“Did Silas tell you they would cheer for his arrival? I thought they would kill us on the spot from the things I’ve heard of this place,” Oak continues.
“I agree,” Maines adds. “I’ve heard terrible things since I was a child, like that only forgotten monsters come to this island, but that clearly isn’t true."
My head is spinning.
I need to talk to Silas. Immediately.
“Silas told us there were good and horrible people here. Maybe it is all a rumor.” Oak rubs his head. “And then we get here, and he bails? What is up with that?”
I feel anxiety bubbling inside my veins. “Fen told me not to let the cheers fool us. Something is going on, and we will find out. I trust Silas to explain more when he can,” I defend. “Right now, we need to go to our rooms and prepare for dinner.”
“What is up with her, by the way?” Maines crosses her arms.
“Who?” I question. “Fen?”
“Yes, her. She doesn’t like me, and it’s very apparent,” Maines huffs.
“You’re overthinking this, Maines. We’ve been with her for a day.” I move toward my door, the snake’s eyes gleaming in the hallway. “Give her a chance.”
I reach for my door handle hesitantly, still half expecting the snake to rear up and bite me. I hold my breath and close my eyesbefore I grab the handle, releasing my breath quickly as the door opens easily and without a snake bite.
“I’ll see you two soon,” I say over my shoulder.
I hear Oak tell Maines that he will walk her to her bedroom as I shut the door.
My back scratches against the heavy wooden door as I lean against it, inhaling deeply for the first time. I need a moment to think.
The sun has set, and the moon quickly rises outside. The darkened kingdom looks back at me from the tall, narrow windows that line the entire back wall of the room. Rich, deep crimson curtains hang to the floor, reminding me of my Daramveer bedroom. However, this castle is much nicer.
I move through the room, observing my surroundings. The furniture is sparse, yet each piece is crafted from dark walnut and adorned with engravings that hint at its age. My eyes fall on the bed against the far wall—one with a large canopy draped in rich red velvet. The silk sheets are also a deep crimson, and a chandelier hangs from the ceiling, resembling falling stars.
I realize the eyes on the snake indicate the color within, and I am instantly curious about the other bedrooms.
I sit on the side of the bed and melt into the softness of the sheets as I try to process today.
What is going on?
Think, Briar. Think.
But, nothing comes to mind.
My mind is a mess of thoughts as I try to process our arrival and Silas’s actions since we’ve been here. We have things we must accomplish, and I cannot afford to be distracted. We must find a way to prevent this war from starting, saving both Rohhit and me in the process. I look down at my hands, the black fingertips and darkening veins never letting me forget.
My eyes begin to close against my will, and my body relaxes. I feel myself drifting into sleep, exhaustion overtaking me, even with memories that are almost too much to bear. My body feels as if it is floating. The heavy sensation of sleep presses down on me when I suddenly hear someone familiar screaming my name.
Briar.
I sit up abruptly in bed, my heart racing, and glance around. Nothing but the crackling fire responds.
I know that voice, but I’m not ready to admit it to myself just yet.
I walk to the heavy door and crack it open, peering into the dim hallway. To my surprise, it’s empty, with only the shuffling of feet in the distance reaching my ears. The candlelight in the hallway casts an unnerving shadow against the stone, and I swear something is watching me, waiting for me to step into the darkness. Quickly closing the door, I brush off the unsettling feeling and rub my tired eyes.
I walk to the large walnut wardrobe and pull on the doors.
Gowns in all shades of red and deep burgundy hang before me like the morning sun. This is an interesting color choice for me, as I typically gravitate to blacks, but red will be a fun change. I’m willing to give this a chance since it reminds me of the dress Rose brought to me from Eddris. The gown I currently wear is peppered with dirt from the walk here, so slipping into something fresh will make me feel better.
After a brief perusal, I pull out a scarlet gown entirely made of silk. Thin straps rest on my shoulders, leading into the billowing, low-draped neckline that hangs perfectly over my breasts. The fabric alone makes this dress breathtaking; no jewels or embroidery are needed.
