“I thought…”
“I’ve always traveled to places where there are loved ones. But—”
The young man nudges the woman’s arm. “I told you. They have to be from that asylum in Dementia. That white gown? That’s why they aren’t too frightened by the prison. Most are. And they were either traded or abducted, right?”
“You’ve solved the mystery,” Niklaus mocks, but I hold my hand up to him.
“I didn’t get your names,” I say cautiously.
The woman smiles warmly, crinkling the freckles on her nose. “My name is Sophia. And this is my friend, Jack.”
52. Generational Ties
Sapphire
“Jack…” I struggle to formthe name.
Niklaus looks between us, confused.
“Yes?”
“Jack Ambrose?” I clarify.
His bright green eyes scroll over my face, my neck, my hands pausing over my tray. He’s trying to figure out if he knows me. Is my face familiar? Have we had encounters before? But he comes up blank.
“I’ve kept my last name a secret.” Jack leans across the table, whispering, but close to losing his temper. “I haven’t even told Sophia, my oldest friend.”
I sit up, unsure how I should even approach this. I open my mouth, but there aren’t any words to articulate how I know him.
“You work for them, don’t you?” Jack pounds his fist on the table, then points at me. “The brothers sent you. It’s not enough what you psychopaths did to my brother, is it? You had to dig deeper into my family tree, huh? I swear to God, if you go after any of the Ambroses, I’ll—”
“I’m a witch!” I spit out. Not the best lie, but not the worst.
Sophia laughs, then bows her head as she realizes I’m serious.
“A witch,” Niklaus repeats, angling himself to face me with a polite smirk. “Do tell.”
“I can summon knowledge about people. I am not a spy.”
Jack scoffs. “That’s a bullshit lie an infiltrator would tell.”
I give them both a once-over. I’m so confused. None of this makes any sense. How far back did I go? Are my parents even alive yet?
“I don’t understand. I thought you both were born in the Chandelier City.” I shake my head, trying to piece together everything I know about my grandparents. Chekiss has been the only grandparent I’ve ever known. I suppose I’ve never really given much thought to Jack and Sophia, other than a few brief mentions from my mother.
Sophia and Jack exchange a look, smiling sheepishly.
“We have always dreamed of escaping this place. Traveling to Dementia. Starting a new life. But no one has ever escaped the Vexamen Prison.” Sophia shrugs, as if she’s accepted her fate.
“And you two haven’t married yet?” I ask.
“No. Goodness!” Sophia laughs, taking another spoonful of soup past her lips. “Jack has always been a big brother to me.”
“Shouldn’t you know that if you’re a witch?” Jack challenges, still glaring at me skeptically.
“I didn’t mean to each other. I know you will never marry Sophia. But you haven’t found a wife?”
Violet. One day, you will marry Violet.
