I couldn’t remember how to breathe normally.‘It wasn’t Raleigh,’ I said.‘We’ve been abroad, and he’s been with us the whole time.’
As Father’s eyes wandered to the carriage, then to the sky, Moira moved to place herself between him and the doors.It would be all too easy to open them and drag Raleigh into the sun.She knew that.He knew that.
‘It makes sense, Juri,’ Yann said softly.‘The prince only ever took one life at a time.This isn’t like him.’
‘There’s no logic in the minds of monsters,’ Father hissed.
‘You’d know,’ Moira said.
Another wave of dizziness washed through me.The sun felt like it was drilling through my eyes.I wished it would hurry up and hide behind the mountain, though I knew the death that darkness held.‘I need to go inside,’ I said to Moira.
‘You need to come home,’ Father said.
‘I am home,’ I snapped.I turned to everyone else then.‘The prince didn’t kill your family members last night, but there are others like him here and they’ll kill again when the sun is down.’As I spoke, I felt a spreading chill as the mountain’s shadow crawled towards us.‘If you want a chance at surviving the night, then you need to run while you still can.Barricade yourselves in the church and as soon as the sun comes up, go to the cathedral in Triz.The people there will know how to help.’
Everyone looked to Father, and no one moved.
‘They’re not going anywhere without your prince’s head.’
‘While I appreciate that you’ve given me so much thought,’ came a voice from behind me, ‘I’d prefer to keep my head, if it’s all the same to you.’
Raleigh stepped out of the carriage, into the ever-lengthening shadows around us.He had taken the time to arm himself, but he was still delightfully dishevelled, his cravat askew, hair rumpled.It would have been scandalous, but the terror painted on everyone’s faces made it clear they weren’t thinking about why we were both half-dressed.Most of them wouldn’t have seen Raleigh since the festival fifteen years ago.They knew him only by reputation, and that wasn’t the reputation of a harmless eccentric.
‘Get back.’Father pulled out a clumsily crafted wooden crucifix.I knew then how I must have looked on my first night in Castle Rostenburg.Raleigh raised his brows, just as he had that night, and rolled his eyes.
‘Right.Moira, deal with that.’He snapped his fingers and Moira was at Father’s side, twisting his arm until he dropped the cross.She tossed it to Yann with her spare hand, and told him to put it somewhere safe before she let Father go.
He staggered back, blustering with fury.‘How dare—’
‘You all know what I am,’ Raleigh called to the crowd.‘I won’t try to hide it from you.If I’m out here, then you are no longer safe from others of my kind.’He paused, taking the time to look as many people in the eye as he could.‘I am as responsible for your suffering as Juri is.’
‘Raleigh, stop talking,’ Moira hissed.
He continued on.‘But I have only ever fed from those of you who are already dying.I never wanted you to starve.Those deaths could have been avoided if you hadn’t put such blind faith in your mayor.I won’t pretend I’ve been a good ruler, but I am still the Prince of Rostenburg and you are all under my protection.Those of you who treasure their lives, follow me inside the castle.Take shelter until morning, and all I ask in return is that you resist the temptation to kill me.’
Father looked incredulous.‘Do you think we’re—’
Yann stepped forward, then bowed his head.‘Thank you for your hospitality, Your Serene Highness.’
Father grabbed his shoulder in an attempt at holding him back.‘He’s obviously lying.’
‘One of you is,’ Yann said, wrenching himself free.‘But if what Clara says is true, then we can’t stay out here.And I trust her more than anyone.’He dipped his head to me.‘Lead the way, princess.’
Something was wrong.I could feel it the moment we stepped inside.The castle was unsettled, as if the enchantment didn’t know what to do with fifty hostile humans invited inside the walls.
Raleigh halted halfway into the entry hall.From the way his face wrinkled I knew that he could feel it too.He pulled me back to him,murmuring for me to stay close as the humans fanned out, gazing at their humble surroundings in mutual disappointment.
‘I take it you don’t have guests often,’ Father remarked, oblivious to the atmosphere.He reached the stairs and ran one finger through the dust caked on the edge of the balustrade.
‘Were you hoping for an invitation?’Raleigh asked, though his attention was fixed on the doors to the dining hall.
Yann’s neighbour Kay had strayed close to them, curiosity overriding any semblance of etiquette.Like the others, he’d been taken by an urge to explore.It never occurred to him that his host had fallen behind, nor that a thousand-year-old castle could be a home.He parted the doors without waiting, oblivious to their creaking protest, and was swallowed by the waiting dark.
I held my breath, but Kay emerged again moments later, looking annoyed.‘Can’t see a bloody thing in there,’ he said to Yann.
Then time slowed.His eyes went wide.Blood drained from his face.A slender hand took hold of his collar and dragged him back into the dark.
All at once I was hit by the smell of blood as I had never smelt it before.I never knew anything could smell so strong.The room spun again.My head felt like it was going to roll off my shoulders.
