“He’s gone. He’s gone.” She’s shaking as she sobs, her whole body limp against me. The sounds she makes are pure sorrow, a kind of grief I recognize in my soul. The hairs on my arms stand on edge.
“Oh, gods, Charlotte.” I stroke her hair as tears roll down my own cheeks. I hope it’s not what it sounds like. That I’m wrong. I know in my bones that I’m not. I hold her tighter. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Juliette collapses next to me, tears streaming down her face. She’s mouthing words I can’t hear, but I’m almost certain they’re more apologies. Somehow, this is connected. She’s feeling guilty for Charlotte’s pain.
Guards come rushing down the hall, and I give Nate a stern look. He understands and orders the newcomers to maintain their distance.
Charlotte is a heaving, shivering, inconsolable mess. She buries her face into my chest, her hands gripping the fabric of my skirts like a small child might do. She’s not present right now, I know that much. She’s somewhere very far away, locked away by her own grief.
I push back the hair that’s in front of her eyes, and when my fingers make contact with her skin I gasp. Images and emotions flash in my mind. Walking down a long hallway, eager and happy. Moments of bare skin and hot breath. Lips against my neck, eyelashes fluttering along my cheeks. Male laughter and rough hands sliding up my body.
But it’s not me. It’s Charlotte. It’s her memories.
I try to pull myself out of them, but I’m trapped, unable to tear my fingers away from her temple.
The elation and joy are torn away as absolute terror and devastation replace it. The man’s eyes roll into the back of his head, his body convulses. There’s screaming. I think it’s Charlotte, but it might be me. His lips turn blue, then black as spiderwebs of dark veins spread across his cheeks and down to his neck. He’s convulsingand blood runs from his mouth and nose.
Then he goes still.
I’m shaking him, screaming his name. Then I’m screaming for help.
Someone pulls me from him and throws me to the ground. They’re yelling, and I’m running.
The memory fades, and I’m sent tumbling back to reality with a devastating, crushing sensation that has me gasping for air, my body trembling.
Someone is behind me, holding me while I hold Charlotte.
“Empress? Empress, can you hear me?”
I look around, the world coming into focus. Guards surround us, all of them staring at me with looks of concern or fear. Dark shadows swirl around me, wrapping themselves around Charlotte, cocooning her, cradling her head. She’s no longer making any sounds, but she’s staring at nothing, eyes unfocused, too distraught to notice anything.
“Empress?”
The strong arms holding me are comforting, the voice calling me is confident, showing no fear.
“Yes. I’m alright. Help me up,” I instruct. “Someone please bring Charlotte to my room.”
Nate releases his hold on me, and the shadows around Charlotte begin to dissipate. He stands, then directs a pair of guards to lift Charlotte.
“Where’s Juliette?” I look around frantically, trying to find her. Several guards are gathered in a group, some of them kneeling while others stand. My heart falls into my stomach.
I step toward Juliette but sway. Nate catches me. Without a word, he helps me make my way to the crowd.
“What’s wrong with her?” I demand.
A pair of guards part, letting me in to see Juliette on the ground. Her lips are black. Streaks of black spiderweb across her face and down her neck.
“No.” I drop to my knees and reach for her, pressing my fingers against her neck. “What happened? Who did this?”
“She collapsed, Your Majesty,” one of the guards says.
That’s when I notice the black lace ribbon tied around her wrist. “No. No, no, no.” I shake her. “Juliette, wake up.” I look around, as if someone will tell me this isn’t real. As if they have an answer for me. “We need a doctor. Poison antidote. Whatever we have on hand. Bring it all!”
They stare at me for too long, unblinking, unmoving. “What are you waiting for? I need any antidote we have in the estate here now!” I point to a guard near Juliette’s feet. “Find a doctor. Whoever is closest, then also whoever is the best. Get them here.”
Shadows billow up from my hands, floating around Juliette. The guards scramble back, a few of them racing away, hopefully doing what I asked.
“You have to remain calm, Your Majesty. Your magic is coming in; you don’t have control yet,” Nate says.
