Cursed

by Christina Bauer

  A heavy quiet filled the air. This conversation had gone completely out of control. My mind was humming with everything that Jakob had said. Still, I could tell that however I answered his last question, it would change things for me. This was somehow like the moment that I decided to go to the Cloister.

  I only saw one path then, as well.

  I set my emotions behind a wall, just the way they taught me at the Zelle. I needed to face this situation with logic, or it would only get worse.

  “Look past your petty jealousy, Jakob. This is about more than entrapping Rowan. I’ve gotten confirmation that the Tsar is using his mark to drain Necromancers. Once he has enough power, he’ll control your Changed Ones. No matter what spell you cast, that truth remains the same. And I’m still under Viktor’s curse. No one in their right mind would think the Tsar would spare them.” I looked to Rowan. “No offense, but I couldn’t give a horse’s arse about you and your imperial family.”

  The edges of a smile curled Rowan’s mouth, but the expression was gone too quickly to be sure. “Wait outside, Jakob.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Jakob said.

  “As the plague. Oni and Yuri already said that it has to be her.”

  I lifted my brows. They’d contacted Oni and Yuri? At last, there was some good news today.

  Jakob kicked the floor with his boot. Even sober, the man was no pleasure to be around. “Only because you won’t give me a chance.”

  “This isn’t up for discussion.” Rowan pointed to the door. “Outside.”

  Jakob stomped out of the kitchen and slammed the door behind him. Good riddance.

  Rowan stepped closer. “I’m sorry about that. It isn’t as absurd as it seems. There have been many attempts on my life. And Rex still hasn’t recovered full use of his leg from an attack last Spring. Viktor is a little obsessed with my family.”

  “I can understand. After I was slated to inherit my parent’s farm, I suddenly became a target. And that was only the local farmers, not an evil Necromancer.”

  Rowan chuckled, and it was a low and rumbling sound that I liked very much. “Glad we settled that.” He rubbed his palms together. “About the totem rings—”

  “I have bad news there. The gates all have wards. Nothing with magick can pass by without causing an alarm.”

  I wondered if Rowan would point out that my plan to smuggle in the rings was doomed, but he didn’t. “Excellent work. What else have you discovered?”

  My chin lifted with pride. “I got access to the storehouse and found a box with Oni and Yuri’s mark. There were some rings in there, like the ones Laurel wore.”

  “Mate bands don’t have any power outside of the pair.”

  “They looked useless, but there was a scarab beetle in the box too. I think it must have been someone’s familiar. The thing has magick and it’s been following me around. I’ve been trying to cast a hybrid spell with it, but no luck so far.”

  Rowan shifted his weight from foot to foot. “It’s been following you.”

  “Yes.”

  “And it came out of that box.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “That’s what I said.” What was he getting at anyway?

  “That’s very unusual for a Necromancer.” He cleared his throat. “How many of us do you know?”

  “How many Casters? Why would that—”

  Oh, no.

  I took a half-step backwards. “You don’t think this has something to do with a…” I couldn’t get my mouth to say the words ‘mating ritual’.

  “No, of course not,” said Rowan quickly. He went onto another topic and I was happy to let him. “I have news for you as well. Oni and Yuri made contact again.”

  “Excellent.” If I didn’t kill the Tsar, there would be no future for me. I didn’t need to waste time and thought on odd Caster rituals. “What did they say?”

  “They’ll give us hybrid magick to fight the Tsar.” Rowan frowned.

  “That’s good news, right?”

  “But only if they can give it directly to you.”

  “Me? How do they even know me?”

  “My spell in the desert. They say they were the ones who heard it. They want us to work together.”

  “They want us together.” I thought back to the little scarab beetle. “Do you think they’re playing supernatural matchmaker?” A blush colored my cheeks. “That’s a little crazy.”

  “Who knows what mages of that level are really after?” He cleared his throat, loudly. “The point is, they’re our best chance to get some hybrid magick by Sunday. Think about it. The fact that they got a Caster familiar into the Midnight Cloister? That’s a sign of serious power, even if they were a little odd about it. We can’t pass this up.”

  He had a point. “Are they going to break into the Cloister somehow?”

  “No, you need to escape and go to them.”

  “Escape?”

  Rowan nodded and I paced a line by the hearth. Trying to steal away from the Midnight Cloister right now was just too much. There had to be another way. I raised my wrists. “I can’t get out with these manacles on. I’ll be dead in a day.”

  Rowan stared at the manacles. “Oni and Yuri gave me a spell to help you. Once you’re out, I can take the manacles off. After that, Oni and Yuri have arranged to attend a Sanctuary Fair that’s not far from the Midnight Cloister. They said that you wouldn’t be able to cast a transport spell.”

  “They’re right about that. The Midnight Cloister took a sample of my magick when I arrived. They have it on a snake ring. If I cast a spell outside of the Cloister, they’ll be able to find me.”

  “Clever. I wonder how the Tsar came up with that?”

  “There used to be thousands of Sisters in the Midnight. I’ve only seen a handful since I got here. I think the Tsar got very good at figuring out how to keep them imprisoned and track down any who escaped.”

  “So Oni and Yuri were right. They did need to be near the Cloister for you to see them in time.”

  “They were.” It should be another reason to trust them, but something about Oni and Yuri made my skin crawl.

  “You don’t like their plan.”

  I stopped my pacing and stared into the flames. This was my future unless I did something. Which was another reason to give Oni and Yuri a try. But killing the Tsar had always been my plan on my own terms. Trusting someone else felt wrong. “There must be another option.”

  “This is the best one I’ve found.”

  I wasn’t so sure about that. Maybe Oni and Yuri had missed a few things. “When could you remove my manacles?” Their manacle-removing spell might not be ready by Sunday, anyway.

  “I already began preparing the spell. It’ll be ready by Friday morning. No point freeing you until the spell is ready, so I could get you at first light on Friday.” He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”

  “No, I haven’t.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. As much as I didn’t like the idea of relying on someone else for my future… I didn’t exactly have a better plan. “I’ll still try more spells with that scarab.”

  “I would expect no less.”

  “In that case, I can meet you at the back gate on Friday at dawn. We’re supposed to get deliveries that day, so the gate will be open starting at sunup. Plus, I’ve been working in the storehouse so it won’t draw suspicion to visit the gate.” I sighed. “If nothing else, I can use my scarab beetle to alert you know when I’m coming over. If you wait around, it could raise suspicion.”

  “Dawn on Friday, then,” said Rowan. Something I couldn’t name gleamed in his eyes. Happiness, maybe?

  “Yes. It’s agreed.”

  With that, my dream faded into darkness.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I sat at my regular seat in the feasting hall, right beside Nan and Ada. My scarab beetle crawled stealthily under my bench. I kept worrying that someone would see the little thing and stomp on it, but it had an uncanny sense of w
hen to fly away. So instead of discussing rogue insects, the young Novices chattered happily away about the Initiation ceremony.

  “Tonight, we’ll become real Sisters,” said one.

  “I bet the Tsar will choose me in the Examination ceremony,” added another.

  “Maybe I’ll be chosen to join the Tsar’s entourage,” said a third.

  There were so many things wrong with these statements. To begin with, the poor girls hadn’t been trained. It was unfair to tell them they’d be real Sisters, let alone give them a mark. And the Examination ceremony? That was for the Tsar to decide who ended up drained and dead. I clenched my left hand. What I wouldn’t give to be able to cast a thousand fireball spells right now? I’d love to bring down this entire Cloister.

  Patience. Wait for Sunday.

  Ada frowned into her bowl. “I won’t be made a Sister tonight. Mother Superior told me no.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to say that was a good thing, but I thought better of it. If Sophia hadn’t told her the truth, then I would respect that.

  “Why do you want to be a Sister?” asked Nan.

  Ada sniffed. “Everyone else is.”

  I gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m not. And I’ll still be staying with you in the dormitory. And we can grab all the best cots and blankets.”

  Ada chewed her thumbnail for a moment. “I suppose.”

  “And don’t forget Wulf,” I said. “He’s staying with us, too. With the three of us, it will be fun.”

  “Are you going to the ceremony?” asked Ada.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so.” I sighed and looked to Nan. I hated the idea of her going through that ceremony alone, but there was nothing I could do about it. Nan caught me looking.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said.

  A dozen worries ran though my mind at once. What if the mark changes Nan? Suppose she ends up in constant pain? Will she be forced to share our secrets? I fidgeted on my bench.

  “It’s like this,” added Nan in solemn tone. “I’ve been in tough places before. The key is not to panic. Keep your eyes open for opportunity.”

  “Is that how you avoided the noose?” I asked.

  Ada’s eyes widened. She wasn’t worrying about the ceremony now, so that was something good. “They were going to hang you?”

  Nan leaned back and folded her arms over her chest. I was quickly learning that this was her storytelling mode. Nan could weave quite a tale. “There I was, the night before my hanging.”

  “No! What did you do?” asked Ada.

  “I got caught taking a necklace from a countess while she was still in bed with her lov—” Nan cleared her throat. “While she was playing with a friend.”

  “But we shouldn’t take things that aren’t ours.”

  I shot Nan a worried glance. Not sure this was the best story for a six year old.

  “That is true,” said Nan smoothly. “Unless you know for a fact that the person who has the necklace stole it in he first place. Then, it’s fair game.”

  “Oh, that makes sense.” Ada turned to the empty spot beside her. “Wulf agrees, too.”

  “So, there I was, trapped in my cell. Everything looked bleak. And then, the fire broke out.”

  “What kind of fire?” asked Ada.

  “Some baker forgot to close his ovens and the whole town went up in smoke. Gave me time and cover to pick the lock and escape. Coughed up soot for a week, though.” Nan gently tapped her temple with her spoon. “Smarts and opportunity. That’s all it takes.” Nan shot me a meaningful look. “If you work yourself up into a worry, you miss your chance.” Nan didn’t need to say it. Nan wasn’t afraid of the Initiation ceremony tonight.

  “You’re a tough girl,” I said.

  “We’re all tough, when it’s called for.” Nan looked over to Veronique. “Or, everyone at this table is.”

  Marlene swept into the room and headed straight for us. The rest of the feasting hall fell silent. Suddenly, my marrow pudding looked even less appetizing.

  Marlene paused at the head of the table. That predatory gleam was back in her eyes. “Hello, Ada.”

  I gripped my spoon so hard, the metal bent. Wasn’t it enough for Marlene to kill Ada’s sister? Did she have to come here and gloat as well?

  Ada bowed her head. “Greetings, Mother.”

  “I’ve come to take you to the dormitory.” Marlene licked her lips. “Such a shame you won’t be made a Sister. Again.”

  Ada’s bottom lip quivered. “Yes, Mother.”

  I pushed my bowl away. “I’m not hungry anymore. I’ll go with you, Ada.”

  Marlene’s gaze snapped to me. “Why ever would you do that?”

  “I’m not getting a mark tonight, am I?”

  Marlene pointed at me. “You’re still going to the ceremony, my dear. I want you to fully understand the requirements of Sisterhood.” A small smile rounded her thin lips. “And I’m sure you’ll want to be there to cheer on your friends.”

  Meaning she wants the joy of watching my pain. I wanted to say something to cut her down to size, but I couldn’t attract any more attention to myself. I worked hard to keep my features neutral. “How kind of you.”

  “Not at all,” Marlene said sweetly. “And then, first thing tomorrow morning, I wish you to come visit me in my study. There’s something very important we need to discuss.”

  Long seconds passed as I thought through this request. Marlene was asking me to visit her right when Rowan said he’d try to free me. Did she know what we had planned? Studies was where Viktor did his experiments. Was Marlene involved in that, too?

  “Is something wrong?” asked Marlene.

  “No,” I said smoothly. “Thank you for the honor of a private visit.”

  Marlene gave me a satisfied smile. I’d seen that look on my old cat Lucy, usually when she had a mouse impaled on her claws. Now, I was one of Marlene’s dying playthings, too.

  “I’ll see you at the ceremony tonight.” Marlene waved Ada to her side. Together, they stepped off to the Sister’s dormitory.

  Enjoy this while you can. Marlene. When I’m through with the Tsar, I’m coming after you.

  Church bells tolled as Sophia led me and the other Novices though a labyrinth of passages. The Sentinel spirits hurried along beside us. I was so used to them lurking in shadows or pacing with worry, it was odd to see so many moving with purpose. I’d seen this happen hundreds of times as the Zelle. Sentinel spirits always joined our ceremonies—it was one of the few times their voices could be heard. At the Zelle, they’d float along and smile. These spirits didn’t look happy.

  We reached the end of yet another hallway. A pair of great silver doors stood before us. Sophia pressed them open and led us into a long space made of blue stone. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but gasp in awe. I’d never been inside a real Basilica before. It was beautiful.

  The Basilica was a long and soaring space and every inch was colored blue. The walls were lined with tall columns and stained-glass windows. Low pews covered the floor. Every seat was filled with Sentinel Spirits. They turned to us in unison, their all-white eyes heavy-lidded with sadness. The sight made my heart crack with sorrow.

  As we stepped down the Basilica’s main aisle, the ghostly Sisters began to chant. This wasn’t the lighthearted harmonies that I heard at the Zelle. The songs from these sprits were discordant with grief and rage. The cacophony made my skin crawl.

  The guards marched into the Basilica and stood along the back wall. There must have fifty of them, about two for each Novice that was about to be initiated.

  Sophia and walked us up the central aisle. I was first in the long line of Novices with Nan behind me. We all stopped at the front of the Basilica.

  The main aisle ended with the towering nave. It was a tall semicircle whose curved back wall should have held a mural of the Sire of Souls, the patron god of our order. Instead, there was the image of the Tsar in his black robes. I’d seen so many pictures of him over
the years, and this was what I considered his fatherly pose. He was all elegant cheekbones and coiffed black hair as he stared benevolently over the crowd.

  I couldn’t wait to kill him.

  Under the painting, the base of the nave was a circular platform divided in two. The back half sat against the curved wall and mural, while the front was surrounded by a semicircle of prayer benches. There were two dozen benches in total, one for each Novice. When we reached the platform, Sophia gestured for us Novices to kneel at the benches. Veronique went first, followed by her ladies and the other girls. Last to go was Nan and me. As I knelt down, my body screamed to run.

  I gripped the edge of my prayer bench. The touch of solid wood centered me. A door swung open at the base of the mural. Marlene stepped out, followed by the other initiated Sisters of the Midnight Cloister. There were less than fifty of them, as it turned out. All were old and stooped in their black Necromancer robes. None wore robes above the Apprentice level. The sight left a foul taste in my mouth. How many of these were actually young girls, like Sophia? The Sisters formed neat rows behind Marlene. And there they were—all that was left of the Midnight Cloister.

  Only fifty sisters remained out of the thousands.

  Sophia stepped onto the platform and took her place beside Marlene. Her frail shoulders were shaking. We’d never discussed this outright, but I’ve no doubt that Marlene planned to kill her publicly. Much more pain to enjoy that way. I stifled the urge to grab Sophia’s hand and run.

  Marlene gestured toward the Basilica’s back wall. “Guards, come forward.” The warriors stomped down the center aisle. Their boot falls boomed like cannons over the harsh music. Two guards stood behind every Novice. All wore their full body armor and had their faces covered by helms. The ghostly chanting took on an angrier note. Warriors had no place in a church, let alone by the altar.

  Beside me, the other Novices started to fidget on their benches, casting nervous glances at the guards behind them. It took an effort not to look at the pair who lurked behind me. I’d never be able to hide my rage if I glanced their way.

  Marlene’s eyes brightened with a predatory light. “Greetings, Novices. Most of you are about to be awarded the honor of becoming Sisters of the Midnight Cloisters. Your life’s energy will now be tied to the Tsar and me.”