bA /b

bChapter /bb47 /b

I’ve never left Ravag, never seen beyond the small alleys of my vige and now Cassian’s castle. I’ve never allowed myself to dream of traveling, and I think the fact that Cassian has shown me everything I’m missing out on beyond this is an act of cruelty.

“You’re awake, perfect. Here’s a basin with

water.”

Evanora sets it on the small table. “When you’re done,

60 see Naja.”

I freshen up quickly, the cold water clears my head. Next to the basin I also see a simple blue dress. I put it on and leave behindy dirty

clothes.

Luckily, my head is free of voices for now. I follow Evanora out of the cabin, lifting the hem of my dress so it doesn’t get sta

the filth of

the streets. I look around me attentively. There are some little girls helping others with theundry and, once again, no sign the opposite sex. I suppose it’s admirable how these women do everything themselves without depending on men. I feel proud, and part of me envies

them. At least they seem to control their lives and destinies–unlike me.

We reach a muchrger hut than the others I’ve seen on the way. There’s a curtain made of seashells and animal bones. I grow uneasy when Evanora pulls it aside for me and gestures for me to enter with a nod. Inside is dark, lit only by a few red candles whose wax looks like blood spilling down. There are small animal skulls here and there, and the smell of herbs that my nose can’t identify overwhelms me. It feels like a

hard p to the face. The air inside is warm and heavy–nothing like the one I was breathing just moments ago.

Evanora walks ahead confidently; she knows where we’re going.

Bent over a bowl is a woman with violet and white hair, braided into hundreds of tiny braids that together formrger ones. Her skin is sun-

kissed, and though I remember Cassian mentioning something about old blood, the woman before me doesn’t look it at all. When she lifts

her gaze to look at us, I can see her skin is still taut, only touched by a few expression lines.

“You must be the youngdy who needs my attention,” she says with a smile that unsettles me.

We get closer, close enough that I can see the pin she holds in her hand and her pricked fingers dripping blood onto the bowl, where small bones, like phnges, rest soaking in it. She pushes the bowl aside when she sees my eyes widen in fear.”

“ra, right?” She circles the table. “Come closer.”

I nce at Evanora, who nods subtly. I take only a couple of steps forward before Naja’s hands stretch out to meet mine. Her fingers wrap around mine, and her blood–stained thumbs dirty my pale skin as she caresses me.

Behind us, we hear a voice raised, asking for entry.

“That annoying vampire again,” Evanora grumbles.

“Go to him, dear. I’ll handle this.”

Evanora nods obediently before stepping away. She’s already fading into the darkness of the hut again when I turn, almost begging her not to leave me here. As much as this woman smiles, she unsettles me.

“I bdon’t /busually offer my help to anyonei,/ii” /ishe says. “I’m an old woman who wants to spend her years in peace.”

b“/bbYou /bdon’t look like an old woman,” I whisper.

“bLooks /band reality are two different things.” She studies me with eyes that, bup /bclose, resemble a viper’s–amber bwith /bba /bbslit /bbpupil/bb. /bbTo /bbbe /bhonestb, /bI was a bit curious what you might have that would make Cassiane begging for bhelp/b–band /bbfor /bba /bbfeeder /bbno /bbless/bb. /bbYour /bbreputation /b

bhas /breached this farb./bb” /b

b1/3 /b

bzo /bMon

bAug /b

b“/bAnd?” I ask. “Is there anything special about me?”

She tilts her head slightly, looking thoughtful and somewhat intrigued. Her tongue slips out to lick her lips, and I take a step back bwhen /bbI /bbsee /bit’s bifid. I guess myparisons weren’t so far off.

“Do you want me to tell you you’re special?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Am I?”

“No.” She exhales through her nose. “I don’t feel anything

iin /i

you, iso /itell me why you’re here.”

My shoulders sink at her words, and in an attempt to hide it, I begin to speak with confidence. I describe everything that’s happened recently -my problems healing, the fever, the experience in the garden when I lost some of my senses and then recovered th

She bursts intoughter when I finish telling her how Cassian’s doctor couldn’t find a solution ior /iexnation.

“Of course he couldn’t.” She holds her belly, as ifughing too hard had hurt her. “What’s happening to you is magical, not scientific.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me check something.”

She’s as quick as the animal she shares traits with. Her hand grabs mine, and before I can protest, I feel a small prick on my finger. She brings

the bleeding finger to her mouth and licks the drop of blood. My skin tingles when I feel the roughness of her tongue.

A few seconds pass with Naja’s eyes closed, though I notice the faint flutter beneath her lids.

“A curse,” she says. “You’ve been cursed.”

“What? Why me?”

“I don’t know, to both questions.”

“Can it be cured?”

“Not todayi,/ii” /ishe hisses. “Tomorrow is the full moon, and magic is stronger with it. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“iAnd /iin the meantime?”

“In the meantime, get out of my sight.”

She shoos me away with her hand, making it very clear I’m no longer wee. It’s almost like my feet move on their own, because I walk with no will of my own. I reappear outside effortlessly, where a grumpy Evanora seems to be cursing out a very amused Drystan. Both turn to me the moment they see me.

“Already cured?” Drystan raises his eyebrows nearly to his hairline. He grabs me by the elbow. “Great, perfect. We’re leaving. Thanks for everything, grumpy one.”

Evanora spits out a word I don’t understand, and Drystan pulls me along. I nt my feet on the ground firmly and bstop /bbhim/bb. /bHe looks bat /bbme /bstrangely, as if I’d suddenly grown another head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m bnot /bcured,” I inform. “Not until tomorrow night.”

b“/bbWhat /bbdo /bbyou /bmeanb?/b”

13.20

Mon, 4 Aug bVA /b

熱60%粉

“She says I’m cursed, and she can’t break the curse until the full moon tomorrowi.” /i

“Cursed?” he repeats.

Evanora’s presence at my back surprises me–she’s approached very quickly. She sniffs me, making my cheeks flush red. On the other hand, Drystan looks uneasy, shifting his weight from foot to foot. It feels unlike him; he usually exudes calm.

“I don’t smell any curse,” Evanora keeps sniffing. “It must be a strong one if it hides itself this well.”

“What are you now, a dog?” the vampire replies.

“Maybe you should shut up, leech.”

Instead of snapping back or annoying her with one of his remarks, Drystan stays quiet and looks toward some distan trying to see what caught his attention, but I see nothing.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, stepping closer to him almost conspiratorially.

follow his gaze,

bAD /b

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