Page 56 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

“Something happened though.” Alex seemed incapable of taking his gaze off me. His beautiful silver-grey eyes were filled with sorrow. “A human needs three bites and a blood exchange to be turned. Instead, she needed one bite and some of my blood. After that, energy came off her, and it was so strong the ground cracked. Then darkness fell, and the fog rose. I lost sight of her and ran here when the fog started to descend towards the mansion. What is happening?”

“Without my magic, I can’t consult my book.” Darius stopped pacing when dark smoky tendrils emerged from the fog.

They slid through the space between the window frame and the sill, growing in size as they came in. Letting out a low hiss, they twisted along the corridor.

They were like giant snakes, writhing and climbing over the walls and the ceiling, twisting around the curtains, slithering along the floor.

“What are those things?” I put a hand to my throat, having trouble breathing.

“We need to leave.” Alex stood in front of us, shoving the snakes away.

We half walked, half ran down the corridor.

When swatted, the snakes dissolved and reformed a moment later, but the more they reappeared, the more solid they were.

I followed Alex, and Darius brought up the rear, still muttering about not knowing things. Wilis, footmen, and maids flooded the entrance hall. Their voices and the stomping of their feet echoed off the ceiling. The moment they saw Alex, a shower of blessed water poured over us. Symbols dangled from every hand, and screams ricocheted off the ceiling.

“Stop! I’m normal!” Alex waved his arms. “Everyone calm down. I’m normal.”

“It’s true,” I said, wiping water from my face.

Mutters spread.

“How can this be normal?” Fiona recoiled at the fog slithering from every gap it could find.

The narrow slit between the front door and the floor or the wall was pouring out fog.

The dark tendrils coiled around my ankles, their touch slimy and icy. I screamed, kicking my legs.

Alex shoved them away, but they returned. My skin prickled as the snakes gained strength. Their grip was harder, and spikes grew on their spines.

“Did the wizard do this?” Fiona slapped a snake aiming at her. “Is this a joke?”

“It wasn’t me, and it’s not a joke.” Darius flapped his hands around. “It was Carabosse.”

A hush fell after the mention of the witch.

“Leave the mansion,” Alex shouted over the din. “Everyone.”

People made a dash for the front door or tried to. The snakes became more solid and coiled around us, blocking our movements. It was like walking through snow as tall as I was, shoving my way forwards.

Spikes stung my legs, and panic seized me. I couldn’t scream, so scared I was.

“Stay calm.” Alex kicked the snakes away from me. “Follow me.”

Fog filled the front yard as well. The snakes had more freedom here and twined around the hedges, trees, and flowerbeds, seemingly devouring the world.

Darius took my hand as we crossed the garden. “Are you all right?”

“Y-yes.” I shivered.

Alex cast a sad glance at our entwined hands, and his sorrow flowed through the bond.

The air cleared when we were at the gate where only a thin mist lingered. The fog blocked the view of Raven Hall, but the dark tendrils going in and out of it were visible.

“This is a disaster.” Darius ran a hand over his face. “If the Fair Duchess learns about this, she’s going to rule us all.”

“That’s the least of our problems,” I said.