Page 38

“I’m wearing weird clothes,” I say when I finally stand up. I glance at Oskar, and his outfit is no better. He’s wearing black slacks, a buttoned shirt, and a medieval-looking coat. “We’re going to stick out in Aberlena. The humans will probably notice.”

It’s the first time I’ve said that. Humans , as if they’re something I’m not.

I swallow and refuse to let myself dwell.

Instead, I focus back on our surroundings.

I haven’t seen the neutral territory since Sebastian first carried me through it, and I’m surprised how ordinary it seems. Aside from the startling black ground, it’s far more like the human world than the Night Realm.

The buildings are simple and painted dull shades of brown, grey, and white.

In the distance, an evening market is starting.

There are colorful booths with lush bouquets of flowers and silken scarves, dried meats and assortments of strange weapons.

People mill throughout the streets, and even from here, I can tell they aren’t human.

As Oskar leads us into the neutral territory, I struggle to absorb the endless sights and smells and sounds.

This place is filled with obvious signs of poverty: overflowing garbage and boarded windows and the distinct smell of waste.

And still, the partygoers hoot and holler, clearly ecstatic for the escape.

“How are they outside?” I ask as we approach them. “It’s nighttime. Shouldn’t vampires be out hunting? It feels like they should all be hiding.”

“This is the neutral territory,” Oskar says gruffly. He moves closer, keeping his hand on my shoulder as we merge into the crowd.

We’re surrounded by too many strange creatures for me to process them all.

There are women with papery wings and short, wrinkled goblins.

Children with animal horns over their brows and a woman with misshapen gills on her throat.

Down a nearby alley, a group of teenagers play with a ball between them.

It floats, untouched by gravity, as they shout and laugh.

We’ve already passed them before I realize what they are. Witches. Like me .

Only they seem as foreign, as strange as any other creature we pass.

“I don’t understand,” I say, clearing my throat. I glance back at Oskar, stumbling when he hurries me along. “Why is the neutral territory different?”

“Any physical harm attempted here happens to the attacker instead of their victim,” he explains. “The whole neutral territory is protected. That’s why the ground is black. Nasty spell.”

I start to ask another question, but Oskar tightens his grip and urges me faster. We press through the overbearing crowd, until finally, he veers down an unmarked side street and then another. I steal a final glance at the celebration before we turn a corner and it disappears from sight.

Oskar doesn’t slow his pace, and we navigate through a twist of sleeping neighborhoods and empty streets. Before long, even the melodic festival music fades, and we’re left with only our quick footsteps and my embarrassingly heavy breathing.

“I’m glad the master found you,” Oskar says as he finally loosens his hold on my shoulder. “I feared he would never love anything other than himself. It’s a relief, truly, that he found you.”

I sputter out a surprised laugh, even as a pleasant warmth spreads through my chest.

“I’m not sure Sebastian loves me,” I say carefully. He’s certainly never admitted it, and yet, the idea doesn’t feel as preposterous as it should. Whether he loves me or not, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t felt loved these past few days.

“He does,” Oskar says. He finally eases his steps, coming to walk at my side. “It might not be clear to you, but I’ve known him a long time. He looks at you like I looked at my wife. My Freja.”

“I didn’t know you were married.”

“I was. She passed years ago.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my stomach dropping. I’ve never been good with sad stories. It doesn’t matter that I never knew Freja. I know Oskar, and the look on his face now is enough to make me cry.

“Shortly after Sebastian betrayed the witches, they decided to punish him,” Oskar says. “To punish all of us. The witches cursed us to burn in the sun. No warning. No time to prepare. My Freja…she died that first day. Burned to bone and ash in the courtyard Sebastian now uses to house his statue.”

It’s the first time Oskar has sounded bitter toward Sebastian, and I look at him, unable to mask my surprise.

“Oskar…” I say finally, voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

Rather than reply, Oskar offers his arms to me. My stomach lurches at the thought of running again, but I’d rather vomit than hear more of this heartbreak. I ease into his arms, tucking my head against his shoulder as he jolts into a run.

After what feels like hours, and is likely only minutes, Oskar staggers to a stop.

We’re surrounded by the same blackened earth as before, but all signs of civilization have disappeared.

It’s painfully dark and quiet. We’ve stopped far enough away that the impoverished city and its lively festival are nothing more than an outline of buildings in the distance.

Oskar releases me, and I crash to my knees. I dig my fingers against the black rock, blinking through the darkness. Even with the moon hanging overhead, I can barely see my friend’s pale face. An endless expanse of shadows closes around us, as if the night has swallowed us whole.

“This isn’t the Paragon,” I say. I force myself to look at him, at his pale face, silhouetted by the moon.

“No,” he agrees. His voice is as steady, as soft as ever, and yet, it steals any lingering warmth from my body.

Something is wrong.

Very wrong .

“Oskar,” I whisper. “What’s going on?”

I rise to my feet, keeping my movements carefully slow. Still, every inch of my body is trembling, and I’m sure Oskar can tell. I’m sure he can hear each erratic and reckless beat of my heart.

“He killed the only thing I’ve ever loved,” Oskar says. He steps closer, and I mirror his movement, taking a step away. He doesn’t lunge like I expect. Instead, he pauses, tucking his hands into his pockets and smiling sadly at me. “There is no worse pain to suffer, Grace.”

“Oskar,” I repeat. My mouth bobs, but I can’t find any other words. Every nerve in my body fires at once, begging— screaming —for me to run. Whatever I thought I knew of Oskar suddenly feels untrue.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry,” he says.

I lift my hands, and the moonlight shines over them as they tremble. I channel every ounce of magic I can muster, but I don’t strike. Not yet.

“Please don’t make me hurt you,” I say. I take another slow step back, fighting a sob even as tears streak down my cheeks. “I’m sorry about Freja, but that has nothing to do with me.”

Oskar doesn’t move. He remains perfectly motionless, hands tucked away, head tilted in thought. He smiles at me again, soft and genuine as ever.

“She would have liked you,” he says.

My mouth gaps silently. I’m still scrambling for something to say when an unseen person grabs me from behind.

There’s not even time to scream. A pair of hands latch over my shoulders, and seconds later, another person grabs my legs.

Before I comprehend what’s happening, I’m on the ground, paralyzed by the familiar press of magic.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt, stronger than I even knew to fear. The force hangs over me, violent enough I can barely expand my lungs. I stare up at the star-speckled sky, gasping for breath.

“He’ll come for her,” Oskar says. He looks not at me or my two attackers, but at someone unseen beyond us. “Don’t give him the chance.”

“Final offer to join us, Oskar Duluth,” a cold, feminine voice says. “I imagine you won’t survive a reunion with your master .”

She says Sebastian’s title like it’s an insult.

“Survival was never the goal,” Oskar says. He dips his chin, looking over me one last time. “ This was the only thing keeping me here.”

“He doesn’t love me,” I say. My words are so strained, they’re barely audible. “Sebastian doesn’t—He’s not going to care, Oskar. Don’t do this!”

If Oskar understands me, he doesn’t react. He only tilts his head to the sky, smiling to the heavens. It’s the last thing I see before my vision goes black, and I lose sense of everything.