Page 172 of As Above, So Below

Oraphia’s brows raise as she purses her lips. Is she giving me a look of approval?

“Well enough, Lady Ves. I think you’ll find today’s attire to your liking,” she chirps, moving farther into the room, walking around to the other side of the bed to snatch Ryc’s pants off the floor.

Any other day, I would have been embarrassed by the oversight.

Not today, it seems.

She bends again, picking up my destroyed camisole before meeting my gaze.

“What are you waiting for?” she asks with a knowing grin. “Get yourself into the bath, my lady.”

Throwing the covers back and leaping from the bed, I streak across the bedroom into the bathing room, laughing.

?????????????

Good gods, Oraphia wasn’t wrong about today’s attire.

She’d outfitted me with simple enough clothing, a black pair of leggings and black sleeveless shirt, reminiscent of the clothing Artemise had given me the day of my arrival.

But then she laid out black leather armor and my eyes widened. Lightweight, flexible, but protective all at the same time, the set hugged my figure like a glove.

The cloak I now don fastens to the armor, along my collarbone.Its hood features a cowl, which once worn, hides my face in shadow, leaving only the silver of my eyes exposed.

“The shadowwalker armor of Erus,” Oraphia says as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. “Many generations ago, Erus was known for its band of shadowwalkers. Sadly, not many are given the innate of shadow these days.”

A shadow or darkness innate may be rare in the living realm, but it couldn’t be more common in the hells.

Removing the cowl and lowering the hood, I smile at Oraphia. “Thank you.”

She tosses me a suspicious glance, but quickly bobs a curtsy.

“An honor, my lady,” she returns, straightening her apron. “If there is anything else you require, please send for me.”

“There is actually,” I say, turning from the mirror to her. “Can you please have Eve find me?”

“Absolutely, Lady Ves. Right away.”

I nod as she turns to leave the room.

The door closes after her, and I move quickly across the room to the small desk in the corner. Yanking out the chair, I throw myself into the seat and begin pulling the drawers open. From one drawer I snag a few sheets of parchment and shove it closed. In another, I find a pen.

My handwriting will not be nearly as beautiful as Ryc’s, but I need to get a message to Artemise. I doubt I’ll be able to leave the castle without raising suspicion. Eve will have to deliver the message for me.

Putting the pen to paper, I begin to write.

I have to not think about last night, about the promise of a happily ever after. They don’t exist for creatures like myself. If I fail in killing my father, I need Celesta to deliver on her promise of vengeance.

Otherwise, it won’t simply be Ollora that burns…

It will be the whole of Eldoterra.

?????????????

I won’t lie.

My curiosity got the better of me.

Silently stalking through the castle, I ventured.