If this stone is important and similar to the resurrection stone, then perhaps it can assist us now. I push through the others and walk before her. She jolts back at my presence, and I gently remove her hand from the jewel.
“Can I see that?” I ask quietly.
I can tell from her reaction that she did not see this coming, so I allow her some time to think. She glances down at her hand wrapped around the stone and unfurls her fingers. She slides her thumb across the smooth crystal and hesitates to respond.
“I believe what you have is something special. Your mother gave me hers, but it isn't the right stone.” I take her mother’s necklace from my breast pocket and show it to Fen. “When I first realized the stone was fake, I accused your mother of lying. But now that I think about it, I don’t believe she knew. I think all along she believed she had the real stone.”
I hear Silas exhale with relief, hoping that his mother may not have betrayed us. Although, I can’t shake her telling me to go toward the bookshelf on the left. There isn’t a bookshelf on the left if my memory serves me correctly.
“May I hold the stone? I know it’s important to you, so I’ll do my best to be as careful as possible.” I give her a kind smile and make sure to keep my voice low and gentle.
She hesitates but motions for Warrick to unclasp the chain from around her neck. He slowly reaches up to her neck and works for a second to release the necklace. The jewel falls in her hand, and she stares at it for a moment, lost in thought. She raises her gaze to mine and extends her hand for me to take the pendant. I move my head toward the shining jewel, and my magic dances excitedly.
This is the right stone.
She drops the jewel in my hand, and a shock travels up my arm, similar to the resurrection stone. The weight of the stone is surprising.
How could anyone wear this daily around their neck without developing neck problems?
I turn to face Silas once more. “This is going to help us. Don’t ask why; I know. I’m following my instincts.”
“Lead the way, my love.” He beams with pride.
I push past the others and make my way down the winding halls deep within the castle walls. With each step forward, the passage darkens, making it harder for the moonlight to seep through the stone cracks. The air grows musty and hot, accompanied by a faint trickle of water echoing in the darkness. I don’t tell the others, but I have no clue where I’m going. I push forward, faking my confidence with each step, and pray the others can’t tell I’m completely lost.
I continuously look down at the stone, hoping that something will give me a sign.
I hear Fen whisper to Silas behind me. “Do you have any idea where we are?”
He doesn’t reply, so I know his answer must be no.
Frustration begins to grow in my chest, and I know the others are starting to tire of mindlessly wandering around the castle backrooms. I close my eyes and focus forward. Even within the depths of the stone walls, I swear I can hear a faint breeze. Ipause, causing the others to stop abruptly behind me, and I hear Oak curse softly after slamming into Maines.
I keep my eyes closed and tune them out, focusing on what my surroundings are trying to convey. My magic starts to simmer within my veins, and I release control, allowing my shadows and light to guide me. I need to know the truth that the Archives holds. The jewel in my hand responds to the small bouts of magic dancing around me, and I glance at my palm.
The dark green stone begins to illuminate, causing my hand to tremble under its weight. Silas leans over my shoulder for a better look, and I feel his body tense beside me. I hold my palm forward, allowing the stone to brighten the way, only to be met with a stone wall a few yards ahead in the darkness. Defeat spreads through me.
A dead end.
“Well, this is unexpected,” Oak chimes in through the darkness, followed by a loud “shhh”from Maines.
Silas places his hand on my shoulder. “Is this what happened the first time?”
I stare forward. “Yes, but it almost immediately showed itself. I didn’t have to do anything.”
“Close your eyes. What are you feeling?” he coaches me.
“To move toward the wall, even though it’s solid,” I respond.
“Then go for it,” Silas says, kissing the top of my head. “Be careful.”
He gives me a gentle nudge, and I move forward with the stone trembling in my palm. He stops the others from advancing, allowing me time to listen to what my body is screaming at me to do. The wall before me is solid, cold, and dense. I feel foolish for standing in front of this dead-end while the others watch.
I place my hand against the stone and dive into my magic. This is the place, and I don’t know how, but I can feel it in mybones. I place my other hand, holding the jewel against the wall, along with my forehead.
I breathe in deeply and whisper, “I need to know the truth. I just need answers.”
The wall remains solid stone, and defeat spreads through me once more. This is impossible. How do you find something that wants to remain hidden? I push off the wall and stare at it, hoping my anger will force it open. The others remain silent behind me, watching with wide eyes. I’m sure they are either waiting for me to explode or for the wall to yield.
