CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Calista
When the bell tolled four, I made my way back to the castle. Even though I dreaded the formalities of the coming dinner with Astaroth, my stomach screamed for nourishment after going without for days. I couldn’t wait to eat the pizza Ziggy promised me when I went down for my late breakfast. He declared it would be the best pizza I’d ever had. While in my toxin-induced coma, he had prepared pizza every night, trying new toppings to wow me as he said he would. I prayed none of them got me high.
Since I had no issues leaving the grounds, I wasn’t worried about returning. The guards in the sentry tower chattered away about something, not paying any attention. Why Astaroth had guards was another question to add to my ever-growing list. All of the goblins seemed to either revere or fear him, and even ifthey didn’t, they weren’t strong enough to overcome him. There wasn’t one of them that could do magic that I’d encountered in the past and present.
I waltzed across the bridge with the toy I found tucked in my back pocket and covered by my shirt. I couldn’t leave it abandoned in the trash. Something about it spoke to me on a deeper level, and I felt responsible to give it new life. The empty bookshelf in my room would be the perfect spot for it, right next to the music box. A smile pulled at my lips, but it quickly vanished when two goblins jumped out in front of me, spears drawn.
I jumped back and subconsciously grabbed for the pendant that wasn’t there.
They eased and looked behind me. “Where is your guard, mistress?” the one with bushy eyebrows asked.
“She is busy.” Doing only God knew what. Probably out murdering things.
“Sire will not be happy.” The other one tisked. It whistled through the large gap in his teeth.
I rolled my eyes. “Sireneed not know.”
“His Highness commands it.” Bushy tapped the butt of his spear on the ground.
“I command you to keep your mouth shut, or we’ll all be in trouble.”
They looked at each other and shrugged, then parted to let me through. I passed them, chin held high, surprised that it worked. I added “sire” to my list of questions as I went inside the castle. I didn’t make it far.
“Where have you been?”
I sighed and turned on my toes. Jessandra crossed her arms and waited for me to answer.
“Walking the grounds.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Lie.”
“It is not!”
“Another lie.”
“I went to see Bobbins.”
Her brows shot up. “After what happened, you went back to the very spot you almost died.Alone.”
“Yeah,” I drew out. “When you say it like that it sounds—”
“Dimwitted. And irresponsible.” She looked at my chest. “Where is your necklace?”
“In a safe place.”
“The only safe place is with—”
“Astaroth,” I seethed. “Don’t remind me.”
“With you.” Jessandra dropped her arms as if they were too heavy to hold. “The importance of that stone… it must remain in your care at all times.”
“God forbid a goblin be granted a wish from the almighty genie. You’d think he’d enjoy it. It would be another debt owed to him, and he loves those.”
Her jaw ticked. “We all owe him a debt.”
“Of course you do.” I turned and walked down the hall.
