by B B Reed
The loud creaking behind the slow advance of the light was telling of Dorian’s enormous body approaching with a candlestick lighting his path. The shadow of his grizzly face flickered across the wall, confirming her worries, and Halena quickly crossed into the hall to hurry back to her room. She slipped into bed, throwing the bedsheets over herself and listened to the bones of Ravenwood mansion. The soft thumps of the giant man’s feet descending the stairs were short, and the boards creaked under his great weight. She waited with shallow breaths, the sliver of candlelight reflecting against the glass of her lamp across the room. Her eyes clenched shut, anticipating a knock at the door. The reflection of light faded and she heaved a sigh.
She remained in her bed and attempted to get what sleep she could for the remainder of the night. The deep, restful sleep she expected did not come, her hyper-sensitive nerves jerking her awake to listen for any and all disturbances. Morning’s light steadily filled the room as the hours neared dawn, and the gleam of the early sunrise and chattering of birds dashed away what remained of Halena’s will to sleep. The staff brought life to the mansion’s halls with the day’s awakening. Still reeling over her nightly romp, the witch kept quiet, opting to remain in her room much to the chagrin of the maids. She dressed and made fresh notes from the masquerade party.
An afternoon of peace to lay out her findings and suspicions was granted, though her mind could not focus. The witch shrugged it off, intent on compiling her information while she could without interruption. Dark circles under her eyes only worsened as the day dragged on, her lack of sleep making her work difficult. Elspeth’s words insisted on pestering her the more she reviewed the woman’s behavior in the clinic. Was she right, that Jeanne was only using her and Inka for her own gains? Her mind ran in circles over this quandary, smaller side-notes scribbled in the margins of her paper. The door rattled with heavy knocking, forcing Halena to shelf her thoughts. She got up to answer. The buttons on the breast of Dorian’s suit greeted her, and she slowly looked up to the giant man’s bearded face.
“Lady Ravenwood requires a word with you upstairs, Miss Maris.” He stated flatly, his thick hands clasped together in front of himself.
“Okay.”
She followed in Dorian’s shadow down the hall. They crossed into the foyer and stepped up the left staircase, the upper level retaining the estate’s style of restrained tasteful elegance. Passing in front of a painting of the warm, rolling countryside, Dorian led Halena to one of many doors lining the hallway, pushing it open and inviting his charge inside with a gentle motion of his large hand. The witch took tepid steps into the room, the illusion of its small interior fading as it stretched deep into the mansion’s structure. An enormous bed sat at the back on a raised landing, an elaborately carved armoire sitting along the wall, and a small sitting area with a tiny mantle and fireplace was arranged to her left. As she walked deeper into the master bedroom, yet more of the great space was revealed as Halena saw the wall-to-wall arrangement of bookcases in a study nook. Lady Jeanne sat in the chair, wrapped in her casual silken robe, and scribbled something on a blank piece of paper. Her hair was unmade, draped around her shoulders and down her back. The witch finally spoke, breaking the silence, “You wanted to speak with me… my lady.”
The noblewoman’s brown eyes darted up from the paper when Halena came into view, and she sat up from her writing, “Indeed,” She gestured to a chair, “Have a seat.”
Halena sunk into the chair in front of Jeanne’s desk, eyes lowered. Lady Ravenwood leaned back in her seat, giving her retainer a quick once-over, “What happened to you? We were scared to death.”
They sat together in silence as Halena pondered, hands folded in her lap, “I’m not entirely sure. One moment I was listening to the queen, the room started to spin, and then I’m waking up in Elspeth’s clinic. It all runs together.”
Jeanne studied the witch, noting her tired and unraveled state, then continued, “It’s not often that Daniella talks to someone, you know. Hell, most of the time she looks like she barely has the energy to stay lucid. Did she ask you to speak, or did you just wander up there?”
Her head shook, “No, I was invited up by her. An attendant came to escort me. She didn’t make a lot of sense… Muttered about a hidden group, I think she called them Lazarin. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
Lady Ravenwood nodded along, eyes drawing down to her paper, “I’ve never heard of that before. Did she say anything about who or what the Lazarin are?”
Halena shrugged, “No. Whoever, or whatever that is… The people tied to it go unseen, slipping under the skin of the world. Very cryptic messages.”
Jeanne tilted her head, “Does it connect with anything you found while at the party? Are these messages justified or warranted?”
“There were so many people, and so much noise, I could glean very little. First, I thought Lord Calyrien may have been suspect, but he was clean… aside from his rude temperament and loud weapons. Then Elspeth and Lord Vaughn, they visited with Inka and I as anyone else would have, even if Lord Vaughn was a little… forward.” Halena explained, turning her hands up empty in her lap, chancing a look up from under her bangs to Lady Jeanne, “All I felt was this chill creep over the room as the party carried on, but I couldn’t determine from where.”
“I’ve watched Calyrien Moreaux for a long time, he’s just a dainty bastard with an eye for coin. Unfortunately, what you experienced from Lord Vaughn isn’t far off from the norm either. Caleb’s always been the hopelessly amorous type, regardless who he fools into wrapping their arms around him.” Jeanne glowered in disappointment, rapping her fingers on her desktop.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to find anything.”
Jeanne rose up from her chair, “Tell me more about this chill you felt.”
“I… I can’t put my finger on it. I felt I had been watched ever since the party started. Then, when I stood next to the queen, it worsened to the point that I passed out. I thought it was coming from Elle or Lord Vaughn. Something in the way he talked to Inka didn’t seem right. The way they watched us was… unsettling.” The witch struggled to explain, fingers curling into her dress.
Jeanne stroked her chin, “Perhaps your drink was fouled by someone, one of these Lazarin agents…” She reached for her cane and stepped around her desk, “…Or you’re not giving me the whole picture, dear.”
Halena’s eyes shot up from her lap, heart skipping with the sudden shift in tone, “Lady Ravenwood, what are you talking about? I tried to find evidence for you, and there’s very little to grasp and tie to Lady Doctus.”
“Is that the whole of what you experienced, Miss Maris, or is there something else you’re hiding from me?” Jeanne pressed on, keeping Halena in place with her gaze.
“You… You can’t be serious. My lady, that is all I was able to gather before I collapsed.” She insisted.
Lady Ravenwood let out a long, ragged sigh, “My dear, I’ve dealt with your kind before, and I can tell when a person is hiding something from me. Moments after you collapsed, I felt it in the air, something cold and dark, just as I had when you came back from the Resting Grounds, and again in the Spine. You often look like someone is hovering over your shoulder.”
The witch was speechless, hands trembling. The noble inclined her head at Halena, “The Raven Lords let you slip by, just barely, but I still determine when someone is compromised. Now tell me, what happened at the party that made you fail to perform your duty to House Ravenwood. Was it magicks cast by someone else, or is there something you haven’t told me?”
“I told you!” Halena’s voice cracked, “If you can’t trust my word, then will you put me to the stake like Lady Doctus? You’re looking for reasons to crusade, aren’t you? You can’t accept that someone wanted to go against the grain and open public eyes to magicks, is that it?”
“I don’t know where you heard such nonsense. My family has protected Arram for generations from monsters far worse than Lady
Doctus. If you cannot accept the terms of our duty, then I was mistaken to put my trust in you, Miss Maris!” Jeanne retorted with firmness, tapping the end of her cane into the floorboards to punctuate her response.
Halena shook her head, “No… They were right. It’s been a witch hunt all along. You just wanted to use me to carry out some quest of glory to maintain your withering influence. Are you holding Inka captive for the same reason, to make yourself out as some hero? You used fear to have Lady Doctus executed and thought no more of the loss so long as you ‘did your duty’ to the throne!”
Jeanne lifted her eyes, face stoic, “Begone from my sight. I’ll not be subjected to this pointless argument.”
Lady Ravenwood turned her back to Halena, the fumes of her frustration simmering between them. The witch’s fingers unclenched and her will to fight quickly evaporated with Jeanne’s response. She made for the door, stopping when she heard Jeanne’s voice, “Know this… I fought adamantly against the burning of Vae Victa Doctus. Nobody deserves such a cruel fate, regardless of the magicks they practice.”
Halena let out an indignant growl and clapped the door shut behind her as she marched down the stairs to her room, hands trembling. Anger and fear swirled inside of her chest, the plausibility of her shackled stay weighing on her shoulders. Her hand combed through her bangs and she leaned against the door, “How could she know? I’ve been so careful. Aunt Saris, why didn’t you teach me better?”
Monster!
The rasping voice chortled at her, and she shuddered, her traveler slithered over her abdomen, malicious chanting echoing about her.
Monster! Monster! Hahaha! Lady Jeanne caught herself a monster! Monster! Hahaha!
She gripped clumps of her hair, wilting under the malignant chants pounding against her skull.
“Shut up!”
The room went dead silent, her shoulders heaving and eyes clenched shut.
“Halena…”
The witch wheeled around to see Inka in the doorway, sapphire eyes wide. All trace of the traveler’s presence was gone and her face burned with a flush of shame. She backed away from Inka, keeping her eyes down.
“I heard shouting upstairs. What’s the matter?” The scholar stepped inside.
Halena swallowed a lump in her throat, “I-Inka… My findings from the ball—I’m worried about why Jeanne needs us. I-I don’t think I can trust her, she’s just using you an-and me.”
Inka let the door close behind her, slowly approaching the witch, “Easy, now. What did you find that has you so flustered? Why would you think Jeanne would do such a thing?”
She took Halena by the hand and guided her to sit on the foot of the bed. Halena’s hand trembled in Inka’s, “That’s the problem, I found very little. Jeanne’s suspects aren’t doing some sinister trickery behind everyone’s backs. You saw Elspeth and Lord Vaughn, they treated us so well. I can’t pin anything down to magick. The queen muttered some cryptic messages about the Lazarin and being unseen. Then…”
Her lips pressed together and she stared at Inka with pleading eyes. Inka ran her fingers over Halena’s shoulder in comfort, “What does this have to do with Lady Ravenwood?”
“Elspeth, she told me the real reason Jeanne put Vae Victa on trial. She’s on a witch hunt to keep her family’s influence in the Ministry and used fear to cow them into executing her.” Halena stuttered, lifting her violet eyes to Inka’s face and leaning in, “Can’t you see? She’s looking for scapegoats. If we aren’t any use to Jeanne, there’s no telling what she’ll do. We may go up on the stakes next if she desires!”
The witch’s eyes grew misty, and she squeezed Inka’s hand, “We can’t stay here, Inka.”
Inka folded her hand over Halena’s, “No… No, you have it wrong! Jeanne’s intentions are just. She would never frame someone for political gain within the Ministry. There’s no foul bone in her body that would make her do such awful things. Her and Elspeth, they’ve butt heads on magick ever since House Traille entered the Ministry. You’re being deceived.”
“No, Inka, you have to see. You know witches aren’t safe in Arram—they’ll burn us if it ever comes out! Jeanne’s manipulated you into believing her cause. You don’t think Vae Victa Doctus should have been spared for her research?”
Inka shook her head in solemn rejection, her eyes resting on the rug stretching out from their feet, “Perhaps burning her was extreme, but she had good reason to be tried.”
“Why, Inka? Why would you follow Jeanne so blindly?” Halena plead in horrified disbelief and tore herself away from Inka’s side.
Her hands folded in her lap, “My beginnings with the nobility of Arram started with House Astor, not House Ravenwood. Two years ago, traveling with my family in the Serl caravan, I was negotiating prices with the retainers of lower houses who sought to buy bulk from us, and we were visited in-person by one of their ministers. It was Vae Victa, and she discussed taking me on her staff shortly after seeing me work. It’s not often that someone of low birth can move up, I couldn’t refuse. I gave my goodbyes to my sister and parents and began serving Lady Doctus before the week was out.”
“Were you…?”
She nodded, face grim, “There was no way we could have known. It wasn’t until after I joined her retainer that I learned of her cruel experimentation.”
Her fingers pinched a bundle of her azure hair fibers, twisting them thoughtfully, “I admire Jeanne because she saved my life in many ways. We could find no solutions to reverse the effects of Lady Doctus’ experiments and I couldn’t go back to work as a merchant looking like this, or else be branded a witch myself. Jeanne gave me protection from all of that and a chance to continue living. I can study and practice magicks in safety… be myself, thanks to her.”
“Is that why you were never bothered by my eyes?” Halena asked, running her fingers over the red tips of the pattern licking her cheeks.
Inka rose to brush a finger over those crimson markings, “Perhaps that’s part of it. I was also curious why someone with a kind heart would bear those marks. Does that clear the waters? If you’re worried about your magick being discovered by others, Jeanne is not that person. She’ll protect you.”
She forced her branded eyes down, “It’s more than that… These marks aren’t some symbol of power for my witchcraft. They were branded on my face because of a demon and I’ve fought an unending battle with it for all these years. It… It doesn’t like that I’m ignoring it and Jeanne’s work is like nothing I’ve done before. This thing has a hunger for spiritual essence that I can’t feed it while serving the house.”
Halena wrapped her arms around herself, fingers digging into the fabric of her sleeves, “I don’t know what to do without making myself a target to Jeanne. If I lose control to the demon, she’ll kill me!”
“What a burden to bear and yet you’ve proven yourself schooled enough to a professional hunter of the dark. Halena, you’re strong and together we can overcome this with you.” Inka smiled, running her fingers up her back.
Halena leaned into Inka, burying her face against the woman’s shoulder, “Oh, Inka…” Her arms slipped around in a shuddering embrace as emotions flood her, “It’s a waking nightmare… I didn’t want to lose you or Jeanne to the dreams and lies!”
Inka cradled the witch against her, hugging her tightly, “Easy, now… This has been a long battle for you, hasn’t it?”
Muffled sobs rattled from Halena’s chest, and she nodded, “Yes! Gods, yes, Inka. So many years I’ve fought it…” She clung to the scholar, sobs softening with each passing minute until she had calmed enough from her flustered spill of emotion.
Her head lifted from Inka’s shoulder, eyes reddened, puffy, and cheeks wet. Inka’s thumb ran across those stains, drying her cheek, “No more tears, Halena. I’m here for you.”
She smiled back, her eyes filled with admiration for the scholar, “Thank you, Inka. I...”
Peace and warmth radiated in her chest; an immense weight lifted from
her shoulders in her confession. A dreamlike haze crept into her vision, and something bound her arms and legs, dragging her away from Inka’s image. Ink-black brambles seized her body. Halena struggled against the vines tugging on her limbs, screaming from the swallowing abyss, “No… No! Inka!”
What’s the matter, frail flesh? Are you fond of your new friend?
More dark tendrils wrapped over her body, coil by coil of shadowy, fur-covered serpents binding her. She fought with utter panic, “You can’t do this! I won’t let you hurt her!”
You should have thought of that before ignoring our deal. It’s time for a proper reminder that you belong to me and I will relish every moment of destroying this precious world you have built!
Halena struggled for breath against the creeping snare of shadows, the lucid world fading quickly from her grasp.
XIII
Exorcism
The last unearthly sentence was uttered, and Halena found a dark mist had crept over the rafters, a suffocating blackness that she could not help but stare deeply into. Two faint flares of crimson light in the void grabbed her attention before the room sighed with relief as Saris finished the verse. Halena gasped, she clamped her eyes shut to break her trance and snatched the potion up in both hands. The pot’s edge was tipped against her lips and she drank as much as she could muster, letting the thick, pungent liquid drain down her throat as the excess spilled over her chin. Her mouth went numb as she slurped the last of the potion down and she eased her eyes open to the suffocating darkness, dropping the pot from her exhausted grip.