Page 40 of Wolfsbane Hall
Dance with him. The character drummed in her mind, frustrated with the continuous distance between her and Everett. If Celestine was burning for Everett, the character was an inferno.
Oh, this characterwantedEverett.
It was something to go off of.
Celestine gulped and tried to bring herself back to reality. “Since you are playing yourself tonight, what you really mean isyouwant to dance with me.”
“Ah, yes, but I still have directives, like dancing with the pretty blonde maid, Margot.”
Margot.A name.
Finally, it seemed the only way Celestine was going to unveil her character was through other people’s reactions and words. And instinctively, she understood that figuring out her character might be the key to solving her otherriddle. If the Phantom was telling the truth, and the mystery game was wrapped inside the bigger mystery, was that the only way to unmask the Specter?
“So, what was in your character card?”
“It’s filled with my history and mixed with false motives and directives for this show,” Everett said. “Like dancing with you, but then that would make sense since you are playingher…”
He trailed off, lost in thought, and Celestine wanted to push him to divulge more, but her character, Margot, pinched her brain hard, causing pain to seep out of her temples.
Margot didn’t like the prying.
“I think before the night’s end, the Phantom will be torturing all of us with our deepest, darkest wounds.” Everett’s expression swirled with anguish. “That’s why you’re here,” he said as if looking into Celestine’s soul and seeing Margot instead.
Margot, responded, cupping Everett’s cheek and forcing words to escape Celestine’s lips. “I am here, my love.”
Everett flinched.
One thing was clear: The Phantom was toying with him, and Margot was his punishment for the night—and maybe even his salvation.
“It’s almost as if…” Everett blinked and then pulled Celestine into his arms, to a waltz position, as he inhaled the scent of her hair. “Margot,” he breathed. “I have forever missed you.”
12
Saturday, November 11, 1939
The Grand Ballroom
The piano sang a somber and hollow melody as Celestine’s body slipped into the rhythm of the dance. It was a strange sensation, because while she enjoyed the movement and being close to Everett—he had always been her favorite Ashbrook—this wasn’t a dance for her. It was Margot’s.
It belonged to her character.
But the part of it that was so disconcerting was that Margot was completely in charge of the moment, and even more terrifyingly, she owned and used Celestine’s entire body. It was like Celestine was trapped inside her mind; the character had cleaved all control, leaving her like a bird stuck in a cage, banging against the bars and getting her feathers caught on the rusted metal.
Celestine shivered.
She didn’t know how to fight or take back control, but at the same time, Celestine didn’t know if she should even try. Would it be better to let the scene play out and learn something?
Much like everything else tonight, this had never happenedbefore. Before, she’d always been the one steering the car.Always. But not now.
She was possessed by a spirit and stuck.
Her heart slammed in her ears, and her legs shook as they traveled through the three-four waltz steps.
Maybe Celestine should have fought harder for jurisdiction over her body and autonomy, but she didn’t have the energy—mental or physical—after the Phantom and the fire. Perhaps her weakness was legitimate for once. At least now she knew she had been poisoned, so there was a reason for it.
Her feet followed the dance easily. Everett was a good leader. His frame was strong and confident as he glided her along the floor, but what was strange was the leaking of his emotions. Celestine could feel them like a tangible force. Everett churned with them, and so did her character. Connection, hope, and even love filtered through the connection between them.
For Everett, Margot was a memory bottled in a character card and unleashed on the party. Unleashed on him. Unleashed on Celestine. A boon and a curse. The Phantom’s vengeance.
