Page 83 of Wraithwound

“What is it you need help with?” he asked.

“I need to find a way to control the infection. Make it go dormant.”

“Make it go dormant? But haven’t you already accomplished that? You stand here now as you, not as a wraith.”

“I—I have help, but when it runs out, the wraith will be free to take over.”

Leonid’s eyes went round. “Magic?”

“Something like that. My mother’s diary is said to contain the information to help me, but it requires a Seer to open it.”

It was Leonid’s turn to consider what she’d said.

“Ah, I see. Well, you are welcome to work with Dauen and trial the serum. As for the diary, I will talk to Taya, but I can’t make you any promises,” he said, face solemn. “It’s late. We can talk more tomorrow. Let me show you to your rooms.”

Leonid led her and Cross to rooms like the one Brin and Lily occupied. Sealed by metal doors with a small window, the rooms connected in the middle with another metal door that could either remain open or be locked. The eleuth scampered in and settled at the foot of the bed in the room on the right, effectively making the choice for them.

Lena was surprised the eleuth was still tired. After knocking over some books on the uppermost shelf of one of the bookcases in the study, it had settled in and fallen asleep, waiting for Lena to return. She had offered to pick them up, but Leonid refused, murmuring something about the ladder in the study being broken.

“Good choice,” Leonid said to her after the eleuth settled in. “This one has a bigger washroom than the other one.”

The room she’d been given was small but comfortable. There was a small bed in the corner with fresh linens and a wooden chair next to the unlit fire. After setting her things on the bed, she turned to see Leonid holding out the key to Cross.

“I’ll have someone send over food shortly. If you choose to combine the spaces, you’ll both be locked in together. If you decide to keep them separate, Cross can hold onto the key for your room, Lena,” he said.

Lena glanced at Cross, who was standing behind Leonid, blue eyes intent on hers. Leonid, attempting to read the look between them, added, “I can give you a moment if you’d like to talk⁠—”

“We’ll keep them separate,” Cross said before Lena could reply.

She found herself taking a step toward Cross as he walked out and shut the door behind him, following Leonid to the other room.

Once they were gone, Lena perched at the end of the bed and watched the eleuth. It slept soundly beside her, its little chest rising and falling. She wondered if it’d been Henry who had sent it to her. And if it hadn’t been sent by her brother, why was it so loyal to her?

Shaking thoughts of Henry from her head, she wandered into the washroom and was surprised to see there was running water. It flowed from a small hole in the ceiling, down a path carved through the dark stone. The water filled a carved, square basin on the ground before flowing back out, following a curved path off to the side and into the wall there. The running water reminded her of the bubbling spring in the cavern and soothed her. She was thrilled to discover the water was cool.

Just as she’d begun to think about how amazing a bath with running water might be, she heard a knock on the door. When the slot in the door opened to reveal a young man holding a tray, Lena smiled and thanked him for the food, but found she was disappointed. Setting the tray on the bed she realized he’d included some fresh clothes and soap along with the meat pie and spiced apples. And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. Had she been expecting Cross? Leonid had told her he’d send someone by with dinner.

She focused on eating as much as her stomach would tolerate, swallowing the disappointment with her meal, and then headed into the washroom.

She couldn’t help but marvel at the soft glow of the crystal encrusted walls. That this place of hope could exist in the midst of so much death and darkness spoke to the wonders and strength of humanity. The thought brought forth the memory of her brother’s pained face the last time she’d seen him, and she had to fight the panic that threatened to creep in. Henry was strong, but he’d been keeping the wraith at bay for some time now. She had no idea how much longer his power would last. She had to make this arrangement work, no matter what they asked of her.

Lena took her time bathing, enjoying the sound of the water as it flowed through the path carved into the stone. She brought the bottle of soap up to her nose. It smelled like a muted version of the God’s Eye flower that she loved. Her grandfather used to pick them for her whenever he found it on his travels. After he died, she’d found the flower on her windowsill several times. She knew Henry had found it on his travels and left it there for her to find. He’d never said anything about it, so she hadn’t either, but on the days that it had seemed impossible to get up, seeing that flower on her windowsill was the only thing that got her out of bed. She missed him so much her chest hurt.

She missed them all.

Her family. And while she knew Henry was still with her, she still felt alone. A soft chittering from beyond the washroom had her reeling herself back in, locking the emotions away. She couldn’t think about her family now. Not when there was another thought she’d been avoiding. Lena had long since wondered where the eleuth had come from and why it’d decided to accompany her, but being that it was an animal, she couldn’t exactly ask it. But the situation with Cross was a different story. The soulbound had no reason to stay or to help her, not after repaying his debt. And yet, there he was, staying in the room next door instead of going about his sworn duty. There was also the fact that his niece’s life was dependent on his duty. It was this thought that nagged at her as she finished bathing, dressed, and climbed into the small bed. The eleuth hadn’t let her check its wound, screeching at her every time she tried. That hadn’t done anything except sour her mood further.

Lena stared up at the ceiling, noting how the light from the crystals pulsed softly around the room. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t ignore the sense that there was something about Cross that she had missed. She knew that, eventually, she’d have to ask, and she wouldn’t be prepared for his answer.

Chapter

Forty-Eight

Lena slept fitfully that night, unable to get comfortable and half aware of all that still stood between her and the answers she so desperately sought. She hadn’t told Leonid she completed the turn and the only reason she remained human was because of Henry. Instead, she’d let him believe it was a form magic. But wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to keep that a secret. She couldn’t help but feel if her lie of omission were discovered, Taya would refuse to help her.

By the time she got up, used the washroom, and was rejected once again by the eleuth, her mood couldn’t be saved. A knock at the door shook her from her thoughts, and she dressed quickly, donning her cloak and gloves. But it wasn’t Cross who stood there as the door swung open. Instead, a familiar face with bright hazel eyes and brown wavy hair filled her vision. It was the woman who’d been trapped inside the cage during the ursus attack and knocked her unconscious in the forest. Behind her were three guards. They wore mismatched uniforms and eyed her warily but otherwise kept their distance.

The eleuth nearly tripped her as it tore out of the room, and she sighed with a huff as she watched it go.