I peeked through the crack and dropped my shoulders at the slumbering room. Blue twilight flooded through the windows as the sun descended into the ground. I slipped inside and closed the door gently behind me. I grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill, and an ink pot and brought it to the windowsill to use what little daylight wasleft. I couldn’t risk lighting a candle in case someone spotted the light from the window.
An anonymous letter would be odd. There was a very slim chance he would believe it. If anything, it would cause alarm if he thought someone broke into his office. But I was well and truly floundering at this point. I had a vampire prince pretending to court me, whom I had to work with to close the portal, a task well beyond my head. And a deranged vampire masquerading as a poltergeist who put his bloody finger in my mouth, which certainly could not be good. I was far below the surface now, and I needed help.
I placed the letter in the center of his desk, doing my best to be as vague as possible, explaining how the vampires could cast illusions. An urgent warning to look into this. Although, I myself had no idea how we could possibly measure up to this. But maybe Father could figure it out. Otherwise, I didn’t see how we could defeat them. What was once demons slipping through an accidental portal to prey on humans, was now a deliberate fight for the crown. Alaric was aiming to take over. This was a war.
I exited his office, closing the door gently again, now with shaking hands.
As I made my way back to my room, I froze at the sound of Father’s voice. “Charlotte.”
I turned slowly, plastering on a sweet smile. “Yes, Father?”
He stopped before me, giving a quick smile. He hesitated a moment. The silence stretched before us, and I hoped he couldn’t hear the violent beat of my heart. “Charlotte, were you in my study just now?”
My entire body threatened to sink into the floor, and I did the only thing I could do. “No, of course not.” Lie.
“One of my members thought he saw you leaving my study, and when I entered, I found a peculiar note.” He eyed me as if he could read my thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t.
“Father, I know I’m not allowed in your study. I’d never do such a thing.” I mustered all the effort I could into keeping my voice still. My chest ached as my heart rattled my bones.
“Theillusionshaven’t returned, have they?” Oh gods. He knew. He used that word deliberately, referencing the letter. He knew it was me, and this couldn’t possibly get any worse. No, wait, it certainly could, and it would.
I sighed, shaking my head, feigning nonchalance and the demeanor of an impatient young lady at her father’s frivolous worries. “No, Father. I’ve actually been feeling quite well.”
He eyed me a moment longer and raised his eyebrows in defeat. “Your mother has been worrying.” Of course she had. “But your interest in Sebastian has uplifted her spirits. I do hope you continue to be well.” He may not have meant it to be, but that was undoubtedly a threat. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Goodnight, Charlotte.”
“Goodnight, Father.”
As I closed my bedroom door behind me, I sank to the ground unable to fight against the weight of all that settled. He knew I wrote the letter, that I snuck into his office, and the letter only implied that I was still struggling withillusions. And I knew it then. That was the last time I’d seek help. Alaric would be pleased.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Soft lilac melded with sky blue. Watching Olivia paint lulled me to places far from here. What looked like smudges of color at first, transformed to delicate impressions of beautiful places. I sat mesmerized as she crafted a world from a blank space, somewhere I’d rather be. She made it look so effortless, pushing color into canvas with her brush. Hues swirled together, lines blurred and took their first breaths.
Golden light poured over the meadow like sparkling honey as wildflowers reached towards the warmth. I glanced towards the window. Her canvas depicted the opposite of current conditions. A swollen fog rose from the ground. Trees of auburn and firelight speckled the expanse of gray with color. The darkened clouds that roiled above hung low with rain that was sure to fall soon. Olivia, warm and golden, embodied summer. I, ashen and pale, embodied autumn. And though I loved all seasons, autumn was my favorite.
I reveled in the crisp air that always held a distant scent of smoke and cedar. I loved the brightly colored leaves and how they surrendered to the fall when they couldn’t hold on any longer, feeding the ground with vibrancy and decay. As the chill set in and stretched far across the land, the hearths could finally be lit once more. I did well curled up indoors. My pale skin did not fare well under the sun.
I was content to sip my tea and watch her paint, until her words shattered my carefully constructed peace, unbeknownst to her. “Are you excited for your first date with Sebastian?” Her voice hitched higher, eager for me to respond before she had even finished.
“Certainly.” I took a long sip.
She turned to face me, and I frowned as her brush left the canvas. “I know you’re not too fond of ... what he does.” She danced aroundthe words. “You have avoided men like him. Maybe this time it will be different. Maybe he’s just what you need.” Oh, if she only knew.
I shrugged, and she glared back at me playfully.
“Edward is taking me to the ballet.” She grinned. “He got us seats up on the balcony because he knows how much I hate to crane my neck.” She rubbed the back of her neck as if just the thought made it ache. Olivia always wanted to be a ballet dancer, but she often got discouraged with herself and would stop going to classes before she even began.
“He’s very thoughtful.” I winked over my teacup.
She rolled her eyes and grinned. “He certainly is.”
* * *
I looked to the carriage, then to Sebastian holding the door open for me. The scene looked all wrong. And it felt especially wrong once I sat across from him within the tiny space. The satin walls inched closer. We stared at each other for a while, neither one of us saying a thing, until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Where are we going?”
The corners of his lips tilted up slightly. “It’s a surprise.”
