Ruby
I was so glad that we were back in Hellswan castle. I might have hated the gray, oppressive stone walls, and the constant lurking of muttering and secretive ministers, and even the fact that the sky was always the same gray as the stone, but it was what I’d reluctantly come to regard as ‘home’ in Nevertide. I felt almost safe here—safer than I did in Queen Trina’s kingdom at least.
Yelena and Jenney had been clearing up after the kids, who had all fallen asleep in random spots in the living room—some lying on sofas, others on the carpet with only a cushion, the luckier ones were lying three or four to a bed.
Benedict’s and Julian’s beds were the only ones that remained empty. I suspected the rest of the kids avoided sleeping in them out of respect…but it might have been fear – as if their bad luck was contagious somehow.
It was dark outside. I should have been getting some rest but sleep just wouldn’t come. We still had a bit of time before Benedict was expected to come stone-hunting. I dreaded seeing him under the control of the entity. I had heard what had happened to Yelena, and putting two and two together, I figured that Benedict had drained me too on the night before the disk trial. I didn’t mention it to anyone—what would be the point? It just made my blood run cold to know that Benedict was capable of such destruction and power.
Ash came in through the servant’s entrance and slammed the door shut behind him.
“Are you okay?” I asked, noticing the scowl and tense shoulders. Jenney gave him a wide berth.
“Just been to see if I can get my job back,” he muttered.
I looked at Jenney. Apparently, it wasn’t good news.
“Why?” I asked, my question genuine. After the trials, Ash hadn’t expected to return to kitchen service.
“I don’t really have much choice. The ministers here definitely won’t hire me now, since I’ve worked for Trina, and it’s not like I can go back there again.” He shrugged. “Maybe something will come up—but for now, it’s best that I stay in the castle.”
I hadn’t thought about what might happen to Ash if he set Julian and I free from Queen Trina’s dungeons. I thought the only reason he was staying in Hellswan was to protect me and Jenney.
“Ash, I’m so sorry—I didn’t think—”
“It’s fine—really. None of this is your fault, Shortie. Trust me when I say I’m happy not to be employed by a psychopath.”
“I’m glad to have you back, Ash,” Jenney chimed in. “It won’t be like this forever.”
“I know.” He smiled, looking at me with warm eyes.
My stomach fluttered a bit, giving me goosebumps. It looked like Ash and I might be back on for the whole return-to-Earth plan, which suited me just fine. Repressing the thrill that ran through me at the thought of Ash arriving in The Shade, I smiled back.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. It wasn’t like we were any closer to getting out of here. And I hadn’t even told Ash about The Shade or GASP.
“Well, it would be nice if the food around here improved,” I teased.
“Don’t push your luck, Shor—” Ash broke off, jerking his head in confusion.
What?
I meant to say the words as I thought them, but no sound came out. I tried again. Nothing.
What’s going on?
Jenney and Ash simultaneously tried to talk. It would have been funny, if it wasn’t for the freaky circumstances. I sighed, realizing what it was. I marched over to an old desk and pulled out a sheet of dusty parchment. Grabbing a piece of lead, I started to scrawl on the page:
‘The pestilence of silence. I think it’s one of the weird apocalyptic signs.’
I showed it to Ash and Jenney, and their shoulders sank. Yeah. This really wasn’t ideal. Ash scratched his head, back to being irritated.
Then a thought occurred to me. This was supposed to be the last sign. We’d had the red rains and the fire of ice that had been promised in the books that Hazel and Tejus had found. What did reaching the last sign mean? Was the entity at full strength?
‘The final one!’ I scribbled down on the page, showing it to Ash. He nodded grimly. Oh. He’d already worked that out.
Guards burst through the door, and the sudden noise made us all jump. They looked at us, confused and bewildered. I shrugged at them. There was nothing any of us could do—we’d just have to wait this one out like all the others.
One of the guards stepped forward, holding out his hand in a ‘stop’ sign. He gestured to the rest of his men, pointing at the door.
I guess we stay here then.
I looked at Ash and he nodded, glancing toward the servants’ entrance, undetected by the guards.