Selene sank into the chair that had once been his.
It was like he’d never been here, like he’d never even existed in this space. How easily one could be erased, swept away into the Asylum and forgotten. Maybe she could go there and take a scrap of his clothing or a cast-off piece of sheet music. She could find a way to the Asylum if she was clever enough.
Perhaps Victor could take her there.
Victor.
The rose.
There was magic in it. He’d carried that rose across the world, and for what? They couldn’t make up for the lost time. So many dreams had died with that boy.
What was one more?
She had given up her father’s watch. She could give this up, too.
And she’d forget about Victor. He’d take his ship and sail away. She’d move on with her life and he’d move on with his.
She made her way back up the stairs, guilt tangling around her heart. Perhaps this feeling was enough for her to be sure the magic was real. The pain already felt.
The door of her room was open. Selene approached with caution. She was sure she had shut it, locked it even. She must have forgotten in her haste.
Until she heard the sound of papers scattering against the floor.
Chapter 31
Selene took a moment, watching from the doorway. Priya rifled through pages and pages of sheet music. All of them blank. Not a scrap of music to be found, Selene’s latest drafts tucked in her pocket.
“Where is it?” Priya pulled out another drawer, digging through Selene’s scarves and stockings. She’d find no music there. She’d find no music anywhere. Selene’s leather sheaf was trapped in another world, guarded by a ghost.
There was a bundle on Selene’s dresser, next to the wooden box. For a moment, Selene was sure it was some new sort of sabotage. It wasn’t until Priya put her fingers on it that Selene recognized what it was: letters. Hundreds of letters bound together with twine. Despite the years, the handwriting was clear and familiar. Madame had delivered the letters she’d held hostage all these years.
And left the door unlocked.
Priya reached past the bundle for the box, fingers brushing the scarred wood. Selene sang the wind, not thinking even a moment of the consequences—pushing the door all the way open and knocking Priya’s outstretched fingers.
“There you are,” Priya said quickly. “I was just looking for—”
“My music?” Selene continued the melody for air, letting the blank sheets rise, swirling around Priya.
Priya’s eyes glittered with hate. “Why would I want anything from you? Your name will mean nothing once the competition is over. Just like your father.”
“You’ve made a terrible mistake.”
Selene sang for fire. Each of the pages of sheet music burst into flame. Fire and ash rained down. Priya was quick. She sang for air and pulled it toward herself, starving out the little flames.
“Why are you doing this?” Selene shouted when she stopped for breath.
“Getting my dream at any cost.”
“It’s my dream, too.”
Priya scoffed. “You don’t know what it’s like to have no choices. You could be anything, Selene. You can have anything you want. This is the only way I can get out of my arranged marriage. I can be with Revelio, or whomever I choose. I won’t be trapped.”
Priya’s melody shifted to a perfect imitation of Benson’s aria. She ripped the water out of the air, turning it quickly into ice shards.
“That’s not a good enough reason to try and ruin me.”
There was poison steeped into the lines of Priya’s beautiful face. Selene had less than an eighth note to think. The shards—sharp as knives—shot toward her. Priya wasn’t playing.
