Standing on the grassy knoll outside the castle, I craned my head back to take in the turrets rising high above the land. The earl’s castle was smaller than Ivan’s palace and the duke’s newly built fortress, but it was still impressive as it towered over a hundred feet into the sky.
Like all buildings in Tempest, dozens upon dozens of lightning rods decorated the castle’s roofline. They were a deterrent for lightning bearers and the magnetic storms that ravaged our realm at least a few times a year.
A dozen or so immortals strode across the grass toward the main dirt road leading into the bailey. The women held up their dresses to keep their skirts from dragging across the ground.
Their dresses, made by the finest tailors in the land, were assorted colors and styles, but none were any better than the ones Scarlet designed for my mother and me. I wish she could be here to see how her designs compared to the others.
Some men stopped to help escort the women, but my mother waved away the two approaching us. I didn’t have to ask why; I’d prefer not to have a stranger touching me either, even if it was in kindness. My skin and nerves still felt too raw from the events of yesterday.
A yellow carpet—one of the earl’s colors—had been rolled out from beneath the portcullis to stretch hundreds of feet down the road. Music drifted out from within, but I couldn’t see the band beyond the thick, gray walls.
I lifted my skirt and, with my mother, walked across the ankle-high, thick, green grass toward the road. Once on the carpet, we released our dresses and strolled forward with the rest of the crowd. The firelight from the flickering torches illuminated the way and danced across the yellow carpet.
As we walked, more immortals arrived and fell in behind us. I was glad we’d arrived a little early, as the crush of amsirah behind us grew. I would have to deal with a crowd once inside, but at least I got these last moments of relative peace.
Above the portcullis, two gargoyles sat perched with their hands between their legs and their bony wings spread open. Their animalistic faces were almost serene as they gazed downat the entrance, but their postures spoke of creatures ready to spring into action if necessary.
I shuddered at the idea of those stone monsters coming to life. Their claw-tipped fingers, curled around a piece of the castle, could eviscerate someone with one swipe. I couldn’t see any teeth, but I was sure that, imaginary or not, they could easily rend the flesh from someone.
Stepping into the bailey, my attention shifted from the gargoyles to the large snowflakes lazily falling from the sky. They sizzled when they hit the fires from the torches and melted when they hit the ground.
As they spiraled downward, they reflected the light of the torches. I smiled as I held out a hand to catch a flake. I could create snow too, but it was still beautiful as it fell from the sky on this hot August night.
The snowflakes, carpet, and torches created a colorful wonderland up the stairs to the open double doors of the earl’s home. We passed a three-piece band playing their instruments on a small stage halfway across the bailey.
I’d never been to Oakley Estate before, but my mother had attended other parties here and had told me it was a beautiful place. I wasn’t sure what to expect as we stepped through the double doors and into the giant stone structure.
Two more gargoyles, perched above the doors, watched over all who entered, but I was sure the eyes I felt on me were just those of the servants behind us. A row of servants bowed as we walked past them.
They spoke about a magical night no one would forget, but their smiles didn’t reach their eyes. Most seemed as devoid of life as the stone gargoyles.
However, they did speak the truth as I was sure I would never forget this night, and not because it would be an extravagant,memorable affair. It was because I was about to be in a room with monsters who were intent on destroying me.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ellery
Amsirah whispered excitedlyto each other as we were all pressed closer. It took all I had not to shrink in on myself and cringe away from them, but every accidental brush of their arm or clothes against me made my skin crawl.
My pace picked up a little as I followed the crowd toward the open doors of the ballroom. Hopefully, there would be more room in there, away from the confines of this hallway with all its elaborate tapestries, servants with fake smiles, torches, and immortals.
Standing inside the ballroom doors was a line of servants with drinks and canapés for all who entered. I claimed a glass of sparkling champagne and thanked the man holding the tray. He didn’t acknowledge me.
I’d promised Scarlet I’d have a drink for her, but this could be my only one. I wanted to chug the bottle of champagne, yet getting a little tipsy here would be anextremelybad idea.
I tried not to gawk at the crush of amsirah already inside the ballroom. I immediately wished I had ten bottles of champagne to get through this night.
The din of voices within the room was a loud, incessant buzz in my ear. The excessive talk and loud laughter nearly drowned out the music from the dais on the far right of a room ten times the size of my manor.
The earl had gone out of his way to provide splendor and to turn this room into a haven for his guests. Dozens of servants weaved through the crowd.
Twinkling white lights encircled the wooden beams running from one end of the room to the other across the cathedral ceiling. Their glow almost made it look like pixies were floating across the ceiling, but pixies left Tempest years ago.
The lanterns hanging from hooks around the room created a warm glow, highlighting all the dancers. It was elegant and warm, and despite my apprehension, I felt some tension ease from my shoulders as I surveyed the room.
I smiled when I spotted Callan on the dais. His eyes were closed as he lovingly played his lute and swayed a little with the music.
I nudged my mother and lifted my glass in his direction. At one time, when we used to have the money and time, my mother opened a schoolhouse to teach the children from our manor and The Hollows. Callan was one of them.
