “the more erratic they become.” Finally, he stands straight and moves away from the chair. “You could wind your clocks to them.”
I laugh and take the seat. As soon as I do, however, a sharp pain makes me spring up, my hand darting to my ass.
Goddamn it.
“Your Grace,” I hear Master Walsh call out with concern in his voice, but I’m too busy turning to inspect the chair. He’d just been sitting in it, so what the hell are these thorns now, very visibly sticking out from under the leather?
I press my lips tight and stand straight, the fact of that sneering little prick observing me with a suppressed laugh not even slightly taking me by surprise. He must have planted the seeds and then, the moment I sat down, used Growth to make them abruptly spurt through the chair.
“Hey,” I yell out as I move for him.
The little coward instantly puts back the book he was holding and starts making his escape, headed straight for the crowded study area.
By the time I come to block his way, there are countless eyes on us.
“What are you going to do, Your Grace?” he asks mockingly. “Call your husband?”
“Oh you wish,” I drawl flatly. “I’m having you assist Master Walsh for a month.” I pause to make the words sink in. “In close proximity.”
Just as I expect, the very thought of having to endure the old man’s smell for extended periods of time makes his eyes round. “You can’t do that,” he blurts out as these snickers sound from all around us.
“Watch me,” I just say. Then, with a jerk of my head that brooks no discussion, I motion for him to get moving.
For a moment, he hesitates. Then he sullenly does as he’s told.
I hear a couple of more snickers, but they all die down the moment I turn my eyes onto the crowd watching me.
For a moment, I hesitate. This is my last day here and I won’t really get anything out of this, but I’ve had enough of them acting as if I’m an enemy. “Don’t tell him I said this…” I give them all a grin. “My ass hurts, but it was sort of amusing.”
No one responds. It’s in silence that they watch me turn around and go back to the Desk.
Oh well.
Until, a couple of minutes later, a shy vampire girl comes over and says, “Your Grace… Would you happen to know which book I could borrow to help me understand the mechanics of Mind Magic?”
*
Still under the impression of the students finally giving me the opportunity to do my job, I enter the princesses’ quarters and start walking down the corridor. It’s strange — as is everything else I think about today, but this will be my last Friday dinner with the ‘family’.
I hear Farryn long before I reach the archway into the sitting room. “It’s just that I have the Eastern Runology paper to turn in at that exact time, Syl.”
“Well, couldn’t you have said something earlier?”
“I did ,” Farryn starts weakly, “I told you two weeks ago.”
“Well, do you really expect me to remember every little thing you say?” Sylmarilla snaps.
It’s the urge to roll my eyes that makes me stop in front of the entrance, just out of view.
Of course, Sylmarilla doesn’t apologize. “Tomorrow’s training session is important , Farryn,” she explains instead. “The First Round is in less than a month. Why don’t you just tell the Professor that Mother is making you go to some function? He’ll give you another chance, I’m sure.”
I let out a sigh and enter the room. It makes my step falter, when the first thing I see is the prince staring at me from his seat at the table, the notebook in his hands.
“Evening, sister-in-law,” Farryn greets me warmly, though there’s still a touch of hurt in her voice.
“Evening, Sylmarilla,” I reply with a smile, my gaze landing on Urryse immersed in her own correspondence. “Evening, everyone.”
She doesn’t even lift her head, but as soon as I approach my chair, her son gets up and holds his hand out for me. I give him mine and I watch him plant the customary kiss on my knuckles. It’s as if time slows down when it hits me this might be the last time I see him.
I frown, finding myself taking in as many details of his face as possible and feeling this urge to ask him to ditch this dinner and come tell me stuff about himself.
“Is that a new dress?” Sylmarilla snaps me out of it, I pull my hand out and I start lowering myself into my chair.
I just look at her for a second, wondering what she’s up to. “Um, no.”
It’s with such nonchalance that she proceeds to pay me a compliment. “The color looks nice on you.”
To my left, the prince shifts in his seat and with the corner of my eye, I see him start spinning the pencil.
Weird, this is all so weird. So maybe it’s for the best, that I’m leaving.
Confused, I give Sylmarilla a smile and say, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”
It’s at that moment that Urryse gets her nose out of her papers. “Ah, you’re here, Anyi darling. Shall we start?”
“Yes, Mother,” comes a reply from around the table. “Yes, Aunt.”
“How has everyone’s week been?” she asks, pinning her eyes on me .
It’s like she’s started observing me more intently lately. For a moment, I let it worry me. Then I remind myself I really shouldn’t care. After all, she’ll never get the opportunity to come to any conclusions.
In fact, we will never have met at all.
*
It’s with strange hesitation that I leave the princesses’ quarters, the cold, eventful afternoon having turned into a freezing, solitary night. Even as de Groot starts leading Lorcan, Raven and I down the deserted, shadowy hallway leading from the Entrance Hall, excitement fails to take over.
Instead, there’s the unsettling feeling of leaving a place I shouldn’t be leaving. I let the statues and the paintings whiz past me without really noticing them, reminding myself of my mission and the people depending on me.
It’s only once we take yet another turn and I realize I don’t recognize the hallway stretching before me that my surroundings give me pause.
“Where are we, professor?” I ask de Groot’s cloaked back, my voice echoing against the age-old stone all around us.
She doesn’t stop, but she does turn her head to the side a little. “Before the Grimms occupied the castle,” she starts, “it had been a refuge for Originals of all bloodlines, had it not?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what does a refuge need?”
“Escape routes,” I hear Lorcan answer without a moment of hesitation.
“Exactly,” de Groot confirms with a nod. “And The Castle That Isn’t does have plenty of more standard ones, but in case they fail…”
It’s at that moment that she comes to a stop in front of a large door made of dark, weathered wood. She takes a key out of her cloak, unlocks the door and pushes it open with a soft creak. “It also has rooms in which certain Originals can hide for extended periods of time.”
She lets Lorcan and I step inside. I glance around the room, confusion making me frown. The space is relatively small, empty and vaulted, this strong musky scent wafting from the damp stone walls. My confusion only grows when I register the niches — simple shapes cut into the stone in columns reaching the ceiling. And the bottom of each niche has a wooden lid on, I notice just as de Groot approaches one and removes it.
I step closer and look down, seeing a sort of stone coffin. “It’s like a hibernation cell,” I whisper. Then I look up and glance around again, exchanging a surprised look with Lorcan. “A room full of them.”
“Indeed it is,” I hear de Groot say.
But when I turn my focus onto her , she’s already stepping inside the cell she’s just opened.
Already?
I don’t have time to process any of it. As soon as she gets settled in, she holds a bracelet out to me — a piece of rough stone on a leather cord. “Help tie this to my wrist.” She gives me a pointed look. “Securely please.”
I nod and do as she says. “What is it?” I ask as I let go of her hand.
“A piece of comet,” she answers simply. “One that’s estimated to be back near the Earth’s orbit in around one hundred and fifty years.”
It takes me a second to understand what she’s saying. “Someone used magic to get it from a comet still in space?”
She quirks a mocking eyebrow at me. “What use would it be to me if it were just a rock lying somewhere on the surface of the Earth?”
Lorcan blows out an impressed breath.
“You must have tremendously powerful fae friends,” I say in a voice that’s barely above a whisper. Then I throw another glance at the stone, worry gnawing at me. “Its proximity will be enough to wake you up?”
“We shall see, shall we?” she answers flatly. Then she checks the bracelet once more and lies down. “Now, before you secure the lid on, I also need you to stand by me until you see clear signs of my going into hibernation.” There’s a moment of silence before she adds, “If by chance you don’t—”
“I’ll resuscitate you,” I cut her off, eager to show how serious I am about it all.
“Yes,” she replies softly, a touch of emotion rising to the surface of her voice for the first time tonight.
I swallow around a lump in my throat. “Professor de Groot—”
It’s by taking a small knife out of her sleeve and viciously slicing into her wrist that she cuts me off. “I’m not one for sentimentality, Lady Grimm,” she says, and without waiting for an answer, she starts mouthing the words of the ritual that will get her into hibernation.
The second she does, I grab onto the stone edge of the coffin and fix my eyes on her face like a hawk, my entire body tensing up in case I have to intervene. I sense Lorcan tensing up as well.
To my dismay, seconds go by and nothing happens, which is bad, very very bad.
“Professor,” I yell out as I let go of the coffin and lower my head to her chest to listen for her heartbeat.
“Goddamn it,” I mutter as I stand straight, inhaling deeply to start the resuscitation.
It’s at that exact moment that the veins in her body start showing through the pale skin and I breathe a loud sigh of relief. Lorcan and I spend another minute or so watching them slowly disappear, leaving the skin stony in their wake.
“Done?” I hear Lorcan ask.
“Done,” I nod with a smile. “Thank you,” I turn to whisper to de Groot’s stony face. Then I remember what I read while preparing for this. “And may the long night be merciful, professor.”
Quickly, Lorcan and I grab the lid and secure it back into place.
I come to stand next to him and motion for Raven to get on my shoulder, my eyes fixing on the cell as my heart starts hammering away.
But long minutes go by without anything happening whatsoever.
After a while, I start to hear Lorcan shifting on his feet. “Shouldn’t it have happened already?” he asks.
I hesitate to answer. It’s through gritted teeth that I finally do, “Let’s wait for a while longer.”
Soon, my body starts aching with all the pent-up tension, but I keep my eyes fixed on the cell, my gaze turning fiercer and more desperate by the second.
“Anna,” Lorcan calls out. And by the tone in his voice, I know he’s had enough of waiting.
And by the dread in the pit of my stomach, I know we’ve failed.