13. Chapter Thirteen
The chill of the drafty tower returns when Lazzus brings us back to my room.
I go to check the door to find it still locked. “Are you able to open this?”
“No.”
“With all your great power, you can’t unlock a door,” I say.
“Do you not remember I am wraith?”
“Yes, I remember. That’s the creature you are that Evelia couldn’t figure out. I don’t know enough about them to know what she should have used to kill you.”
He growls a brief laugh. “If only I had been a wraith. Wraiths are diminished. Fractured souls that lost most everything that made them what they once were. That means I lost most of my powers and am bound by the rules of this curse. I can have a chat with Zyon about the lock. Not that the stubborn mule will listen to me, but I will speak with him.”
“Maybe if it goes on for too long. I need time to think about a lot of things, so a day or two forced with time to think may be good. My mother used to always say boredom solves the toughest problems.” I walk over to my wardrobe and take out things for a long bath.
“There is something that confuses me about Evelia.” I set the bath supplies on the vanity to wait until he leaves.
“What’s that?”
“You were Evelia's best friend and first love. She adored you, and it was clear that she knew you were sent there to kill humans. She even admitted she knew that’s what you were meant to be. And yes, she looked disappointed when she saw you killed the assassins. Why did she go from loving you to wanting you dead?”
“Wasn’t killing her wedding guests and kidnapping her enough?”
“Yes, it was. Definitely enough. But there feels like something missing. I can’t really explain it.
It would be understandable if she wanted to kill you for just that, but it feels like that wasn’t all of it.
There’s something I’m missing.” I rub my eyebrows and shake my head.
“There are too many puzzles to resolve. I have to find three items in a city of a castle, figure out where my baby typhon monster is, and piece together what you regret.”
“I can quit the challenge if it is a burden to you.”
“Don’t you dare. I’m invested but feel you are not telling me everything you could.”
“You are right. There were other reasons she hated me, but I didn’t know it until later. You will learn about them as I did.”
“Okay. That’s fair and makes me feel good that I’m on the right track. Can you give me any more clues about the objects? Or even where King Zyon might keep a baby typhon?”
“No, on the objects. You will find them. Eventually. As for the baby typhon, most likely it is in his zoo.”
“He has a zoo?”
“Yes, it’s in the basement,” he says.
“How does one get to the basement?”
He shrugs and floats off his chair. “Through the eastern wing, I believe, but I would be careful. It’s been a while since I have gone in there. It could contain many surprises.”
“When do I get to hear more of your story?”
“There will be plenty of time before the snow melts and the last petal falls.” He leaves without a goodbye as usual.
There are no locks on the bathroom door, so I drag the desk chair over to hook under the doorknob to give me a warning if his majesty tries to make another surprise appearance.
The air is so frigid when I strip down and slip into the steaming bath water.
Getting out is going to be a terrible thing, but soaking is heaven.
I’ve read about bubble baths in books but have never had one, so it’s an extra luxury to pour the strawberry vanilla soap.
I turn the water all the way up and watch the bubbles take over the tub.
I keep my toes under the spout to shut it off the minute it goes cold.
As Maximo warned me, once I use up the warm, the tub will only pour cold water for some time.
I close my eyes and drift to sleep in the blissful indulgence. All my muscles that have ever ached are soothed, and it becomes not so bad to be trapped unable to fulfill responsibilities through no fault of my own.
Ivelle is grey with putrid decay dissolving her skin.
Her eyes are black, and a tarry substance is leaking from her lids, spilling down her face like rotting blood.
The bottom of her jaw has decomposed, exposing yellow teeth.
Her head flops to her right shoulder as she hobbles toward me much faster than a limping person should.
I try to flee, but the black tar drips from her mouth, nose, and eyes until it fastens around my ankles. It glues me in place, and my feet can’t move. She leaps for me, and I scream! I startle awake to the pounding on the bathroom door.
A moment later the king bursts through and whips his head around. “Why were you screaming?”
I sink beneath the bubbles and submerge my shoulders. “Another nightmare. The castle informed you?”
“Yes, it doesn’t like how loud you are.” He runs his palm across his forehead and winces.
“Tell your castle I apologize my trauma is damaging its ears.”
His eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “It’s a castle.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t have ears.”
“Then how did it hear me?”
“Magic. Do you want to discuss your nightmare so we can put it behind us?”
I pick up the bubbles and let them tumble back into the tub. “I’ll pass. Are you going to let me out of my room now?”
“Are you going to follow the rules?”
I want to refuse, but it won’t help me find the objects and move on to the mountains, so I lose another piece of my stubborn soul and agree. “Fine. I won’t be late for breakfast again.”
“Then I will let you out in the morning.”
He lets me out in the morning by once again waking me with his stares. “You have fifteen minutes to be at the table.”
I groan extra loud to be sure he hears on his way out and climb out of bed when the maids bustle into the room and throw a violet dress over me.
It stops just below my knees, and they add thick white tights underneath, which will help when I continue my search for the dagger.
They put my hair in two braids and pin them to the sides of my head before finishing my face with a powder.
I head down to eat but stop at the door when I hear voices inside. Usually, Zyon only talks to me in a room empty of everyone else except the occasional servant who takes plates away or adds food.
“If he insists you spend time with her to lift the snowstorm, you may want to listen to him. What would it hurt to get to know her and let her have an advantage?” Maximo says.
“No, I was ready for this to be a quick thing. That’s what I was always told it would be. There’s no need to get to know her or give her any advantages.” Zyon sounds as pleasant as he normally does.
“It would be better for her to break the curse, and she needs to accept your gift for that to happen. You know that can only be done if...” The voice is drowned out by metal clanging on a hard surface.
“I don’t need her to survive this! As long as Lazzus goes dormant again, that’s all that matters.”
“As always, you’re too stubborn. Maybe you’re not the only who matters when it comes to breaking the curse.”
“You dare speak to me that way when I could snap my fingers and you’ll be a pile of bones. My power holds you together.”
“Then do it, Your Majesty.”
“Leave my sight!”
“And you think Lazzus is the problem!” Maximo storms out of the room and gives me a slight bow before rushing on his way.
I wait a couple of minutes so Zyon doesn’t think I eavesdropped, sliding into my chair to the king’s right and pushing it closer to the table with great effort.
A fire blazes in the fireplace, but the flames are changing from blue to purple instead of the usual red and orange.
There is also a pine scent rather than the typical oak.
“You’re late.”
“Are you going to lock me in my room again for two minutes?”
“I may.”
“That will make you feel so much better to exert your power over my autonomy.” I pick up the strawberries first and choose a new yellow fruit I’ve never seen before.
“The apothecary building has a black door now.”
“It’s only a door.”
“That you are no longer permitted to go through.” He sips his tea and watches the snow.
“Did you waste my potions?”
“I gave them to my healers to tell me what they are.”
“You could have just asked.”
“And trust you to tell me the truth?”
“Yes, because you have no reason not to, and then you could even check with your healers since they’d have it narrowed down considerably.” I chop up my strawberry like it’s caused harm and needs to be mutilated.
“You shouldn’t mess with powerful things you have no clue how to use.”
“That would be true if I didn’t know considerably more about blood magic and apothecary than you.”
“That seems a stretch, peasant.” He spits out the last word.
“Better a peasant than a petulant king.”
He slams his fork on the table. “You will not go near the apothecary building again. Am I understood?”
“You’re something,” I mumble under my breath.
“If I catch you in it, you will be confined to your room for your safety as well as everyone in this castle.”
“Fine! You are the stealer of joy, King Zyon!” I stab the yellow fruit just as aggressively as the strawberry.
“Good.”
“Everyone can be just as miserable as you.”
He scowls as he sips his tea, and I grip my fork to keep myself from launching the utensil at his face. If it hits exactly right, it might stab him. When he finally dismisses me, I storm from the room and have to pace a random hall until my infuriated energy calms.
I decide to keep to the indoors and try to find the cloak or key.
If I can find the baby typhon in the process, I will gain some satisfaction of winning Zyon’s challenge.
I ask three servants if they know where the king’s zoo is, and they only narrow their eyes in my direction before returning to their tasks.
From there, I walk down several hallways, trying to concentrate on any small pull. Lazzus’s vague instructions are useless. It’s nearing late afternoon when I decide to take a break and go to the tower to find my lunch that the servants always leave on the desk.
After eating, I yell at Lazzus to come and give me more clues, but he doesn’t. I kick the desk leg out of frustration and think through my options. I go back to the library to search for a map.
A woman, who looks like she has a chicken skull, waves when she sees me. “Welcome to the library. I'm Gladia. Can I help you find anything?”
“Nice to meet you, Gladia. I'm Neera. Are there any maps of the castle and castle grounds?”
“Oh, I’m sure there are somewhere. Let me search my catalogue.
” Her bright orange dress swishes as she makes her way over to a large square with many tiny drawers.
She looks for a few minutes before opening one of the drawers, closing it, and opening another.
On her fifth try, she finds one she leaves open for longer, and it leads her to a large, leather tome.
She places it flat on a table and looks through it.
“This is from quite a long time ago, but I’m not sure there are any beyond this. Many of the locations changed when the castle shifted.” She slides the book to me and clasps her hands together. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
"The castle shifted?"
She pecks the table. "Sorry. Sometimes my instincts take over."
"The castle seems very odd." I take a seat and run my finger over the map. “Do you know if the zoo is in the same location?” I point to a spot near the southern end of the castle.
She looks it over and points to a place in the middle of the map. “This is where we are now, and the throne room is here. The zoo is more in the western wing.”
“Thank you for your help. May I take this book with me? What is the return policy?”
“Keep it as long as you'd like. We don’t hoard knowledge here.”
“Thank you so much!” I tuck the book into my bag, and it’s so large it sticks out the top. After taking it to my room to find relief from the weight, I stroll to the western wing.
The hall is dark with only a few lights near the floor, and there is no artwork on the smooth wooden walls.
Doors appear every few feet and are closed and blue.
I open each one just in case I can feel a pull to one of the objects I need, and I’m starting to wonder if Lazzus really knows what he's talking about.
He, at the very least, provided no real help.
There is a large door at the end of the hall, and a bright light is beaming from the edges of the door, like a sun lives on the other side.
My arms prickle as I step closer, and it’s an urgency to turn around.
That’s all the more reason to go forward.
I pull my dagger from my upper thigh and swallow down the dreadful twinges rising in my throat.
Be careful! Be careful! You need to be careful!
“Now is not the time. I need to concentrate on something other than my slowly slipping sanity.”
Be careful! Be careful! You need to be careful!
I do my best to leave the repeating voices as background noise and try not to let them heighten my anxiety. My heartbeat seems to echo through the empty hall at a quickened pace. It thunders in my ears, almost drowning the voices.
The doorknob is golden with fancy flowers carved into the glittery metal. I raise my trembling hand and shove past the resistance born from within me. It’s as though my body and the voices expect it to be hot, but I turn it with no issue.
I cover my mouth and gawk at the abundant trees that are the strangest I’ve ever seen.
The trunks are thin and crooked, snaking up the walls to the golden ceiling.
The leaves are long and oval, running throughout each tree.
Enormous orange and pink flowers weave around the small branches.
Yellow birds soar through the open spaces with their red tails splitting into two near the end.
Reddish dirt and small blue stones make up the ground, and a silver path cuts the room in two.
I keep to the path as I make my way inside to search for my baby typhon.
It becomes clear the farther I meander how immensely vast the room is.
It doesn’t seem like it should fit in the corner wing of the castle, but there is much about this place that makes no sense.
The trees have sharp, herbal, and green smells, like a western blue grass I used to cure Welden fever four summers ago in a quaint village.
I pluck a leaf from a low hanging branch and study its ten shades of green before bringing it to my nose to inhale the scent.
I tear it in half and sniff again. It smells more like woods mushroom with a lemongrass wrapping when opened.
I stuff several of the leaves to study later.
Stop. You need to stop! Stop!
I continue on my way as the friends stuck in my head chant their warning.
They’ve become like an overprotective parent.
The ground drops out from under my feet two seconds after I have that thought, and I plummet into barren, thorny branches that wrap around me, yanking me downward.
The more I struggle, the tighter they squeeze my arms against my waist, so I let them carry me to doom.