Kilthorne

CHAPTER EIGHT #2

“You don’t have the luxury of choice, Charlotte.

” He took me by the arm, dragging my limp body over to his door and leaned in, lowering his voice.

“The last thing your father would ever do is trust a vampire, let alone work with one. He’s too stubborn to ask for help though he desperately needs it.

He is in over his head, and he refuses to admit it.

Not to mention he believes us to be actual demons from the underworld.

He will never allow a vampire to help. We’re going to have to do a lot of things in secret, some of which may be unpleasant to you, but it is what has to be done. ”

My eyes settled on a brick behind him with a hair-thin crack, like a river winding through flatlands.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Now, come on.” He started to open the door, one hand still on my arm. I tugged myself back.

I certainly was no stranger to men, but this one was no ordinary man. And it crashed down on me, of how utterly stupid I could be. I allowed him to lure me away. I was far away from home, far from the Society, from protection.

“You could wait out here if you’d like.”

I inspected my surroundings further. I wasn’t used to being around so many people, except during balls.

They were everywhere, and they were moving so quickly.

Vendors dotted the streets, shouting at anyone who walked by.

Some people sat along the curbs and on stoops.

A lot of them appeared angry or too interested.

I met the eyes of many, each glare or leer more unsettling than the last.

Going behind closed doors with a demon was one of the worst things I could do, but I settled on the evil I knew.

I sighed and gestured for him to open the door.

My mouth fell open at the sight before me.

All the trappings of a royal palace were transported into his townhouse.

We walked into a sitting room. The kitchen was down the hall, and a set of mahogany stairs faced us to the left of the entrance.

The walls were painted a deep navy, and the ceiling was ornately decorated in crown moldings, all black as a starless sky.

The bronze trimmed fireplace and brown leather furniture brought a warmth to the dark room.

I turned back to Sebastian and jumped slightly, nearly forgetting his looming presence. We were completely alone, and if he were in fact a trap, I was well ensnared now. His soft smile would have fooled me for being kind, if it weren’t for his cold, almost detached, eyes.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”

As he disappeared up the stairs, I sat stiffly.

The slight creak of leather the only sound in the painfully quiet room.

He returned much faster than I expected, though I remembered reading that vampires could move far faster than humans and in an effortless, highly efficient way.

In other words, we as humans couldn’t outrun them.

I thought back to the maze, even poisoned he still caught me.

I frowned at him as I thought of the memory.

He cocked his head, the movement so slight but held so much dark promise. “Do you not like my outfit?”

I looked him up and down. He wore fitted black trousers and a tailcoat with a forest green waistcoat beneath it.

My appraisal paused on the way the fabric clung to certain parts of him, the swell of his bicep, his rather large and perfectly sculpted thighs .

.. then my eyes paused and narrowed at the deep evergreen color.

It was identical to what I wore: a forest green gown with a matching cloak.

He smirked. “I figured we could match. That way everyone will know we’re together.”

“Are all vampires this delusional?”

“Perhaps you’re the one who is delusional.” He grinned annoyingly as he put on a black, wool overcoat.

I was used to the stares but not so much the glares. As we made our way down the street, I found it increasingly difficult to avoid all of the glowering eyes. People often looked at me because I appeared different, but they didn’t openly hate me for it as these people seemed to.

“Are you scared, Charlotte?”

I didn’t realize I had neared closer to him until our arms brushed together. I migrated further away.

“Everyone is glaring at me. I’m used to people looking.” I touched my hair absentmindedly. His eyes fell to my hand. “But they just seem so ... angry.”

“You’re soft, Charlotte, and they can tell you’re different, though not in the way you think.”

My head snapped over to him. Did he just call me soft? He noted my expression of offense and chuckled. The sound threw me off so much I nearly stumbled.

“People live differently out here. They’re not coddled like you are within your gilded manor walls.”

My mouth fell open at his bluntness, though I supposed he was right.

He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “I grew up in a castle. People thought the same of me, until I left the safety of those walls and started working within the frontlines along with everyone else. Don’t cower from scrutiny. Stare back, Charlotte.”

I never thought of staring back. The ironic thing was society deemed it rude to stare, yet people still did it and so openly too.

At least to me. As if I was the exception.

I was different, so I wasn’t considered a part of them, a part of their society.

The rules did not apply to me. I figured staring back would only make me stand out more.

I wanted to blend in so badly that I feared doing anything that would make me a bigger target.

My eyes met the angry, hooded ones of a man sitting hunched over on a stoop.

My glare held firm as we passed him by. His eyes widened and immediately dropped to the ground.

I let out a breath and grinned, until I turned back to Sebastian to see him donning an expression that could kill, and it was aimed directly at the man.

It was especially disturbing because his face was so blank and unmoving yet filled with so much barely restrained malice.

I frowned at him. He ignored it, giving me a smirk. “Very good, killer.”

We reached an arched doorway made of gray stone.

An oil lamp hung above us, the soft light illuminated the short corridor.

He knocked twice against the rotting wood.

It was warped and split at the bottom, creating the perfect passageways for mice.

I shuddered. The door opened to a darkened sliver as the one on the other side peeked through, then it swung open.

“Ah, you must be, Sir Harrow.” He was a stout man with a round belly.

He wore a fine, pale gray, wool suit, and his gray hair hung to his shoulders, curling at the ends.

He eyed us both with rounded spectacles.

His shining brown eyes landed on Sebastian’s chest, then wandered over to look me up and down. “Is this your betrothed?”

My eyes slid over to Sebastian, and I couldn’t help but roll them at his proud smirk. As I was about to protest, he beat me to it. “You could say that. Allow me to introduce you to Miss Quackinbush, Prudence Quackinbush.”

My head turned slowly to him, eyes narrowed, as lethal as an agitated cat. His eyes never left the man, but his smirk turned into a full-blown nefarious smile.

The man’s eyes widened slightly, but he recovered with a cheery smile. “Ah, lovely ... to meet you.”

I nodded once, mustering some form of a smile.

“I don’t believe I ever got your first name, Sir Harrow.”

I rushed to answer. “Blort.”

Sebastian’s head snapped to me. His brow furrowed with confusion. This time my lips twisted up into my own nefarious smile.

“Ah, well, Sir Harrow ... Miss Quackinbush, please, come in.” He stepped aside, extending his arm.

It was a rather cramped, dimly lit room.

A crackling hearth was opposite the door.

Books littered every available surface, more were crammed tightly into various bookshelves pressed against the walls.

Glass jars were just as plentiful as books.

They appeared to be filled with herbs, liquids, stones, some even contained bones.

Each jar had a piece of parchment secured with twine around the neck. I read the one closest to me.

Sand from the Delcor Isles. Seems to be made up almost entirely of finely ground obsidian. The shores a stark black, the water just as dark, appearing like a liquid abyss.

Perhaps, they were all personal notes. This man must have been some sort of explorer or academic, but from the looks of it, he hadn’t settled on just one topic of study.

“Please, have a seat.” There were four leather, wingback chairs surrounding a coffee table.

Books covered the entire surface, and a silver tray sat atop the pile.

I sat stiffly as Sebastian lounged back, arms draped casually across the armrests.

The man scooped up a fluffy, white cat that slept on one of the chairs.

As he sat down, the cat settled on his lap and returned to its slumber.

“Ah, terribly sorry. I have not introduced myself to your betrothed.” His warm eyes landed on me. “Please, call me Gregor.”

“Very nice to meet you, Gregor.” I smiled.

“Would either of you care for some tea?”

“We’re unfortunately short on time, but thank you,” Sebastian replied. I supposed we were all short on time given the looming threat of Alaric. Though the people of Kilthorne had no idea an army of vampires was soon to descend upon them.

“Of course, then let’s get right to it.” He picked up a rolled parchment from a side table and unfurled it, placing it atop the silver tray between us.

It was a map. “The local witch population has dwindled since the portal opened. People have become exceptionally hostile towards them due to the rumors. Either the witches have gone far from here to another land, or they have disappeared so well within our land that they are untraceable. Though one witch has refused to leave. Her magic is tied to the land she resides on. It has been in her family for centuries, so naturally, she will never give it up. Which means she is quite protective of it. Visitors are not often welcomed. But she’s the only witch I could find. Therefore, your only option.”

“And this is where she resides?” Sebastian nodded towards the map.

“Yes. It’s a bit of a trek and deep within the Hushed Woods—”

“The Hushed Woods is real?” I blurted. I’d read about the tales of the Hushed Woods and its haunting silence, but what was truly fearsome was whatever broke that silence. I thought all the stories to be folklore. I supposed I should not be surprised as to what was real anymore.

“Unfortunately,” he continued. “I must warn you both, it could be a perilous journey. Not to mention once you arrive at the witch’s keep, that’s an entirely other hazard amongst itself if you are not welcome.”

“Thank you for your concern, though it’s all a risk we must take,” Sebastian said.

I eyed Sebastian. Maybe it was a risk he wanted to take. Though, I really didn’t have much choice in the matter. I supposed I had to take it too.

“Very well. I’ve made a copy of the map, so this one is yours to take. I wish you well on your journey.” He tipped his head down. His eyes peered over his spectacles as if he were already looking at two ghosts.

I yelped as a black mass pounced onto my lap and leapt to the ground before my feet. The cat’s back arched up into a cashew. Its fur was poofed out and jagged as its pupils swallowed up its golden irises. A low growl fit for the underworld emanated from the angry puffball.

“Terribly sorry. Soot is usually quite fond of everyone.”

Animals always had an odd aversion to me. Now I was beginning to understand why.

“It’s alright.” I eyed the cat as I carefully slid out of the chair, making my way towards the door. Sebastian grabbed the map, rolling it up and tucking it within his coat.

We gave our thanks and quickly departed.

“It’s quite telling of someone when an animal doesn’t like them.” He eyed me suspiciously.

“Perhaps, it could scent the demon in me,” I sniped.

He nodded as he mulled it over. “Perhaps.”

I lowered my voice. “You could have told me we needed fake names or given me even just the slightest bit of preparation for that encounter.”

“You need to learn how to be quick on your feet, killer. Now that we are working together, you must know how to improvise.”

I forced out a huff of air. “What if I had given him my real name before you were able to grant me such a lovely new one?”

“That is not what happened. You must learn to trust me.”

“Can’t you at least agree to prepare me from now on?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare you, Charlotte.” His voice deepened. He laid out each word slowly and precisely. His dark eyes slid over to me as we walked down the street. I eyed him back and frowned, slightly confused with his change in demeanor.

Once we arrived back in his home, I asked what I had been thinking the entire time with Gregor. “He seemed to be a collector of knowledge. How come he didn’t know anything of the portal or what the witches know?”

“Not even he could secure that knowledge. The witches are scorned and refuse to tell the humans anything.”

“Do you have witches in your world?”

“We call them high priestesses, and they know just about what we know. I’m hoping this witch will know more.”

“And how do we know she will even tell us anything?”

“If she doesn’t want to speak to any humans, maybe a vampire will do.” He winked and disappeared up the stairs.

He returned in his Society uniform. The carriage was already waiting for us outside. Once we arrived back at the manor, he told me to prepare for a long journey tomorrow. It would take about a day to get to the witch and a day to return.

As I entered my darkened room, I froze. The door shut softly behind me on its own.

Alaric stood before me. His body was relaxed, his hands casually in his pockets.

A darkness lurked beneath his blank expression, and something else, like disappointment.

He took slow steps towards me. I couldn’t move.

“There is one thing you must learn, sweet dove, and I suggest you learn it quickly. I do not make empty threats.”