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I played with the heart on my necklace as we left the basement. When he opened the front door of the mansion, the cold, crisp air hit my lungs, forcing me to cough. The moon was high in the sky, and time ticked by slowly as we walked to the drive. Edmund looked up at the starry night and cast his bespectacled stare toward me. I glanced at my watch, a gift from him for my twentieth birthday a few months back. It was black and matched my long, painted nails. On them, tiny specks of white shone out. They were meant to be stars, but I wasn’t great at doing my own nails.
It was our job to retrieve the Serpent’s Ring, a dark object used to deactivate the spelled arches that nestled between the only passable part of the mountains separating Istinia and Salvius. I had almost forgotten about us needing to retrieve it from Frederick. I’d have slept in that morning if I’d remembered I’d have to be up this late.
“It’s going to be one soon.”
“He shouldn’t be much longer,” Edmund replied. “He’ll be here. I know you’re tired, but this is what comes with being a keeper, so think of this as practice for the future.”
“Why has he gone?” I asked, drumming my fingers against the side of my leg. My pants were dark blue, contrasting my white top, and four of my fingers were lined with rings. All of them protected my physical body from the magic of the objects I worked with daily. My particular magic protected my mind. “Do you think they found a dark object? I mean, it’s been two years since they’ve brought one in.”
“I’m not sure.” He gazed up at the moon. “Our job is to retrieve the Serpent’s Ring, not to know the latest news. That’s Alma’s and the other elders’ concern.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “I bet one of the humans found a cursed hair comb or something.”
Edmund attempted to contain his smirk. “Why a hair comb?”
I shrugged. “It’s always something ordinary. They find one in an attic somewhere in an old house or locked away, and because it looks normal, they use it. Then they die, get sick, or end up possessed or something. It’s been the case with the last three.”
“Want to bet?”
I couldn’t help but smile. Although he tried to be serious most of the time, occasionally I brought out a hint of mischief and fun.
“One skal.”
He arched a tangled, dark-brown eyebrow. “Only one?”
“Two.” I glared. “Two skal.”
“On a hair comb?” He shrugged. “It’s your coin.”
I knew it was unlikely, but I got bored, and I enjoyed a good bet, even on the most improbable of scenarios. It passed the time.
Looking out over the cast-iron fences and tall black gates, I sighed. My feet were aching from standing in the same spot. I placed my hands behind my back and clasped my fingers together, then paced in a circle. The long path stretched down into tall hedges, then blackness. Behind the gates, two gargoyle statues stood on either side of the double, red-glossed doors of the large mansion.
“I bet Dora’s having a panic about now.” I chuckled, looking up at the top window to Dora’s room, where an oil lamp flickered against the darkness. “She’ll scold Frederick for being late. I’ll bet you on that.”
“No need to bet. I know for certain she will.” His eyes sparkled, and a glimpse of a smile danced on his lips. “If she comes downstairs.”
“Here he is.” I stepped forward. “Finally.”
The matte-black carriage with frilled deep-purple curtains on the windows, pulled by two stallions with red eyes, rode through the open gates, which magically closed behind him. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I waited for it to ground to a halt.
“Take your time,” I said jokingly through the closed curtain. “What happened, Frederick? Hit a bump in the road?”
Stepping out, Frederick shook his jacket, and some dirt rolled off. “Something like that.” He glanced behind him, then turned his attention back to me. “It’s in ‘ere somewhere,” he said, fumbling through his pockets. “Aye.” He pulled it out. The ring was silver and thick, with a serpent coiled on top of it. On its head, two ruby eyes glistened under the moonlight. “It’s been a long night. Ya don’t mind if I head off?”
“Go, Frederick. We could use some sleep ourselves,” Edmund said as he stepped up behind me.
I peered around Frederick. Shock rooted me to the spot when a second set of eyes found mine from within the darkness. The person’s pupils were big in the low light, circled with blue rings and a blackness so deep it shivered my soul. His lips curled into an amused grin.
“Who are you?” I questioned.
“Hello, doll.” He looked me up and down. “I’m Viktor.”
I glanced at Fredrick, then back at Viktor. “Are you from the north?”
Frederick must have picked the man up on the way back from Salvius, unless he was?—
“In a way.”
