“Yeah,” I reply. “I just want to get out of here. I’ve never liked this room.”
“It used to be a dungeon,” Sadie says. “Although there is another room below this that is somewhat worse.”
“Worse?”
“Yes,” she says, her voice low. “It was a torture chamber.”
“Shit,” I reply as we head down the corridor. “I never knew that.”
“Oh, your wolf king Darien had quite a setup here,” she says. “He went crazy after the betrayal with Lynette.”
“Oh,” I answer. “How much do you know about that?”
“Not much,” she says, leading me through the dark passage. “But when I’m here, I dream about it. I’m slowly going through the library, because I think discovering our past will heal the Rift for good.”
I don’t answer, I just let her lead me outside. The night is deep and black, with no moon in sight.
“Will you be okay?” she asks. “I’m staying here with the council, at least until tomorrow. Since we need you, too, why don’t you stay?”
“Sorry,” I answer. “I like running water and electricity. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Fair enough,” she laughs. “Are you okay to drive?”
“Yes,” I answer, even though I’m not sure. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for everything you’re doing for us, Sadie.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she says, hugging me. “And my duty. Helping you helps put Lynette’s soul to rest—and Darien’s.”
“Do you think we’ll ever know the truth?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
She hugs me again as we say goodbye, then I get in my car and head down the small track towards the main road. Even though I had every intention of going home, a restlessness rises in me, and I know I won’t be able to sleep, no matter how exhausted I am.
My heart pounds, and every throb of blood through my body makes my vision waver like an oncoming migraine. I can’t explain it, but something inside me is pulling me into Silver Valley.
I have to see Trina.
I reject the thought almost immediately, but as I come to the crossroad that leads to Diamond Springs, I find myself turning towards Silver Valley instead.
Humans are so weak… I have barely tolerated Trina’s presence every time I’ve seen her. The ritual can’t possibly change that. It was a mistake, I’m sure of it.
My blood starts to burn, my heart rate rising the closer I get to Trina’s house. I’ve actually been there once before for a party, but even if I didn’t remember the location well, something inside me is pulling me irrevocably towards it.
Towardsher.
I can’t marry a human!
Something dark turns over in my chest as I think about being with a human, in any capacity. I can barely stand them in everyday life, and the idea of living with one is making my stomach churn. Still, I can’t stop driving towards her house.
I will just take a look at her. That’s all. Then I can go home and get some rest to prepare for the ritual again.
Trina’s tiny house is at the end of the street in a tiny cul-de-sac. It looks like an old church converted into a house, just a little building with a steepled roof. I park on the edge of the corner and approach, looking at the warm light spilling through the front window. Even though I try to be stealthy, my feet shuffle noisily through leaves and I leave an obvious trail through the garden.
Is this how humans feel all the time? Clumsy and inept? How do they even survive?
I’m drawing level with the tree line when I hear the front door squeak. I stop just in time to see Trina come out onto the front step, a white silky robe wrapped tightly around her as she hugs herself against the light chill.
Crickets sing around me and nightbirds trill as a soft breeze blows down through the leaves above, but I feel none of it. The world keeps turning, but I suddenly find myself standing in a place outside time. All I can do is keep staring at her, taking in every tiny detail.
