Lux glanced to the now-closed door, watching the shadows of her aunt’s movements play across the floor through the space beneath. She’d not been touched in years; she’d not allowed it. Yet, here Riselda came, wrapping her up, and all Lux had felt was cold. Could she be any more damaged? She stepped before her wardrobe, swinging it open to stare at her clothing. Nothing but black. She stood on her toes and tentatively reached to the furthest corner. Her fingers collided with the little velvet bag, and she dragged it forth.
Glancing again to the door, Lux dumped the contents into her hand. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to look upon it tonight of all nights, what with her aunt being in the very next room, but she ignored the jab of warning. Instead, she watched the lifeblood glimmer against her skin.
She hadn’t hesitated that day in the Dark Market, cradling the mesmerizing liquid within her small palms. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen, and she always loved shimmery things. Her mother had known this, dressing her in only the brightest colors.
She had twirled in her favorite sunshine-yellow dress, excited in her find, when a hand rested on her bobbed head of loose curls. Shocked at the touch, she’d looked up into indigo eyes regarding her sternly.
“How did you get here, Lucena?”
The tale of chasing the mangy cat hadn’t seemed worthy. Lux had shrugged her shoulders, slipping the vial in her pocket, and Riselda’s eyes had softened at the gesture. “Let’s go find your parents.”
Lux let the memory fade, rolling the glass between her fingers. How easy it would be to unstop it, let it coat her tongue, and live another lifetime. She brought it closer, and watched as it twinkled like starlight.
Whose body were you stolen from?
The thought jarred her from a dangerous frame of mind. Lives were not meant to be used this way, and this drained lifeblood before her was an abomination. She should dump it through the cracks of the old wooden floor, not fantasize over what it tasted like.
She did neither. Tossing it back into the velvet bag, she pushed it far into the depths of the wardrobe. And, because she was no longer alone, she shoved a pile of underthings in front of it for good measure.
She wasn’t ready to part with it yet.
Stripping from her clothing, Lux burrowed into the mound of blankets atop her bed. Instantaneous, the weight of sleep pressed upon her, and she eagerly sank beneath it.
To Death, she begged,Have mercy on me tonight.
Chapter seven
“A death-cart wandered byat dawn, waking me.” Lux’s eyes lifted from her breakfast in response to her aunt. “Two bodies and it left me wondering. Why didn’t they seek out your services?”
Lux swallowed a bite of egg, and it slid, jagged, down her throat. “Perhaps they couldn’t afford it.” She hated the shame the words invoked. Riselda raised a perfectly arched brow, and she hurried on, “The ingredients cost a fortune. The wyvern claws, the howler teeth? And now those are getting hard to come by…” She trailed off at her aunt’s expression.
“I didn’t mean to cause you discomfort, Lucena. I haven’t sought out those particular ingredients in some time, but I can well imagine the expenses you incur.” She reached out a hand to grasp Lux’s in reassurance. “Curiosity, nothing more.” Riselda smiled, baring all her teeth.
Lux could focus on nothing but that hand on hers. Hidden strength pulsed from Riselda, to be sure. A confidence Luxcould only dream of, and so she tried to siphon it. “Speaking of curiosity, Aunt… Would you tell me about your adventures these years? How you discovered this tunnel? Could it, say, be used by another?”
Riseldatsked at her, her silken hair flowing across one shoulder as she shook her head. “Absolutely not. You are never to go down there.”
Lux’s lips parted, sure she heard incorrectly. “But why?”
“These questions!” snapped Riselda, but rather than pulling away, she gripped Lux’s hand harder. “You areneverto enter that tunnel, girl. You’ll meet fears you’ve never known you possessed, dangers you’ve neither knowledge of nor the skill to defeat. Ghadra, Malgorm, the veryworldtakes and takes, and I will not stand by as it drains you dry. Have faith, darling, and stay put. I’m here, and all will be as it should now.”
Lux’s brow furrowed. She wanted to argue. To remind her aunt just how long the town had been taking from her without anyone to care a whit. But her hand was beginning to ache, and instead she said, “Speaking of Ghadra—”
“Oh, for pity’ssake, Lucena.”
“No, I wasn’t—”
“I don’t remember you being so impulsive. It is not an admirable trait.” Riselda tossed her hand. “Now.How do we rearrange this room so it doesn’t feel like we’re in one another’s way?”
Lux reeled at the change in direction. “You’ll allow me to live with you?”
“Of course! Whatever would make you think otherwise? We are family. Above all else. We simply need to rethink a few things.” Riselda studied the kitchen table beneath their plates. “Like this table, for example. It has always been much too large for this place.” She wiggled it side to side. “Would you like to visit the shops with me today?”
“Oh. I—”
“Never mind, I’m sure you have much more exciting plans. Don’t cancel them on my account. I’ll meet you back here. At home.” With a wink, Riselda rose from the table, and hips swaying, left the room.
“Why yes, I do,” Lux mumbled to the empty space.
