I’m not sure when I fell asleep, but when I wake up, it’s because the speed of the car has decreased and there’s an excruciating itch on the back of my neck.
I scratch at it, and Caz peers at me as neon red lights flash on his face. He pulls into the parking lot of the hotel I booked, The Rêvasser, and finds a space to park.
“Everything all right? he asks.
I scratch the back of my neck again until the itch subsides. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I take a look around the dark parking lot. Several cars occupy the lot, bathed in fluorescent red light. The rain has clearly followed us here because droplets cling to the cars, as if a shower has recently passed. Not much surrounds The Rêvasser except a diner across the street and a walking trail behind it.
A group of people bursts out of the front door of the hotel dressed head to toe in flashy attire, most likely on their way to the city.
I collect my tote bag and climb out of the car as Caz goes for our suitcases in the trunk. The lobby of the hotel has a contemporary feel, with abstract walls, down lighting, and a velvety seating area with plush chairs and wooden tables. Many of the chairs are occupied with bodies—men and women with drinks in their hands, chatting and laughing.
Once I collect the room keys from the clerk behind the desk, I lead the way to our room. But as we go, I can’t help feeling like someone is watching me, and the itch on the back of my neck intensifies. I scratch the area, and a chill snakes down my spine—a familiar sensation that causes me to stop in my tracks. I peer over my shoulder as a couple leaves the hotel, hand in hand. Caz takes my hand, bringing my attention back to us.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His head is at a slight tilt as he studies my face.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I force a smile up at him, squeezing his hand as we approach the elevator. I press the up arrow, and Caz stares at the brown doors, confused. When the doors spread apart, he takes a leap back, tugging me with him.
“We’re going in that?” he exclaims.
“Yes, and it’ll be fine, I promise.” I release his hand and go for the doors, pressing my back to one side to keep them open.
He studies the silver walls and mirrors inside the elevator then enters with tense shoulders. I walk in and stand next to him as a woman boards with us. Caz presses his body to the back corner of the elevator, glaring a hole into the back of the woman’s head. I notice him reach for the inside of his coat, but before he can, I grip his hand.
“What should we have for dinner?” I ask, and he drops his eyes to mine, frowning. When he sees the warning in my eyes, his shoulders relax a bit, but that doesn’t stop him from staring at the woman.
I fight a smile as he says, “Not sure.”
“You should dry Mandina’s!” the woman insists, turning halfway to eye me. I smell wine on her breath as she leans in a little closer. “Me and my husband went last night—incredible! The shrimp linguini and garlic bread are the perfect combination.”
“Thank you.” I smile at her. “I’ll have to check it out.”
When the elevator stops on floor three, she waves at us and trots off. As the doors come together again, closing us in, Caz expels a long-winded breath.
“I will never understand why you’re so eager to talk to strangers,” he mumbles.
“It’s common courtesy. And don’t be so nervous,” I tell him as the elevator rises again.
“Why couldn’t she wait her turn to get on?”
“There are no turns for the elevator unless it’s already packed,” I say, laughing. “Anyone can get on if there’s enough space.”
“Such strange customs.”
The elevator stops, and the doors groan a bit as they open. “Come on. This is our floor.” I step out, marching down the green carpeted hall to room 412.
Relief sinks in as we enter the room. We’re safe, if only for now. I flip a switch, and the darkness is replaced with dim, gold lights. A king-sized bed is pressed against one of the walls, the headboard black and upholstered. The curtains are black as well, a sheer ivory one behind it. This particular hotel has been around for one-hundred-twenty years, and I gather that by the smell of old carpet and the undertone of cigarettes, though this is now a non-smoking hotel.
I set my suitcase aside, and Caz dumps his on the floor, walking through the room to survey it.
“How long do we stay here?” he inquires.
“Just one night. I googled the Yakaree place, and it’s not far from here.”
“You what?” he asks, confused.
“I searched for information on my phone. Anyway, her shop is only a mile from this hotel.”
Caz maneuvers to the window, pushing one of the thick curtains aside with a finger. As he peers out, studying his surroundings, he asks, “What are we to do if she’s not willing to help us?”
I sit on the edge of the bed, huffing. “I…really don’t have an answer for that.” Then I chew on my thumbnail because the question taunts me. What are we going to do if this woman doesn’t help us? Where do we go from here? Do we just keep running and hiding, hoping Decius can’t get to us? Because that won’t work. We can only run for so long. There is a chance we can return to Vakeeli together, but there’s also a possibility that we’ll be killed as soon as we land with Decius drifting around.
“Oi.”
I look up, and Caz is watching me, his brows slightly pinched together. He walks my way, slipping out of his coat and dropping to one knee before me. “Let’s take our minds off the negative. This would be a good time for me to tap in with Cerberus, see what he and my clan are up to. Will you show me how you did it with Silvera?”
I smile up at him as he offers his hands for me to take.
“Are you trying to distract me?” I ask, rising with him as he tugs on my fingers.
“I am. Is it working?”
“It is.”
He walks around the bed, one of my hands clasped in his, and sits in a large, cushioned chair in the corner. He clutches my waist, hauling me down on his lap, and I yelp then laugh as he wraps his arms around my middle.
“So, what did you do first?” he asks after laying a kiss on my jawline.
“Well, the first time it happened, I was thinking about you.”
He grins. “About me, eh?”
I playfully roll my eyes. “Don’t get a big head. I was just worried about you.”
“Couldn’t get me off your mind, could you?” I hear the humor in his voice. “Don’t worry. I couldn’t get you off my mind either.” He holds me tighter, stroking his thumb over the flesh on the back of my hand.
“Anyway, when I tapped in with Silvera, I felt this cool draft. And then my surroundings changed. I was back in Vakeeli, mentally but not physically.”
“Okay…”
“But the second time I did it, I went some place quieter, and I could control it. I just closed my eyes and thought of Silvera. Let’s just try it.”
“Okay.” He sits against the back of the seat, and I turn my head, watching him inhale and exhale with his eyes closed. His eyeballs move behind his eyelids, and then he’s cracking a smile.
“Hey, boy,” he murmurs. “It’s just me. You behaving yourself?”
“Can you see through him?” I whisper.
Caz nods, eyes still closed, then he grabs my hand. When he does, a coolness rushes through me, from my head to my toes. I close my eyes, and the first thing I feel is the cool air of Blackwater along with a light mist. I hear the sounds of the ocean, the rustling of the tree leaves, and the swishing of tall blades of grass. And through someone else’s eyes, I spot Blackwater Manor. The dark, pointed roof is hidden behind thick, gray clouds. Mist dampens the ivy that trails across the front and wraps around the corners. Normally, there are sconces burning outside the castle, but not today. The house simply sits there, muted and empty.
When I look down, there’s something bloody on the ground—a white rabbit with beady silver eyes. Two puncture wounds are on its bleeding neck, one of its hind legs mangled and broken. I look to my left, and Cerberus is right next to me, his snout in the air as he sniffs.
“I’m not there, boy, but I’m with ya.” Cerberus whines and sits on his hind. “Oi, don’t start your whining. You and Silvera been hunting? You better be sharing with her. I know how selfish you can be.”
I have the urge to open my eyes and look at Caz, but I don’t. I’m afraid I’ll lose this moment, but I admit it is cute hearing him speak to Cerberus like he’s his child. Perhaps he is. His little fur baby.
“That’s a good boy. Do me a favor, eh? Take me to the family.”
At that, Cerberus growls and rises to all fours again. He huffs and backs away, then he’s howling at the sky. Caz stiffens beneath me, as if he’s been struck by a bolt of lightning. Still, I keep my eyes closed.
“Go to them, boy. Show me where they are,” Caz commands.
Cerberus runs off, and Silvera is hot on his trail. They dash toward the castle, but as they approach, I notice the door is wide open and it’s completely dark inside. Cerberus stops, refusing to go in.
“Something’s not right,” Caz whispers. “What’s…what’s happened? Where is everyone?”
Another whine from Cerberus.
“Cerberus, I need you to take me in there, boy. Show me where everyone is.”
Cerberus grunts, backing away, and Silvera watches him turn his back to the door before focusing on it herself.
“Go, girl,” I tell her, and she does, but not without caution. She enters the mansion with her head tucked, taking slow steps through the foyer. She passes Caz’s office and it’s drowning in darkness, not a single candle burning. He’s right. Something isn’t right.
As Silvera goes deeper into the castle, I realize none of the lights are on, and it’s so cold I can see her breath. A noise sounds behind me, and Silvera looks back at Cerberus who has gathered some courage and is following her lead. Silvera keeps going until she’s rounded a corner and entered a large room. It’s the main area—where sofas, tables, and extra chairs are for seating. Juniper explained to me that it was where family was supposed to hang out, but they never spent much time in there because they were all so busy. There’s a fireplace ahead, smoke tendrils wafting out of it, like the fire died not too long ago.
Then, there’s a crackling noise. Silvera whips her gaze to the right, and what I see next causes my stomach to drop and my heart to pound so hard and fast it hurts.
