As I enter the supply door of Chastain Castle, theBlack Booksecurely back in my backpack, I run straight into Oscar.
He’s watching me with a pointed gaze, his back ramrod straight and his lips tilted into a frown.
“Good evening,” I say, moving to slide past him.
Oscar sidesteps, blocking my exit.
“Mister Julian,” he says harshly. “Can I speak with you?”
The book on my back suddenly feels one-hundred times heavier, but I nod, playing innocent.
“Sure. What can I do for you?” I ask.
“I just wanted to remind you of our house rules.”
“Oh! I haven’t brought anyone inside without permission or gone anywhere I shouldn’t,” I quickly supply, though I imagine the altar room would definitely be classified assomewhere I shouldn’tif Oscar were to learn of it.
Or… maybe hedoesknow of it.
“Yes,” Oscar agrees, though his tone says otherwise. “But you should also remember to mind your own. Putting your nose in the business of others will only end in your own suffering. Do you understand me?”
“Are… are you threatening me?” I question, my tone telling me just how insane I believe him to be.
I get that the old man is taller than I am and definitely in good shape, but he’s still just that—an old man. Where does he get off threatening me?!
But Oscar just smiles. “Of course not. Just a friendly warning.”
Then he turns and leaves the room, where I’m left to stand in shock.
He wasdefinitelythreatening me.
In a rush, I escape to my room. Sitting on my bed, I pull out theBlack Bookand flip open to the page I marked with a stray scrap of paper.
A sacrifice is to be made, altar?, it will save Elizabeth.
It all makes sense. Everything Madam Lu said fits the scribbles on the page and the description of the incubus.
But how does that connect with the cure? Whatstipulationswas this Serenity talking about? If Madam Lu hadn't looked so frazzled, I would have pressed her more, demanded she try again.
Now, I’m forced to figure this out alone.
The moon is out, sitting high in the sky and mocking me as it shines through the window.
A part of me wants to run up to Hall W4, to the door of the west tower, and up those stairs. To barge in and see exactly what might be happening in that room.
But a larger part of me is petrified of what I’d find; of what it’d do to me.
So, instead, I’ll sit right here on my bed, figuring out how to rid Atlas of it.
I just hope it continues to stay unaware of my efforts.
Julian
23
WITH IT BEING EARLYmorning on a Sunday, I thought for sure I’d run into literallyanyoneon my way to the altar room, but I don’t. There is not a single soul to be seen as I slip behind the red banner and down the steep steps.
I bring theBlack Bookto the altar and begin to study this same spell over and over again, trying to findanythingI could have missed.
