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“Very well,” I decided. “But I’m coming too.”
Cassius’ thin lips quirked in a grin. He extended a bony hand, and we shook once firmly to seal our unlikely pact. I prayed I would not regret granting him the benefit of the doubt tonight. But allies were in short supply, and beggars could not be choosers in these desperate times.
With nimble fingers, Cassius traced fiery runes onto the archives’ sealed door. They flared bright violet before fading, and the wards’ hum quieted. “That should do it,” he muttered. Before I could lose my nerve, I grasped the iron handle and pushed inside. The decrepit door creaked open reluctantly, stale air sighing out.
We were in.
“This way.” Cassius edged past me, clearly familiar with the archives’ convoluted layout. I followed his bobbing lantern through the musty labyrinth of teetering shelves and dusty tomes, suppressing a shudder at the scuttling shapes lurking just outside the wan ring of light.
At last, we reached an alcove tucked away in the labyrinth’s heart. Cassius swiftly scanned the ancient spines before pulling down a massive leather-bound ledger. “School records from curses that go a century back,” he explained, already flipping through the yellowed pages. “If the witch that enchanted Rhys is as old as the rumors say, there may be clues here.”
I peered over his shoulder eagerly as he searched. Most pages held only row after monotonous row of cramped, spidery script listing mundane details of long-graduated students. But halfway through the tome, an entry leapt out at me—H. Greystone, Case 128A34. Investigation conducted in 1867, a victim of a sorceress’ necromancy.
I jabbed my finger at the page. “This rings a bell.”
Cassius scanned the brief paragraph with interest. “Necromancy, huh? Sounds like this witch has been obsessed with the Greystones for quite a while… Can’t figure out why anyone would be.” He ignored my scowl at the flippant remark. “Nothing in here about Rhys, though. We’ll have to dig deeper.”
Discreetly, Cassius slipped a vial of dragon's blood into his robes before I could utter a sound. He then moved to replace the ledger, but I stopped him. “Hold on. There’s a note in here...”
I carefully worked the folded parchment free from where it was tucked discreetly between the pages. But the paper appeared blank, its secrets shrouded.
Cassius peered over my shoulder and scoffed. “It’s empty. Probably just a discarded page.” He made to toss it aside.
I halted him sharply. “Not so fast. Things often hide more truth than meets the eye.” I stared hard at the innocent note, willing my Sight to unveil what lay beneath its passive veneer. There were always deeper layers if one knew how to look.
I whispered an incantation, channeling power into words of revelation and light. Beneath my searching gaze, faint writing began to crawl across the parchment’s surface like the legs of spiders. My pulse leapt triumphantly.
Cassius watched in mute astonishment over my shoulder as the mysterious script took shape. At last, arcane seals peeled back to reveal the buried knowledge this unassuming page had hoarded all these years.
Scanning the crabbed writing, I released a slow breath. Here at last was confirmation of the curse haunting my beloved Rhys, etched by some unknown hand and secreted away, conveniently forgotten. But forgotten no longer.
According to the hidden account, Rhys had callously spurned the heart of a talented young witch named Zahara Ravencrest six years ago. The scathing details mattered little to me, reduced to rumor on dusty parchment. But the girl’s bitterness had twisted her brooding into a vicious curse against Rhys for daring to refuse her.
“At the cycle’s mark, on graduation night... your cold heart shall turn into stone outright,”I read aloud.“So mote it be.”The final sealing phrase elicited shivers. The account later mentioned that the only way to break the cruel curse was for Rhys to seal his life to his one true love.
Cassius let out a low whistle. “No wonder your man keeps to himself with a nasty curse like that hanging over him. Not exactly light conversational fare.” Despite his blunt words, genuine sympathy edged his tone. No one deserved such a wretched fate.
“This only confirms my suspicions,” I murmured. “Rhys must have been kidnapped by that lousy witch. The curse would have been broken on our wedding day!”
Understanding dawned on Cassius’ expression. “Gods…” he mumbled.
I slowly re-folded the letter, mind racing ahead. “There’s still time,” I breathed. “We must find him and break the curse before graduation day!” Blind hope warred with visceral fear at the looming deadline.
But I could not afford despair with my love’s very soul in the balance. Failure was not an option. I would find a way to shatter his profane chains—old magics always contained loopholes if you were cunning enough. For Rhys, I would walk through fire or barter life itself. I would see this curse broken, no matter the cost.
Tucking the letter safely away, I prepared to take my leave. But Cassius held up a staying hand, expression conflicted. “Seraphina, wait... There’s something I must tell you.” He glanced away reluctantly before forcing himself to meet my gaze.
Cassius looked gutted, but forced himself on. “I swear, when I helped Drazhan torture you this year, I never dreamed he would actually take it that far!” Pleading desperation shone from his darkened eyes.
My thoughts churned in chaotic circles, unable to align this earnest repentance with the cruel friend who had delighted in torment at Drazhan’s side. I wanted to rage and weep. But time was too scarce for reproaches. I had to focus everything on saving Rhys. My anger could be kept for later.
Reading the struggle on my face, Cassius clasped my hands entreatingly. “Let me help make amends. Please.” His eyes burned with fervor. “I cannot erase past wrongs, but I can aid you now. My friendship with Drazhan died long ago.”
I searched Cassius’ anguished face, sensing only sincerity in his desperate wish to atone. Perhaps he, too, had been a victim of his own youth and naïveté. The gods knew I also was not the same girl who had arrived wide-eyed at the academy. If people could grow and change, then redemption must also be possible.
Slowly, I nodded, feeling the truth of it resonate through me. Cassius nearly collapsed in relief, clutching my hands tighter.
“Tell me what you need.”
