I tried to remember what Raleigh had said about the enchantment last night.Had he been implying that the halls shifted because I wanted to hurt him?I couldn’t see how the castle would know such a thing.Besides, after everything he’d done to me and my family, wasn’t I perfectly justified in wanting him dead?
The candles went out.
All right.Well, that confirmed my theory at least.I ran my hands over the wall in the darkness, trying to find my door, cursing Raleigh, because of course it wasn’t enough for him to be a demonic creature of legend, he had to live in a spiteful psychic castle too.The cold stone revealed nothing and after several minutes of searching I had to concede that my door was gone.
I sighed, pressing my forehead to the wall.‘I don’t want to kill him,’ I said aloud.Nothing happened.‘Fine.We both know I want him dead, but I’m not going to try again, and I know you can tell that’s not a lie.’
A single candle bloomed to life.It wasn’t enough to see much with, but enough to guide my way.I approached it, and another appeared further down the hall as the one beside me sputtered out.So long as I kept my mind carefully free from any thoughts that didn’t involve breakfast, the candles continued to light themselves along my path until I finally found myself at the top of the grand staircase.I murmured a reluctant thank you to the halls.I didn’t know if whatever magic governed the castle understood manners, but it felt like the right thing to do.
My dreams of a quiet breakfast vanished the moment I entered the dining hall.To my dismay, Raleigh was reclined in the same seat as last night, feet draped over the table, a novel propped up in one hand.There was no place set up in front of him, only another steel goblet shined to look like silver.It didn’t take much to guess what was inside it.
‘What are you doing here?’I asked before I could second-guess myself.
Raleigh peered up over the pages of his book.‘Having dinner.’
‘But the sun is out.’
‘Do you go to sleep the second the sun goes down?’he asked.Then, when I didn’t reply, he added, ‘That’s what I thought.Just keep the curtains drawn until I’ve gone to bed, please.’
Breakfast was another of Moira’s lumpy loaves of bread with more butter and a pot of red jam.I sniffed it suspiciously, wary of anything that slightly resembled blood.It was cloyingly sweet and bore a scent I didn’t recognise.
‘It’s strawberry,’ Raleigh said without looking up, ‘if you were wondering.’
I’d never seen enough strawberries in one place to consider making them into a jam, so I was dubious as I spread a thin layer over my butter.It was delicious: sweet and fruity.I dolloped on a generous portion, then sank into heaven.
I realised Raleigh was watching me.He still had his book propped up in front of him, but his eyes didn’t move until they darted back to his page when I turned to him.He tried to look bored and turned a page slowly.
‘How is it?’he asked, as though I hadn’t caught him watching me.
‘Would you like some?’
He gave a small smile.‘I can’t.My … condition doesn’t allow me to partake in regular food.’He stared longingly at the jam once more.‘Unfortunately I can still smell it, which makes withholding all the harder.Does it taste as it smells?’
I brought the jam to my nose.‘It’s a little sweeter.’
‘Ah.’The white glint of fangs appeared as Raleigh opened his mouth.He closed his eyes, then put his goblet to his lips and drank deeply.
I scooted my chair further down the table.‘Is that …’ I averted my eyes but inclined my head towards Raleigh’s dinner.‘Human?’
Raleigh looked at his glass as though it had suddenly appeared in his hand.‘Pig.I alternate.Animal blood can stave off my hunger, but I’d still starve if that’s all I drank.’
‘Would you die?’My life would be much easier if I could lock Raleigh in the basement for a few weeks and wash my hands of this whole situation.
‘No.I’d lose my mind to blood lust and drain the first human I see.’He seemed to suddenly remember I was human and quickly added, ‘But don’t worry yourself.I keep a healthy stockpile in the cellar.I have plenty to sustain me.’
‘Astockpile?’I glanced down at the clotted red paste smeared over my breakfast.The idea of taking another bite was suddenly sickening.‘Nothing to worry about at all, then,’ I said viciously.
Raleigh narrowed his eyes.‘I don’t murder my victims, if that’s what you’re implying.I only drain those who are ready to die.’
‘Is that what you tell yourself?’
‘They’re my subjects, Clara.I’d rather they didn’t perish to sustain me.More than enough of them are dying as it is.’
A happy coincidence it must have been for him, then, that everyone started dying upon his arrival.No wonder he forced the famine on us.He wouldn’t have to feel guilty about killing his victims if they had already starved to death.
Raleigh continued on, oblivious to my growing scowl.‘No real leader would murder his people for such selfish reasons.’He considered this for a moment, his expression darkening.‘You should pass that message along to your father.’
I had no intention of defending the prince to my father, but I was saved from having to tell him that by Moira’s sudden emergence from downstairs, a basket of clean sheets tucked under one arm.The moment she saw us both there she spun around to go back the way she came, but Raleigh called out before she could flee.
