Page 28 of Monsters' Manor

The laugh of near-hysterical relief I let out is choked and wet, but it’s followed immediately by another wave of panic.

Sure, Renwick’s alright, but what about the next person?

What about the next time I do something I don’t mean to do, send flames shooting out from my stupid, unstable hands and really hurt someone?

I’m a disaster. A danger, with these powers I can’t control.

And he wants me to try to train them? Use them on purpose? When I feel like I’m already teetering on an edge I don’t know how to step back from?

Fifteen years of learning to fear my magick crashes over me all at once.

My mother’s tears behind her locked bedroom door. The absolute silence I was always met with whenever I tried to talk about my magick. The fear in her eyes when any little piece of it showed its ugly head.

“I need to get out of here.”

Renwick takes another step toward me. “Hey, it’s alright. No harm done.”

I shake my head in immediate denial as I push to my feet. “That’s not… I just can’t do this.”

“Rose.”

His deep, compelling command is enough to give me pause. Only for a moment, though, just long enough to see he isn’t mad, or disappointed, or horrified. Just like he said, he’s no worse for wear. He’s looking at me with a mixture of concern and encouragement. Like all of this is no big deal. Like I don’t have any reason to be spiraling right now.

“It’s alright,” he says again. “You were doing so well. We can try again, and—”

“No.”

Whatever it is he hears in my voice, Renwick stops arguing. His mouth snaps shut, and when I turn to flee, he doesn’t stop me.

Away from here. I have to get away from here.

My blood pumps in my ears and my stomach churns as I rush up the stairs out of the labyrinth.

The remnants of my magick are still prickling against my skin, crawling up my throat, clawing at my back as I climb up and up through the maze of halls and staircases. The flash of fire I unleashed feels like it’s burned permanently into my retinas, a reminder of exactly what kind of destruction I’m capable of.

Renwick and I must have been underground for longer than I realized, because by the time I make it out of the labyrinth and into the world above, twilight is falling over Edgar’s Acres.

I don’t stop running, not even when I get strange looks from the cast members and guests I pass. All I know is the need to be alone, somewhere I can’t hurt anyone else.

Through the front gates and down the hill toward the staff village, I’ve almost convinced myself I’m going to make it safely back to my cottage and lock myself away without running into anyone else. At least until a familiar voice calls out behind me and my heart leaps into my throat.

“Rosemary.”

Fuck. I can’t see Silas right now.

My step falters and I almost go sprawling into the middle of the path, but a startlingly solid shadow bands around my waist, giving just enough support for me to catch myself and stay upright.

The skitter of Silas’s magick across my skin is one more unwanted reminder of the power I’ve just called on. I stumble away, putting a few yards of distance between us before I turn to face him.

“Rosemary?” he asks again. “What happened?”

I shake my head, choking back tears and unable to answer him. He takes a couple of steps forward, and I jerk away.

“Please,” I rasp. “Don’t come near me.”

He halts in the middle of the path. “Alright. I’ll stay here. Will you tell me what happened?”

My throat tightens even more at the warmth and affection and calm coaxing in his tone. “I… can’t.”

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