My mother, father, all my siblings, aunts, uncles… I was responsible for all of their deaths. Rhys was the closest thing I had to family now.
I was thankful at least that the Ancient was making me do this at night, rather than in the daytime when the streets would be teeming with witches. As it was, I already had to dodge a few couples who were out taking a stroll.
I walked through the residential area until I reached the foot of a hill. At the top of it was the abode of the ruler of The Sanctuary. The Ageless.
My breath hitched as I looked up at the white marble palace. As I climbed up the steps, my heart raced. My conscience screamed at me to stop and turn around. But I was too far gone for that now.
I reached the top of the hill and walked around the palace, studded with rubies that glinted beneath the moonlight.
I scanned the second floor until I spotted a balcony. I transported myself up there, and was relieved to see a balcony door had been left open, to let in the warm breeze no doubt.
I tried to quieten my breathing as I stepped into a circular bedroom. In the center was a gold-framed bed, where a beautiful woman with long silver hair lay asleep in the arms of a man, both bare except for the silk sheet covering them. I walked over to the end of their bed and cast a charm on them that would impair their hearing while I was searching for what the Ancient had sent me for.
I cast my eyes around the chamber. On spotting a row of cabinets in the corner, I began rummaging through them as fast as I could. I moved from room to room and by the eighth one, I was beginning to lose hope I’d ever find it in time.
But then I saw it, as I was rummaging through a small cupboard at the bottom of the staircase. Wrapped up in dark blood orange leather was a heap of maps, printed on old yellowing parchment. I curled up the leather binding and tucked it securely beneath my cloak.
Now for part two.
I climbed back up the staircase, approaching the Ageless’ bedroom cautiously. She and her lover were still asleep. I felt the hilt of the silver dagger in my belt. I withdrew it as I approached the bed.
Gripping the Ageless’ hair, I sliced through her neck.
She wasn’t even able to scream before her windpipe was severed. Blood stained the white sheets. The man woke up, but before he could move, I’d cut his throat too.
And then I ran.
I rushed to the balcony and jumped off. I sped down the hill and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, back to the graveyard.
Weaving between the tombstones, I arrived back at the stone where I was due to meet the Ancient. I looked up at the clock tower. I was early. I crouched down and tried to start moving the lid. It budged slightly and eventually I managed to pull it off. I decided that it was better to wait in hiding beneath the tombstone than out in the open after what I’d just done.
I lowered myself back into the liquid. And soon enough, a clammy hand reached out and gripped my ankle, pulling me back down into the darkness where I belonged.
Chapter 24: Kiev
I left Anna locked in the bathroom when I climbed up to Helina’s floor. I stopped outside her door and placed my ear against it. I didn’t detect any sounds coming from inside so I turned the door knob—unlocked as usual. Nobody in this castle seemed to be concerned about locking doors except me.
I crept along the hallway and headed straight for my sister’s bedroom. I glanced over at her dressing table, scanning it for some kind of perfume. There were several bottles. I grabbed the nearest one.
Then I raced back to the entrance. My stomach rose into my throat as I opened the front door to see Helina standing outside, about to push the door open.
Her eyes widened.
“Kiev. What are you doing?”
“I was looking for you,” I bluffed, slipping the bottle beneath my cloak.
“What for?”
“I wanted to check if rituals are resuming as usual tonight.”
“Yes, why wouldn’t they?”
“All right. That was all.” I turned and sped off in the opposite direction.
“Wait, I need to talk to you too,” she called after me, but I ignored her.
My heart hammering in my chest, I raced back toward my room and locked myself inside. I knocked on the bathroom door.
“Anna,” I whispered through the door. “I’m back.”
No answer.
“Anna?”
I knocked.
I heard a retching sound and then a weak voice. “Yeah… I’m here.”
“Open the door.”
The door opened slowly and Anna appeared, her face pale as she wiped vomit away from her mouth with a tissue.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I’m wondering if it’s something to do with the meal you gave me. Either you poisoned it, or my stomach has forgotten how to digest proper food.”