AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Had the Order of Souls found her? Did they leave the ring to warn me that they had her?
The horrific thought snapped me back to reality, and I rushed toward the vanity to snatch up Mirielle’s hairbrush, thrusting it at Endora. “Do the spell. Now!”
Visibly uncomfortable, Endora accepted the toiletry from me, plucking long, auburn strands from the bristles to collect in her hands. I paced in front of her as she worked, silently willing her to move faster.
“Come on, Endora!” I barked, unable to take anymore. “How much longer are you going to be?”
“Rushing me isn’t going to make this happen any quicker,” she replied sharply. “Sit down, Zen, and let me do this.”
Gnawing on the insides of my cheeks, I stared at her, wringing my hands.
Slowly, she rubbed the collection of Mirielle’s red hairs against the flats of her palms, lids dropping, mouth forming silent words. My neck stiffened so tightly, I was sure it was going to snap.
Come on! Come on, give me something—
The enchantress’ eyes opened, and she gawked at me, upset painting her entire aging face.
“Well?” I demanded. “Did you find her?”
“Zen…” She inhaled. “Sit down.”
“No!” I growled. “Did you find her or not?”
Endora nodded weakly, finally breaking our gazes. “Yes.”
“Where the hell is she, Endora? I don’t have time for stupid games!”
“Zen, please just sit—”
I rushed toward her, my movements startling her back. “Endora!”
“I know where she is, Zen,” she breathed shakily, her expression unlike I’d ever seen the quirky, confident enchantress before. “But you’re not going to like what I have to say.”
“Just say it!”
Drawing in another breath, she finally blurted it out. “She’s with Agnan, Zen. She’s with the Order of Souls.”
Chapter2
Mirielle
Icouldn’t catch my breath, no matter how many hours passed. My heart continued to beat furiously in my chest with such consistency, I was sure I was going to have a heart attack right there on the twin bed where I couldn’t sleep.
Is this where it ends?I thought, running my fingers over the patchwork of the old quilt, the frayed edges playing under my fingertips.Here where it started?
But that wasn’t true, either. It hadn’t started here, in this house that Agnan ran with its rotting floors and moldy walls. This wasn’t even the original house. It was one of many he had shifted us through over the years, all of them more or less blending together in their decay and disrepair.
But this building I knew. I recognized the ugly water stain over the bed on which I’d been sitting since I’d returned with Agnan. Over the years, the stain had grown perceivably larger, each rainfall and snowstorm adding to the ominous splotch that spread like a yellowing spiderweb atop me. I’d seen lots of stains like this one, a product of poor plumbing, something I didn’t understand as a child. When I was younger, it had terrified me, making me believe that some otherworldly beast would climb from the spot on the ceiling and drag me into the underworld while I slept.
Agnan used to tell us stories like that,I remembered. What better way to keep his flock of orphans in line but to scare the hell out of us?
But I knew better now. I was well aware that the evil beasts lived and walked among us.
The ancient house creaked and groaned, some of the others coughing and sputtering in their sleep as the night wore on. I couldn’t be sure, but I would have bet money that Agnan himself was holding guard outside in the hallway in case I had a change of heart and returned to Silverhold Tower to be with Zen. I didn’t dare peek outside and look, lest I invite conversation—or worse.
But he hadn’t forced me to come. Agnan had simply laid out the simple truths, unblocking my memories, memories he had erased in the first place, to remind me of who I was—and what I had done. Zen would never take me back now, knowing who I really was. I could never go back to him.
He must be so hurt, so confused. And my heart broke whenever a thought about him crossed my mind, which was constantly. I loved him. I really loved him. But I could never be good enough for him—not after what I’d done.
