Page 55 of Bound Paths
“They are my prisoners, Zrak,” Cassandra growled. “You overstep. I did not give you leave to question them.”
At the word prisoner, the veil cats’ behavior shifted. While calmed by her presence, they quickly returned to the fierce guardians encountered on arrival. It gave Rose pause as if maybe the veil cats understood more than Aterra gave them credit for.
“Moving right to prisoners?” Zrak said, looking at Cassandra. “You don’t even want to know if he’ll work for you?”
Cassandra glared at Luc. “He’s not the one I need. He’s worse off than you were when you arrived.”
“Ah, but you let me work for you,” he said. Rose sensed this conversation wasn’t for Zrak’s benefit.
“You know you had to offer me more than simply your service,” Cassandra hissed. “And so far, you’ve failed to deliver on your other promises.” The look she gave him was pure rage.
“But the steps are in motion,” Zrak said, his lip curving into a smile.
Cassandra nodded begrudgingly. “Let’s return to the castle.”
She suspected Aterra couldn’t reach for his magic, or he definitely would have. The veil cats ushered Luc and Aterra forward, the roots licking at their feet with every step, showing their willingness to rebind the duo at a moment’s notice. Rose could only assume they were headed to the castle she was currently en route to. Rose’s head spun as she considered Zrak’s words. He knew more than should be possible. He’d offered them information they needed through this conversation, that he did more than work for Cassandra to remain beyond the veil during his exile. Something about a promise he would deliver on… It was almost like he knew Rose would see it.
Rose slidfrom Carter’s back as she returned from the memory. Their invisibility followed them as they moved, but Rose took a moment to replenish the few drops of blood on the dagger’s tip. Carter growled as she poked him.
“There is a lot to unpack there,”Rose said.
Luc’s laugh was a balm to her soul.“Where do you want to start?”
“We’ve never had trouble crossing,”Rose told Luc through the bond as she thought about everything else she’d seen in the memory.
“I don’t know how he knows, but Zrak was right. I felt the pull of your magic and went in the opposite direction. The space between realms is kind of terrifying.”
Rose agreed.“It seems Zrak knows a lot he shouldn’t, right?”
“Yes, it’s become increasingly clear he promised Cassandra that something would happen. I don’t know what it is or how he plans to fulfill his promise.”
Rose longed to see his face as he spoke. The worry lines on his sharp features. The crooked brow when he challenged her and his hand dragging down his face when he wasn’t sure how to proceed. This ability to communicate was one she was thankful for, but she wanted more.
“Do you know how she’s holding Aterra?”Rose asked.
“No, I don’t understand the magic here well. I can tell Aterra’s power doesn’t work the same as it did on the continent. I can even feel it’s somewhat diminished. But I can’t understand the magic of this realm.”
Rose looked down at Carter as he let out a low rumble, catching her attention. They were nearing the city gates. She pulled out her compass again to check the direction. It indicated continuing into the city, straight towards the center.
The castle there was large, taking up her entire view as they approached. Rose could make out a wooden drawbridge at the center of the town that led over a small body of water to the castle proper. The building was made of dark stone, and multiple towers stuck in the air, creating an imposing skyline.
Rose hoped their invisibility held. She pricked her finger again out of habit and poked Carter’s leg to replenish the magic. She let her conversation with Luc quiet. It was reassuringenough to know she could contact him when she wanted. Now, she needed to focus on getting to him.
“A little convenient, isn’t it?” Rose said before they had to stop speaking. “The connection from the Vesten property to beyond the veil leads directly to Cassandra’s doorstep?”
Carter looked up at her, suspicion evident in his feline eyes.
“I’m not the one that did it!” Rose said defensively. “I’m just saying it’s suspicious.”
The veil cat accepted that, and they continued walking. She had time for one more question before they entered the gate and needed to be silent. “What do you think we’re about to see?” Rose asked. Everyone here should be spirits. Rose wondered if they would be visible to her. Again, she asked Carter the last part out loud, knowing he couldn’t answer. He gave another low rumble as they walked into the city.
It was like any city on the continent. Homes lined the main pathway to the center of town. She chanced another whisper to Carter as she said, “Do spirits need homes?”
Carter looked at her with a glare that only a feline could produce.
Apparently, it was time for her to stop talking. She tugged his fur a little harder than necessary as they entered the village. The compass pointed straight toward the castle.
Rose couldn’t help but search her surroundings as they walked. This was her sneak peek into the afterlife, and while, hopefully, she and Luc had a long time before they arrived here, her curiosity was getting the best of her.
