Page 20 of Ruin
“Before you do something you might regret, you must know that your curse… It is only you who sees yourself as the beast. No one else does. It is an old magic, one used on the vain, but for you, it made you isolated, and I needed you that way. Understand.”
I raised my eyebrows. “If that’s all—”
“It’s not. I can bring Caspian back from the dead.”
“What lies you tell. You have done nothing but bring darkness to this world, and Caspian wouldn’t have wanted that. Your doing anything for me puts me in your debt.”
“See reason. I will grant you a large pocket of power, enough to raise Caspian, untethered to me.”
“What do you want in return?” I spat.
“You are part of the ritual to bring her back. My wife. She died during the plague a long time ago.”
“How can I bring her back?”
“There is a headstone, with her blood on it. I will tell you where to find it. You can use it, use my power, to perform a ritual.”
“No.” I scowled. “You would have brought her back yourself or used one of my ancestors to do it.”
“It had to be the firstborn woman in her direct bloodline, and you are the first female born since who is a direct descendant. However, you must sacrifice twelve people to do it.”
“That’s why you made me kill the servant girl. You were readying me, grooming me to kill more.”
“I will do anything for the woman I love.”
“What of you once it is done? With your great power, will you bring more torment?”
“I wish only to have her.”
I didn’t trust him, but I did my best to keep my thoughts quiet. “Untether yourself from me, grant me the power, and I will do it.”
“Why would I be so foolish?”
“Because if you do not, then I will kill myself.”
Silence hung between us. I tried to block out the screams, but they grew louder.
“I will grant you enough power to perform the ritual and bring your lover back to life. Once you have completed it, you will be free. Is it a deal?”
“Yes.”
I warmed with magic. It tingled through my fingers and up my arms. As it did, he left. For the first time in over a decade, I felt weightless. I hadn’t realized what heaviness I had carried around with him inside me.
The necromancer was right, however. He was foolish.
Using my new powers, I aimed a shock of bright light at the lock, and the door swung open. “Don’t,” I warned the men rushing toward me.
They hesitated but paused for only a second before pursuing. I snapped my fingers, willing slumber and darkness from the dungeons, and within it they fell. I opened my eyes and looked around at the locked doors.
One by one, they clicked open. The magic I held was immense and filled me. I was brimming, boiling over. The fae slumped out the doors, looking pale. Some didn’t leave their cells despite no longer being locked in. I knew I needed to help them, for Caspian.
Gathering one in my arms, I helped him to his feet. I’d get them out of the castle through the secret passageways, then I’d kill my father.
***
His face was sullen under the pale light. I tilted my head to meet his cold stare. “You would attempt to kill me, but you will die first.”
I curled my hands into fists, reigning shaky breaths to an appearance of calmness. “I am not afraid to die.” I curled my lips in behind my teeth and bit down. “I do not fear the unknown, like you. I am not weak.”
