Page 5 of Spellbound
“Two.” I glared. “Two skal.”
“On a hair comb?” He shrugged. “It’s your coin.”
I knew it was unlikely, but I got bored, and I enjoyed a good bet, even on the most improbable of scenarios. It passed the time.
Looking out over the cast-iron fences and tall black gates, I sighed. My feet were aching from standing in the same spot. I placed my hands behind my back and clasped my fingers together, then paced in a circle. The long path stretched down into tall hedges, then blackness. Behind the gates, two gargoyle statues stood on either side of the double, red-glossed doors of the large mansion.
“I bet Dora’s having a panic about now.” I chuckled, looking up at the top window to Dora’s room, where an oil lamp flickered against the darkness. “She’ll scold Frederick for being late. I’ll bet you on that.”
“No need to bet. I know for certain she will.” His eyes sparkled, and a glimpse of a smile danced on his lips. “If she comes downstairs.”
“Here he is.” I stepped forward. “Finally.”
The matte-black carriage with frilled deep-purple curtains on the windows, pulled by two stallions with red eyes, rode through the open gates, which magically closed behind him. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I waited for it to ground to a halt.
“Take your time,” I said jokingly through the closed curtain. “What happened, Frederick? Hit a bump in the road?”
Stepping out, Frederick shook his jacket, and some dirt rolled off. “Something like that.” He glanced behind him, then turned his attention back to me. “It’s in ‘ere somewhere,” he said, fumbling through his pockets. “Aye.” He pulled it out. The ring was silver and thick, with a serpent coiled on top of it. On its head, two ruby eyes glistened under the moonlight. “It’s been a long night. Ya don’t mind if I head off?”
“Go, Frederick. We could use some sleep ourselves,” Edmund said as he stepped up behind me.
I peered around Frederick. Shock rooted me to the spot when a second set of eyes found mine from within the darkness. The person’s pupils were big in the low light, circled with blue rings and a blackness so deep it shivered my soul. His lips curled into an amused grin.
“Who are you?” I questioned.
“Hello, doll.” He looked me up and down. “I’m Viktor.”
I glanced at Fredrick, then back at Viktor. “Are you from the north?”
Frederick must have picked the man up on the way back from Salvius, unless he was—
“In a way.”
Frederick took a step back, bumping into me. Steadying myself, I moved out of his way.
“He’s from Salvius, lass.”
My eyes widened. “The human kingdom?” I asked, uncertain if I had heard right. Human-born witches, or in his case warlocks, weren’t common. There had been only one since me.
Frederick climbed back inside, and Viktor gave me one last amused look. Everything about him reminded me of the night, from his midnight-colored suit to his thick, dark waves. He fit in perfectly among the shadows of the carriage. “That would be the one.” He smirked. “You know, you still haven’t told me your name.”
“Oh. Great. I mean, that’s interesting.” My brain faltered for a moment. I wanted to say I was a human-born witch too.
Edmund suppressed a smirk. “Her name’s Elle.”
“Elle.” Viktor rolled my name on his tongue. “I hope I’ll be seeing you around.”
Frederick gave us both a nod, then closed the door. The carriage growled over the gravel, pulled through the gates, and down into blackness. My eyes bulged, and I turned toward Edmund, placing my hand on my hip. “Her name’s Elle?” I repeated, then pushed my fingers along my forehead, smoothing the line that had formed.
“You looked like you were struggling.” He half-chuckled, quickly stopping himself.
“I was shocked. That was all.”
“Sure.”
“He’s human-born. I was just surprised to see someone like me.”
“All right, fair enough.” He curled his lips inward, and I supposed I could appreciate he was at the least trying not to laugh. “Let’s get inside. It’s getting cold.”
