Chapter 15
Aurora
My interaction with Vespera strengthens my resolve to get on Arc’s good side. How I am going to do that, I do not know. But I can play into his preference for fancy and alluring evening gowns.
Thanks to Vespera’s advice, I learn that blue highlights my features and draws attention to my eyes.
That night before dinner, I slip into a thin satin gown the color of a churning ocean and pin half of my curls up away from my face.
The dress hugs me in all the right places and the neckline scoops low on my chest without giving away too much.
I swallow the guilt and disgust of using my looks while I have Soren desperately eager to rescue me, but I have to do whatever it takes for the cause. I’m certainly not interested in Arc. I just need to stroke his ego.
When Camryn emerges from the bathing room, her jaw drops at the sight of me. “Oh my god, Rory. You look incredible.”
My eyes slip down to the floor, heat flooding my cheeks. I am not the attention-loving type and she knows it.
Camryn arches an eyebrow and the corner of her lips pull into a grin. “Why so dressed up? I’d happily show up to dinner in a potato sack given the opportunity.”
I snort, causing Camryn to squeal in delight. “I don’t know. I thought it was a pretty dress and I want to play nice. Despite how much we hate him, we need him,” I say.
Camryn plops onto the bed. “Ugh. What we need is to find a way to get the fuck out of here.”
“True. But if there’s an easier way, I have to try it.” I look down at her, pleading.
She fiddles with the bedcover. “Fine. I will be on my best behavior tonight. But I’m only doing it because I love you, and I want you to get back to your sexy snack of a man as soon as possible.” She beams up at me.
I roll my eyes. “Thank you.”
We dismiss Vespera when she shows up outside my room to escort us to dinner. We know the way, and I am half tempted to invite her to join us. But she only turns and vanishes down the hall without a second glance.
Camryn and I are the first to arrive, and we settle into seats at one end of the table. A few minutes later, footfalls in the hall demand my attention, and I look over as Arc strides into the room, a look of determination on his face.
To my surprise, he’s wearing pants and a shirt that matches the color of my gown almost perfectly. I wonder if Vespera had anything to do with that.
I stand, causing Camryn to stare at me.
“What are you doing?” she asks, annoyed.
“Being polite,” I reply out of the corner of my mouth.
She rolls her eyes, and stays seated.
“Good evening, Arc,” I say.
He glances at me as he approaches his seat. His icy blue eyes scan the length of me, and it takes all my strength not to look away as my body warms to his gaze.
“Good evening, Miss Aurora.” He glances over at Camryn, sipping a glass of red wine, and he narrows his eyes. “Miss Camryn.”
“Mmm,” is all she responds.
He returns his attention to me. “Please, sit.”
I do as I’m told and smooth my dress under the table to steady my nerves.
We silently pick at our plates before Arc wipes his mouth and looks at me. “Any developments today with Camryn’s training?”
I swallow and take a sip of wine. “Nothing yet.” I return to my meal, but I can feel his eyes lingering on me.
“Tomorrow is another day,” he mumbles.
Camryn’s fork clanks against the plate. “As much as I love being your little science experiment, I hate to tell you there’s nothing special about me and you are just wasting everyone’s time.
For as horrible as you’ve made your father out to be, you don’t seem too concerned that you could do something about it.
You’re too damn selfish.” She glares at him.
Arc smirks and turns his icy gaze to her. “Oh, Miss Camryn, I can always count on that mouth of yours.”
I go utterly still, waiting for whatever is about to be unleashed.
Arc leans back in his chair, his long fingers wrapping around his wine glass.
“Do you know I can use my power to find out what lies inside of you? I can dig deep beneath that rough surface of yours and learn who you really are and what secrets you hold. But I have afforded you a certain level of privacy and time to find out on your own. But since you mention that my time is running out, perhaps you are ready to give yourself over to me and let me uncover what lies within you.” He takes a long sip of his wine, licking a stray drop from his lips as he lowers his glass to the table, his eyes still locked on Camryn.
My skin flushes at the heated exchange, and my stomach churns at the thought of what he is saying is true. I shiver, thinking about his intrusive touch.
For perhaps one of the handful of times I can remember, Camryn is speechless. She continues to hold his gaze, and I can see her mind whirling behind her dark eyes. Her expression hardens, and she opens her mouth. “I would rather slit my throat than ever let you touch me.”
He grins over his glass at her. “Now, now. You really shouldn’t make promises you have no intention of keeping.”
Camryn bursts from her chair. “What do you want from me, Arc? Huh?! I am not your curse breaker. I could never even fathom loving someone like you. You are truly a despicable creature, and I pity every single person who has had the misfortune of meeting you.” She thrusts her arm toward me in frustration.
“And you can’t keep us here any longer. You heard Rory, there are no humans coming to save you.
You have no purpose with us and you are just being a pompous, stubborn ass!
” Her face is red with anger, and she stands breathless, glaring at Arc still seated, watching her.
“My, my. That felt like a long time coming, didn’t it? Feel better?” He glares at her and smiles. “But to your point, I do have a purpose for you both. You’re coming with me on a little trip to the north.”
My mouth gapes open, and I snap it shut to glare at him. “Going where?”
Arc turns his attention to me. “I want you to meet the travelers that never returned home.”
It’s Camryn’s turn to be surprised. “Wait, what? I thought all the travelers that have come here end up dead?”
“Unfortunately, that has been the fate of the women who have come here. Over the centuries, there have been men and children who I had no interest in, given they couldn’t fulfill the terms of the curse. But I couldn’t very well send them back from where they came.”
I cover my mouth with my hand. I don’t know if I’m more surprised that there are others like us here, or that Arc has stowed them away. Some since they were children. “Oh my god. You kept them?”
“Yes.” Arc’s brow furrows. “And none of them have ever shown a hint of power, so that is why I am taking you to see them. Perhaps they’ve been keeping it from me, or maybe you are an anomaly and there is no merit to your theory.”
My head dizzies at this development.
“Where are we going exactly, and when do we leave?” My mind jumps to Soren, who surely is on his way to Whispering Glen by now.
“The small village of travelers is north of here. Caelum spends a lot of his time there, watching over them. We will leave tomorrow morning. It’s less than a day’s journey.”
Camryn returns to her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. “And if we refuse?”
Arc laughs. “I forget what you said about me being stubborn?” He glares at her with amusement.
“Fuck off,” she replies.
“Perhaps that is what you need, indeed,” he mutters under his breath.
We return to my room shortly after. I practically buzz with anticipation and nervous energy at the prospect of leaving the palace and meeting others like us. I hope to learn more about their time here and if they truly possess powers.
I am eager to talk with Soren about this development, but it is clear Camryn needs some attention.
“So much for playing nice.” I shoot her a teasing glance.
“Ugh! I just can’t stand him and his smugness.” Camryn kicks off her shoes.
I laugh before thinking I need a distraction. Something to take my mind off tomorrow. “Hey, I haven't seen your room. Why don't you show me before we settle in for the night?” I’m curious to see where she’s been staying.
“Yeah, sure. It’s nothing special.” She leaves her abandoned shoes and pads out of my room barefoot. I follow quickly behind her as she leads us down the hall and up a flight of stairs.
As we ascend, I can’t help but realize how quiet it is up here. It is eerily still and silent as we round a corner to a narrow hallway. There are two doors beside each other, and Camryn stops in front of the first.
“Who lives there?” I ask, pointing to the other door.
Camryn barely glances at it. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen anyone else up here.”
She pushes open the door to her room and stale air hits me. She’s right. It is almost a replica of my room, only decorated differently. While my room is bright and bathed in blue, this room is dark and moody. Hazy shades of red and black adorn the space.
As Camryn steps into the room, I can’t help but see how it strangely suits her, despite the dark stillness. She’s always given off an air of mystery, and the room plays to that energy.
I clear my throat. “Cozy.”
She doesn’t reply to my sarcasm, only rushes off to the bathing room, dropping her gown as she walks. “I think I’ll just take a quick bath while we’re up here,” she says over her shoulder.
I flop onto the dark bed covers and ponder, pulling out the communication glass to call Soren. But my eyes linger on the ceiling. A chandelier hangs above the bed. Only it doesn’t look like a typical chandelier.
The light fixture is made of two heavy beams crossed over the center like an ‘X.’ And at the end of each beam are thick leather shackles.
My eyes widen as I realize what it is for.
Has Camryn noticed? Has something happened here with her and someone?
Certainly, Arc chose this room for her for a reason.
I roll onto my side, no longer able to stomach it.