A Shade of Kiev 2(42)

I had been ignoring her each night since she got here, but that night—the first night that she was doing everything she could to avoid my gaze—I barely took my eyes off of her. I watched her every movement. Her every flicker of expression. As if deciphering her body language would give me an insight into her mind.

It was then, as I examined her beautiful face, that it all came crashing down on me.

I realized exactly why I’d used Tiarni against her. And I realized why I’d been hit with such heavy disappointment.

Hooking up with the redhead hadn’t been just to make the witch feel the pain I’d felt. It wasn’t just to taste revenge by meting out punishment on her. No. It was far more than that. Deep down, I’d been thinking that if I made her jealous enough, she’d return to me.

Now I knew that could never happen. If she had told me the truth, her hands were tied.

In a passing moment, I entertained the idea of still pursuing her. I wasn’t scared of Rhys. But I knew that my brother and sister were. I also knew that if he ever found out about our relationship, everything my siblings had sacrificed to keep peace and safety on this island would be compromised. Their own brother—a Novalic—would be caught having relations with the cult leader’s woman.

It would cause irreparable damage.

Even I could see that.

If only for my siblings’ sake, I ought to stay away from her now.

Still, as I lay in bed later that night after the ritual was over, I couldn’t take my mind off her. She’d been in my thoughts before I drifted off to sleep each night since she’d arrived on the island, but that night was particularly vivid. Memories of our time together on Matteo’s island flooded my mind.

Memories of that impossible, endearing witch.

I was still awake in the early hours of the morning when I heard a knock on my door.

“Kiev?”

The knocking grew louder. I ignored it.

“Kiev, it’s me. Tiarni.”

I lay deathly still.

“Do you not want to see me tonight?”

She knocked a few more times but eventually saw the futility of it. I listened as her footsteps disappeared down the corridor.





Chapter 27: Kiev





After a sleepless night, I found myself sitting in my sister’s room. She sat on her bed while she manicured her nails. I’d already passed through an hour of small talk so that it wouldn’t seem like I’d come specifically to ask about this.

“All these humans we have in the dungeon. We use them for food, as well as the rituals. All of them are kept in that basement, correct?”

Helina nodded. “Normally the witches take a human out of there to prepare them before the ritual, but otherwise the supply is always in the dungeon.”

“I see,” I said. “I wonder where the humans come from?”

“You’ve asked me that question before. The witches bring them to us.”

“Yes, I know. But where do they come from? I’m just curious how the witches get hold of all these humans.”

Helina’s eyes darkened and she shook her head.

“I couldn’t tell you that, Kiev. I have no idea.”

“You’ve really never thought to ask?”

“Yes, we have. Erik and I have questioned the three sisters before. But they claim not to know. They say that only Isolde, Rhys and Efren know where the humans come from. The three of them disappear for a day together, every now and then, to top up the supply. My guess is that they steal from the ogres.”

“Hm… interesting. Where do you think they store all those humans, once they’ve stolen them? I mean before they’ve brought them here.”

She narrowed her eyes on me.

“You seem awfully interested in logistics, Kiev.”

“I’m just curious.” I shrugged. “Because it must be quite a task to keep procuring more, both for the rituals and for our consumption.”

“Yes, I suppose it is,” she said, relaxing a little. “I guess they must keep them somewhere on their own island before bringing them here.”

“Interesting.”

After that, I shifted the conversation elsewhere. I stayed for about half an hour longer chatting with her, and just before I left, I asked, “Any idea where Erik and Julisse are?”

“They’re in the cave, tidying up from last night’s ritual.”

Perfect.

I left my sister’s quarters and walked a few feet across the corridor to my brother’s. The door was unlocked, which wasn’t a surprise to me. People didn’t seem to feel the need to lock doors around this castle. I pushed it open and stepped inside.

I’d already scanned my sister’s rooms for a bottle of liquor I could take with me, but it appeared that she wasn’t fond of drinking. I’d noticed, however, that my brother had a sizable stock and likely wouldn’t notice if a bottle went missing.