My excitement at going home is growing, and when I return to the castle, I'm ready. There's a knock at my bedroom door, and I open it expecting Fen, but instead it's a man I do not recognize. He's handsome, with a sculpted face, dark hair that's a bit wayward, though short enough not to be too messy, and a dark shadow of hair on his jawline.
He bows. "It's an honor to officially meet you." A giant watch-like contraption wraps around his wrist. Sturdy bags and tools hang from his belt.
"You're Ace," I say.
He smiles. "How did you—"
"I was told you're quite the inventor."
"Ah, yes." He checks his watch gizmo. "I've come to fetch you. Well, actually, I came to fetch Fen, but he insists he cannot leave without you. Apparently, last night raised his hackles. Let me assure you, I voted against the whole debacle."
"Having someone under your protection physically assaulted and sexually violated does annoy some," I say coldly.
Ace laughs. "You are as saucy as Asher said." He holds up his hands in surrender. "I'm no threat to you, Arianna. I'm here to help. Fen is finishing up something, and he asked me to look after you until we can leave."
"Where are we going?" I close the door behind me and walk with Ace down the winding staircase to the parlor. A fireplace blazes in the center, and we each take seats in front. Julian brings us both wine and a platter of cheese, bread and fruit.
Ace takes a bite of strawberry, then licks his fingers. "We are going to High Castle to dig up my father's remains."
"So the Council agreed then?" I ask, sipping at the sweet wine.
Ace smirks. "Nope, that's why it's just me and Fen. And you, apparently," he says as an afterthought. "The High Council can't know. But even Zeb agrees we must determine what killed King Lucian, for it was not the poison."
"Do you have any suspects?" I ask.
"Levi certainly hasn't done himself any favors. But we have no proof of anything yet," he says.
"Fen was going to take me home tonight," I say. "It was part of my contract, that I could go home once a month to check on my mother and friends."
Ace leans back in his chair and pops a grape in his mouth. "That will have to wait. Sorry about that. And I do feel your pain. Your world is extraordinary. I used to go there often. Not just for feeding, but to surround myself with such wonderful inventions."
"You don't go anymore?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "It's too painful."
"The sun?"
"No, the promise of things that cannot be." He looks at me, a bittersweet expression on his handsome face. "Has Fen told you much about our curse?"
"He doesn't like talking about it," I say. "I know only that you are each cursed with what we would call one of the seven deadly sins. That you are powerful and immortal, but also mortally wounded by my sun. You're vampires."
He nods. "There's more though. Have you noticed how we seem to live in a medieval time trap?"
"Really?" I ask sarcastically.
"And perhaps you also noticed that some of my brothers seem... eternally stuck in adolescent angst and lack maturity?"
I laugh darkly. "I've wondered. With so much time, so much life, how could any of you stay stuck in your miserable patterns?"
"It's part of the curse," he says. "Perhaps the worst part. We are stuck in time, trapped in all ways. We can't really grow, learn or mature past the points we are now. When I'm in your world, I can comprehend the technological innovations that led to such greatness. I know how I could replicate that here, and bring us into a new age. But the moment I step through the mirror, that knowledge disappears like mist in the sun. I grasp at it, remembering the promise of it, but I can never hold on to the details long enough to do anything about it. My inventions are crude attempts to capture even a phantom replica of what I once knew. I was driving myself mad each time I went to your world, so I stopped going."
"Has it helped? To stay here?"
"Some," he says, staring at the fire. "Some. But those dream-like memories are still there, taunting me. It is better to not know something than to know it but not remember."
Fen walks in with Baron, and we both stand.
"Has Ace explained what's to happen tonight?"
I nod. "We're digging up your father."
"Ace and I are digging. You are watching and staying close to me," Fen says. "I'm sorry about your trip home. We'll go soon, I promise."
I nod and walk with them to the boat. The nights are getting colder, and I hug my cloak around my body and watch my breath turn white as I exhale. At least it will be warmer near High Castle.