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S ebastian followed the nurse to the front desk and paid the hospital bill as quickly as possible. His mind raced with theories and worst-case scenarios. Every moment of delay compounded the weight on his shoulders. They had to get to Venice and talk to Victor!

When he returned to her room, Isabel was back on her feet and fully dressed.

“Are we ready to go, then?” he asked, and she nodded.

Sebastian grabbed their bags from the corner of the room and slung them both over his shoulder.

He extended his hand and she took it, though he didn’t miss the hesitation before her fingers touched his palm.

He led her through the hospital to the front door, where night had fallen over Genova. That was a relief, at least; he wouldn’t have to worry about covering up. “Hopefully the train runs through the night,” he grumbled as the pair stepped onto the sidewalk and headed for the station.

“Agreed. I’m ready for all this insanity to end.”

Sebastian glanced over at his companion and felt his stomach sink. “Are you wanting to go home? We could go to the airport instead of the train station. Maybe being away from me will keep you safer.”

There was a pause, but Isabel shook her head.

“No. I mean, part of me does think that going home and forgetting about this whole thing is the smarter course of action. But whatever this shadow thing is managed to attack me while I was in my own apartment, so I don’t think I’ll be any safer there than I am here with you.

At least you know it’s the truth! My family and friends would probably think I was crazy if I told them some shadow ghost was hunting me. ”

“So you’re only staying because I’ve seen it too? Not because you feel anything for me?”

Isabel withdrew her hand and shook her head. “I mostly feel fear and confusion right now. There’s no room for anything outside of that. I can tell that you believe everything you’re telling me, but it all sounds like a load of garbage to me. Even with what I’ve already seen, it’s just too much.”

“That’s fair.” Sebastian massaged his now-empty hand and frowned. He couldn’t help feeling like he may have found the new incarnation of his Muse, but he hadn’t managed to find his Muse yet. She was still buried somewhere deep inside of Isabel, and he had to figure out a way to get her out.

The pair walked in silence until they reached the train station.

Isabel remained close to his side while he purchased tickets for the next train and found a bench for them to sit on while they waited.

Very few other passengers sat around them; apparently nearly midnight wasn’t a popular time for travel.

Their silence continued through the wait and as they entered the train.

Sebastian found an empty cabin and ushered Isabel inside. He put their luggage in the rack and settled into his seat with his head in his hands. Everything was wrong. Isabel sat quietly across from him and stared out the window as the dark shapes of the landscape against the sky passed by.

“I think you owe me more answers.”

Isabel’s soft voice broke through Sebastian’s pity party and he lifted his head.

She refused to make eye contact, but again repeated her statement.

“Yes, okay,” he replied, doing his best to keep his voice calm.

If turning himself inside out and baring his very soul was what she needed, he would do it gladly.

“Do you know what this shadow thing is?”

He shook his head. Isabel’s face darkened and he hurriedly said, “I don’t know what it is, but I think it has something to do with my art. Victor was furious when he found out I hadn’t been destroying my paintings when he told me to.”

“Why would he want you to destroy your paintings?”

Sebastian’s frown grew. The truth was embarrassing now, but Isabel had known everything in her past lives anyway.

“I don’t know that, either. I got so angry when he told me to burn them that I left the coven.

Remember how I told you we had a falling out?

That was why. I felt, and still feel, like my paintings are part of me.

Telling me to burn them was like telling me to build my own funeral pyre. ”

“And now you think maybe he wasn’t just being a jerk.”

“Yeah.” Sebastian shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling like he was under police interrogation. “I’m not looking forward to having to admit I was wrong after all these years.” He massaged his eyes wearily, trying to keep any emotion out of them.

Isabel watched with an impassable look on her face. “Well, maybe having to face it will get rid of the burden you’ve carried over it. Though that’s just a bonus on top of figuring out what the hell is trying to kill me.” Her face fell into a scowl, her eyebrows knit together.

“I’m sure Victor will know. We just have to get to Venice before the shadow gets its way.”

Isabel straightened and Sebastian realized he’d slipped up. “What do you mean, before the shadow gets its way ? What haven’t you told me, Sebastian?”

He groaned and tossed his head back, eyes closed in frustration with himself.

“It was after you ran out of the dungeon. I wanted to find out what the thing was, so I tried to enter the painting. I hadn’t been there five seconds when the shadow passed through me and in my head I heard I’ll have all of her eventually.

She’s going to die. ” He almost didn’t dare see Isabel’s reaction, but couldn’t keep his eyes from fluttering to her face.

She had gone completely pale. Her mouth opened and closed silently and her eyes threatened to bug right out of her head. “It spoke to you ?!” she finally managed to snarl. “And you didn’t bother to tell me until now why we’re speeding across Italy?!”

“I didn’t want you to freak out, like you so obviously are,” Sebastian replied, his weariness increasing with every word.

He yearned to take her in his arms, stroke her hair, and tell her everything would be okay.

But the way she pushed herself into the farthest corner of the cabin told him to keep his hands to himself.

An uneasy silence overtook the cabin until the soft sound of Isabel snoring broke it.

Sebastian rested his head against the window and just watched her sleep again.

As exhausted as he was, he refused to rest until they were safely within the coven keep.

She shivered and Sebastian draped his heavy leather coat over her shoulders.

All he wanted to do was keep her safe. That’s all he’d ever wanted to do. But life after life slipped through his fingers, unbothered by his attempts to stall their endings.

Four hours later, the whistle blew and the train began to slow. Isabel stirred, knocking the coat to the floor. “We should be at the station any minute,” Sebastian said softly. She nodded and rubbed her eyes, yawning widely.

“Hungry…” she murmured, then yawned again.

Sebastian frowned. Again with having nothing to give her! “I’ll buy you something to eat as soon as we get off the train. You slept through the food trolley going around.” On second thought, he probably should have just bought her something instead of waving the trolley on…

Isabel pouted, but didn’t seem to be awake enough for a real emotional reaction. She curled back up into a ball, but the train lurched to a stop just as her eyes closed. A groan slipped through her teeth and she shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable.

“Come on, amore. It’s time to get off the train. You can go to sleep in a proper bed when we get to the keep.” Sebastian gathered up their belongings and gently brushed Isabel’s hair away from her face. “I’ll carry you like a little baby if I have to,” he teased.

Isabel’s nose wrinkled and her eyes opened. “No,” she replied, her voice thick with sleep. “I can do it myself.” One limb at a time she uncurled herself and stood next to the seat, swaying slightly as she gained her balance.

Sebastian shook his head, but smiled. He put their bags on his back again and wrapped Isabel in his coat. “It might be cold out there. Come on. Let’s go.” He offered her his hand and she took it without issue.

Soon the pair stood on yet another station platform, this time in the cool Venetian air. “Alright, let’s get you a snack and to bed.” He scanned the platform, scowling when he saw all the food stalls were closed. “Looks like we’ll have to go a bit farther into the city for food.”

They walked across the platform, through the station, and out into Venice proper. Isabel remained quiet, but her eyes were wide open by this point. “How far is this coven place or whatever? Is it a long walk?” She looked up and down the streets, visibly nervous.

“It’s a little bit of a walk, yes. But you are safe, I promise. Just…don’t look at your reflection in any of the windows, just in case.” He meant it as a joke, but Isabel’s fingers tightened around his own. She obviously didn’t find it funny in the least.

One stop at a bakery which had opened to catch any early-morning travelers later, Isabel munched on a pastry while Sebastian led her down the ancient streets into the oldest part of the city.

The air was silent and heavy, and only felt thicker with each step he took toward the keep.

Most of the coven should be out and about at this hour, so he hoped they would be able to slip inside moderately unnoticed.

“We’re almost there. Everyone inside will be vampires, and some of them are friendlier than others. Don’t speak to anyone unless I’ve spoken to them first and introduced you. And whatever you do, don’t let yourself be alone with Remus. As long as you stay by my side, you won’t have any problems.”