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“You still have not explained wherehereis exactly.”
Marius continued his walk forward, leaving me in his wake. “You will soon see.”
The destination waited beyond the door at the far end of the darkened corridor. It was closed, like all the others we passed. Marius handed the chamberstick to me as he fussed with a key he had fished from the breast pocket of his jacket. For such dramatic mystery, Marius took his sweet time unlocking it.
He pushed the door open and I was bathed in light. I raised a hand to block out the sudden flare of orange and gold, almost catching my hair alight from the candle I still gripped onto.
Then a warmth washed over me. Its welcoming embrace relaxing both my limbs and mind.
Marius kept the door open as he invited me to enter. “After you.”
I did not hesitate to enter a moment longer. Before me was a vision of excellence. Towering shelves of dark mahogany, each filled completely with books of different sizes and bindings. Twin roaring fires sat at either end of the long, yet narrow room. Before the largest fire sat a plump chair. Gold clawed feet held up the velvet upholstery. I could only imagine sitting upon its plush cushioning would have felt like dwelling on a warm cloud.
“What is this place?”
I inhaled, breathing in the scent of sandalwood and ink. On a large desk sat open glass bottles of black liquid that I could only guess was the origin of the smell.
Writing ink. And a desk covered in loose, empty pages.
“A kitchen.”
I paused, turning to Marius who chuckled into the crook of his arm. “This is my study. A haven for me of sorts. This room was my sanctuary long before I was cursed to never leave it. I thought you would like to see it. Take it as yet another apology for my… rude disappearance last night.”
Walking towards the shelves, I noticed the thick layering of dust across them. Looking back to the desk, I could see where the papers had not been moved for a time as they too were framed with dust. This room had not been used in a long while. All but the newly lit fires had changed. Even they still had the remnants of cobwebs across the piles of untouched brickwork.
“Could you not have dusted before you brought me here?” I held a finger to my nose to fight the sneeze.
Marius looked away for a brief moment. “It was a spur of the moment decision.”
“Yet you had the time to light two fires?” I pushed.
“I did not light them,” Marius said coldly, closing us in the room. “Besides the obvious need for a—” he ran his finger across the untouched desk “—clean, what do you think?”
“Well I’m not much of a reader, but I must say I’m impressed,” I replied, neck aching as I swung my gaze around the room.
“That is the first thing you have said that truly makes me ready to end you.”
Silence thickened between us.
“I am only joking,” Marius said, rubbing the back of his neck.
I forced a laugh. “Messy and inappropriate. What two charming qualities you have.”
Marius flashed a grin, one that did not reach his ruby eyes. He pulled a plain, oak carved chair from beneath the desk and sat down upon it. From his seat he studied me, as I continued to examine the room.
“It has been so long that it seems the chair has forgotten my shape.” Marius wiggled in the seat.
“Is there a reason?” I scanned the tomes before me, drifting a careful finger across the leathered spines. Some had ridges, others were smooth. What I had told him was true, I was not much of a reader. Besides studying the coven’s many grimoires, Mother did not let me read works of fiction.Stories distract the mind, and I need yours to be as sharp as a knife. As clear as glass.
“There are memories in this room that I had long wanted to keep behind a locked door.”
“What has changed now?”
I kept my back to him so he could not see me grin when he responded. “I am alone most of the year. Forgive me for wanting company when I can get it.”
“Except you are not alone,” I said, pulling a book from the shelf. Holding it in both hands, I opened it carefully, worried the ancient pages would simply crumble beneath my touch. “You do not light fires. Nor do you prepare the food that is presented so wonderfully every day. You say no one else lives inside this castle but…” I turned to him, looking up from the book to where he sat. “I do not believe you.”
“Kristia,” Marius said.
