Page 68 of Necromance
I winced. Despite my hatred for Serena, despite what she had done to me, there was some small part of methat felt guilty for breaking her heart even if I hadn’t meant to.
“Destroy your body or I will see to it that your precious witch never leaves this castle.”
“I have no idea where my body is, Serena.” I said slowly, trying not to let the truth show.
She was silent for a long moment, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line as if she was considering this issue. I wasn’t sure if she believed me or not, but it was hardly the truth. I’d known where my body was from the moment I’d regained my memories and keeping it from Mia had been tortuous. I needed Serena to believe I would stay though and more than that, I needed to buy time.
Serena smiled suddenly, the corners of her wide mouth spreading wickedly. “I will take you to it… as soon as your little paramour leaves the castle.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her hand. “That is the deal, Lucien. That is the only way she lives.”
She turned away, her form wavering as she began to fade away, but just before she completely disappeared, she turned back to me. “Oh yes, Lucien… you’ll need her dagger to destroy your body.”
With that, she vanished into a whisper of hazy fog.
My jaw clenched as I released my energy, traveling silently through the castle. Mia didn’t stir as I appeared in the shadowsof her room. She was curled up, the thick blanket nestled and tucked beneath her chin as she slept. For a moment I simply watched her sleep, her lips parted slightly and the slow rise and fall of her breaths.
My fingers itched to brush away a stray curl from her forehead, but I didn’t dare touch her for fear I’d never be able to let her go.
Instead, I forced my gaze away to the table next to the bed where she always kept her enchanted dagger. Carefully, I slipped it from the table, twisting it between my fingers for a moment before silently leaving the room. I clenched my fist around the dagger as I moved through the castle, holding it in clear view for Serena to see that I had taken it.
I hated this. I hated that I had to let Mia go… even if it was just for now. Hated that I’d once again lied to her.
I wouldn’t risk her safety.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Rain beat against the cool glass as I stared out the window from my bedchamber, mimicking the steady pounding of my heart. I twisted the note between my fingers that Lucien had left beside my bed, where my dagger no longer rested, resisting the urge to call him to me.
The letter was vague, no doubt in case Serena could somehow see it. Even though my bedchamber was warded, it was probably for the best and it hadn’t taken me long to decipher it.
Even so, dread filled within me. Why did she want him to take the dagger? There was only one purpose I could think of and the thought made my heart stutter.
I sighed, tucking the note into my pocket before turning away from the window. I hesitated, staring at my haphazardly packed satchel.
I was supposed to leave. Thatwas the plan. But something felt… wrong.
“Please Lucien,” I whispered, hoping he could still hear me one last time. “You better come.”
Striding toward my pillow where I kept the bones safely nestled under my pillow. I shoved them into my pocket before stuffing the last of my belongings into my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
I moved through the castle silently, blending in with the spirits, restlessly, yet invisibly shifting around me. They still refused to allow me to see or speak to them, aside from the few times Portia had come to us, but I understood now. Serena was terrifying and while I had no idea how much control she had over the spirits here, it wouldn’t surprise me if she could reach out and harm them if she wanted to.
My hand reached out, brushing the wall out of habit, grounding myself against the darkness. Slowly, cautiously, I made my way through the corridor toward the front entrance of the castle. I turned, my feet… or perhaps my magic pulled me to him.
Lucien’s portrait hung at the far end, its canvas dim in the faint lighting filtering in through the windows. I moved down the hall, closer, each footstep echoing like a drumbeat in my ears. And then I stopped.
A gasp caught in my throat.
So much of the painting was gone now. Nearly all of it, stripped away by the curse like pages torn from a book. Only a sliver of him remained—one sharp cheekbone, thecorner of his mouth, and one hauntingly dark eye. It was still beautiful, still him.
I reached for the frame, fingers curling around the edge, as if I could keep it from fading by simply holding on. But even as I stood there, I could see it, feel it unraveling.
My leather satchel slipped from my shoulder, tears blurring my eyes as it thudded to the ground.
No.
The plan, the one we had so carefully constructed in the void the night before, was destroyed. Lucien was fading too fast and in my heart, I knew I wouldn’t be able to summon him to me.
