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Sebastian nodded. “Yes. Josephine wouldn’t let anything happen to you. She was your older sister in one of your lives, after all.” Isabel’s eyes widened and Sebastian’s smile widened. She rose from the bed and looked down at her dress.

“It looks beautiful on you, if that’s what you’re thinking about,” Sebastian assured her and took her hand. She blushed and allowed him to lead her into the hallway. He, meanwhile, prepared himself for the high-pitched screech that Josephine would almost certainly make when she saw her little sister again.

CHAPTER23

Venice, Italy. 9 June, 2007

The idea of meeting a sister from a previous life was insane. Isabel followed Sebastian through what felt like even more miles of tunnels, despite every logical cell in her body screaming that she was a certifiable idiot.

The passageway grew warmer and when they turned the corner, Isabel discovered why. They had arrived at the kitchens where a massive fireplace roared. Like something out of a medieval fantasy novel, a black cauldron bubbled over the fire while a woman in a black robe tossed things inside.

The woman turned around and her face lit up. “Aurora!” she exclaimed and wrapped Isabel in a rib-crushing hug. “It has been so long! So, so long! I wasn't sure this barnacle would ever bring you back home to the coven.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes and returned to the chair he'd used earlier. “Don't break her in half, Josephine. And her name is Isabel, now. Isabel, this is Josephine. I doubt you remember her right now, but that's normal. You ladies behave while I'm gone, okay?”

Josephine released her grip and took a step back to give Isabel a once-over. “I suppose we can cause only minimal trouble,” she teased without taking her eyes off Isabel.

“I mean it, Josephine. The last thing I need is a reason for Victor to kick Isabel out.” Sebastian shot Josephine a severe look, and her grin faltered. “I'll be back as fast as I can. Keep her safe.”

Sebastian disappeared back into the hallway, leaving Isabel standing awkwardly in the middle of the doorway. “Come in and sit down! I don't have any food to offer you, but would you like a glass of water at least?”

Isabel nodded, her body reacting strongly to the mention of water. She unstuck her tongue from the roof of her mouth and swallowed hard. Josephine pulled a glass from the cupboard and filled it at the large sink.

Meanwhile, Isabel took a moment to examine her surroundings. The countertops were made of grey marble in a U-shape around the fireplace. Two sinks stood across from each other, and drawers and cabinets lined the spaces above and below the counters. Barstools stood along the entire outside of the U, and an island filled the inside of it.

“You have running water, but not electricity?” Isabel asked, her surprise overcoming her fear.

“Only to this room and the bath. We got tired of having to haul buckets of water down here, so Victor had some of the younger members of the coven learn plumbing. It took nearly a decade, but it was worth it. Nobody has managed to convince him that electricity would help the coven yet…”

Isabel accepted the water and drained the glass in one go. “A bath sounds amazing,” she said as she set it down. “I haven't gotten clean since I arrived in Italy. And I haven't had a real meal since…well, breakfast two days ago. I hope Sebastian brings back something better than a loaf of bread.”

“You haven't been fedorallowed to wash? That's it. We're going to the bath right now. Do you have clean clothes?” Josephine's eyes sparked as she spoke, and Isabel nodded hesitantly. “Okay, at least he wasn't dumb enough to drag you here without packing first. Though…I suppose your things are in his room, aren't they? And we don't have his key. I guess we'll have to make do with some of the coven robes. Will that be okay? Just until Sebastian gets back.”

“Yeah, that's fine. I'd fit in better that way, anyway.” She looked down at her dress, wrinkled from being slept in, and so bright compared to Josephine's robes.

“Okay. Let's go, then.” Josephine grabbed Isabel's hand and led her back into the labyrinth. She walked far more casually than Sebastian did everywhere they’d gone, which helped lower Isabel’s anxiety just a little. Rushing around like they were being chased by hellhounds got old fast.

“Is it normal for this place to be so empty?” Isabel asked as they came around yet another deserted corner. “Sebastian made it sound like I'd be having to stay in his room to avoid people, but I haven't even heard another footstep or anything.”

Josephine shook her head. “It's daytime. Most of the coven are sleeping after being out all night. We're a little backwards around here, but you'll get used to it.”

“How do you know it's daytime? I haven't seen a single clock or watch anywhere!”

“Because everyone is sleeping.” Josephine began to laugh, and after a moment of feeling dumb, Isabel joined her. She was struck by how familiar this scene felt, laughing with Josephine like a pair of school girls. Maybe they reallyhadknown each other before?

Isabel fell silent, her mind spinning. At this point, she felt like she'd seen enough that she should believe everything Sebastian told her, no matter how strange. But letting go of a lifetime of “magic only happens in fairy tales” wasn't easy.

Josephine must have noticed the shift in mood, because she softly placed her hand on Isabel's shoulder and smiled. “Hey. This is probably all very overwhelming, isn't it? I've seen you go through learning your past more than once, so I can promise everything will be okay. It doesn't feel like it right now, but it will be.”

She sounded so genuine that Isabel couldn't stop the tears from forming in her eyes. She wiped at them as covertly as she could, but didn't go unnoticed. “Hey, hey. Don't cry, sister-of-mine! We'll get you clean and fed and you'll feel miles better.” Josephine gave her another hug and opened a door.

The air inside smacked them in the face with steam and lavender. Through the foggy air, Isabel was able to see that the room had been entirely carved out of stone. It stood about twenty feet by twenty feet, and the center of the room was a ten-by-ten pool. Steam danced on the surface of the water like ice skaters dressed all in white.

The far wall contained shelves also carved into the stone, which held towels, robes, and soap. Josephine practically skipped across the stone floor, gesturing to the water. “Go ahead and get in! I'll grab robes and a towel for you. There should be soap on the little ledge above the water, but let me know if it's all gone.”

Isabel stared at Josephine, realizing she was expected to undress and bathe with company. That might be normal in other countries…but not in the States. Yet the hot water looked so inviting, and she felt so gross.Screw it.

She quickly removed her clothes while Josephine had her back to the pool, and slipped inside. Slipped being the key word, as her foot shot out from under her and she tumbled head-first into the water.