Page 49 of Reap the Night
Where were the whispers of welcome? Where was the chilly presence of the castle specters?
I didn’t say anything to Ordell because Ariella was with us. One problem at a time.
“You mentioned books earlier,” Ordell said to Ariella. “Did you know we had a library?”
So that’s where the showdown would happen. Okay, I could live with her knowing where all the books were if she was never going to get to enjoy them.
“I didn’t.” She clasped her hands under her chin and fluttered her lashes.
I wanted to punch her in her fake face.
“Let me show you,” Ordell said.
I hurried to catch up. “Mind if I tag along?”
“Oh, you don’t have to stay,” Ariella said to me before placing a possessive hand on Ordell’s arm. A hand which I itched to cut off. “Ordell can show me around and keep me company until Ezekiel wakes.”
“Ordell works for me.” I smiled thinly. “He’ll be driving me back to the chapter house.”
She pouted prettily. “So soon?”
Oh God, how had I not picked up on how saccharin sweet she was? Sickly so. “We have time to see the library, though.”
“Yes, let’s.” She hooked an arm through his and allowed him to lead her through the passages.
We were close to sunset. Maybe half an hour away. We could get this done before Ezekiel woke.
Hemlock was already in the library, and he didn’t look surprised to see us, which meant that Ordell must have filled him in.
Good.
“Oh, hello.” She threw a charming smile Hemlock’s way, and he returned it with a scowl.
“Close the door,” he ordered.
I hurried to oblige, and a ripple passed over my skin.
“What was that?” Ariella let go of Ordell and stepped away from us, her gaze flying about the room.
“What was what?” Hemlock asked.
She swallowed and shook her head. “Nothing. I thought I saw a shadow.”
“Did you?” Hemlock said. “Or did you feel the magic in the air?”
“Magic?” She frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I walked up to her and pulled the potion from my pocket. “Let me demonstrate.”
Her gaze dropped to the bottle as I uncorked it. “What is that?” She tried to step away, but Ordell and Hemlock flanked her, penning her in.
“Magic.” I threw the contents in her face.
She cried out in shock as the liquid hit her skin, and then her face began to bubble and melt.
“Fuck!” I put distance between us as she clawed at her skin, screaming as if I’d thrown acid at her. Holly had not been exaggerating about the bubbling skin part.
“Is it meant to do that?” Ordell asked.
