by Sarah Noffke
“I’m not going around,” Hiker grumbled. “And how did the chandelier come down?”
“The Castle tried to kill me,” Sophia muttered, turning her attention back to the wall and attempting another swing. Again, the wall was unrelenting, the blade simply bouncing right off.
“And that’s why you’re trying very poorly to harm it?” Hiker asked, actually sounding amused.
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Ainsley said, snapping her fingers and summoning the high back chair from before. She took a seat, looking to try to get extra cozy before she waved her hand and summoned a bowl of dried dates from the kitchen downstairs.
With Hiker and Sophia both giving her impatient expressions, she waved them on. “Alright. I’m ready. You can continue.”
“What are you doing?” Hiker asked her, irritation heavy in his voice.
“I have a front-row seat to the greatest show this Castle has seen in quite some time,” Ainsley stated, popping a date into her mouth.
“Why are you eating dates?” Sophia had to ask.
“They are the perfect show snack.” Ainsley took another bite.
“No, you’re thinking of popcorn,” Sophia corrected.
“Oh, I probably am, but I don’t have any of that,” Ainsley replied regretfully. “Can you Uber Eats me some? Wait, no, I almost forgot—show. You guys continue. Go on, then.”
Sophia turned her attention to Hiker. “Why is it she can’t remember how she got that scar or why she started working here for the Dragon Elite or really pretty much anything that happened around when mortals couldn’t see magic?”
He rolled his eyes. “Because she’s a daft elf who probably dips into the cooking sherry a bit too much and spends her days having conversations with a stubborn old castle.”
“Yeah, about this ornery old castle,” Sophia said, turning her attention back to the wall. Her adrenaline to assault it with the axe had all but evaporated. Instead, she pulled back her foot and kicked the wall again, not hurting her foot or making any impression on the stone.
“Why is it you’re mad at the Castle?” Hiker asked curiously.
“Because it’s a deceitful creature who runs our lives, taking what it wants and not giving us what we ask for,” Sophia seethed.
Hiker nodded appreciatively. “Now you get where I’m coming from.”
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Sophia muttered, trying to figure out her next course of action.
“It took my books, remodeled my office, stole my clothes, and has pretty much confined me to living in a closet,” Hiker offered, strangely sympathetic.
“Oh, closets,” Ainsley gasped. “Spoiler alert…”
Sophia shot her a punishing look. Hiker gave Ainsley a curious one.
“What’s that about a closet?” Hiker asked the housekeeper.
“Nothing,” Sophia said at once. “She’s obviously munching on dates that have gone bad.”
Ainsley eyed the small dried fruit in her hand. “Oh, that seems about right. I think all my dates have gone bad, which is why I’m here.”
“What is this about closets?” Hiker asked, not giving up on the question.
Sophia shook her head. “Since we both loathe the Castle, can we have Christmas?”
“I’m not following this line of reasoning, but no, no, we can’t,” Hiker replied.
Sophia slumped, thinking she could ask the Castle for The Complete History of Dragonriders for Christmas. What did it matter? Like Ainsley had said, if the Castle wanted her to have something, then she would. If it didn’t, then she wouldn’t. It was as plain and simple as that. For whatever reason, the Castle didn’t want her to have the book. Or maybe it didn’t want her to have it yet.
Sophia turned the new idea over in her head, trying to think of all the little clues the Castle had given her. She knew about The Complete History of Dragonriders because the Castle had given her a copy of The InComplete History of Dragonriders, taking it from Hiker’s collection and not allowing him access to it.
The Castle had sent her on a mission that had not only connected her new home to her old home, but had also made her the protector of the gold token. It held the reset point, giving her a way to glimpse incredibly pivotal moments in history. From there, she’d learned so much about Hiker, Ainsley, Adam, the Dragon Elite, Thad Reinhart, and the House of Fourteen. She knew Hiker used to be a courageous leader.
She knew he saw what no one else did. He’d warned them, and there were so many other things the brief glimpse of history had provided.
With Hiker Wallace staring down at her skeptically and Ainsley chewing nonstop on dates, something crucial occurred to Sophia. The Castle, as deceptive and plotting as it was, might have rhyme to its reason.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Maybe, she thought, the Castle is waiting for the right moment to give me the book.
The flames of the candles in the sconces lining the corridor grew brighter. It was one of the ways the Castle communicated, often meaning yes.
Sophia directed her attention to Hiker and studied him. Was it possible the Castle wanted him to be a part of her finding The Complete History of Dragonriders, she wondered?
Again, the flames grew, sending more light around the hallway.
Hiker noticed, his eyes sliding to the side. “What’s going on, Sophia?”
“I think I need to tell you the truth,” she said carefully, waiting for a reply from the Castle.
For a third time, and more intensely than the rest, the flames shimmered brighter.
“The truth about what?” Hiker asked, lowering his chin and regarding her with hooded eyes.
“Oh, yes,” Ainsley said, scooting back on her chair. “This is going to be good.”
“Would you get out of here, woman?” Hiker bellowed over his shoulder to her. “Don’t you have some vegan dish you’re going to try to pass off to me as having real meat?”
“No, not today, sir.” Ainsley popped a date into her mouth and chewed. “You’re not going to be at all hungry after this since you’ll have S. Beaufont’s blood all over your hands. I seem to remember you don’t like to eat after killing, but the memory is fuzzy.” She pointed at the bits of chandelier like she was seeing them for the first time. “Oh, someone should really clean that mess up.”
“Yes, someone should,” Hiker seethed. He turned back to Sophia. “What is this thing you need to be honest with me about?”
Before Sophia could answer, the portal door appeared again as if the Castle was trying to help out with the conversation.
“What. Is. That?” Hiker asked, articulating each of the words and spiking them with hostility.
“It’s a door, sir,” Ainsley replied with a snicker in her voice.
“I see that,” he stated. “Why does it appear out of place in the Castle, like…like…”
Sophia knew it would only take him another few seconds to figure it out, and she didn’t think it polite to interrupt. Better if he came by all this on his own.
On cue, Hiker’s eyes widened as the realization dawned on him. “Why does that look like a door from the House of Fourteen?”
“Do you have life insurance, S. Beaufont?” Ainsley asked. “I don’t know what that is, but I read an article about it in one of those magazines you keep in your room.”
“You mean, my diary?” Sophia questioned, remembering she’d said something in passing about the subject, referring to her parents.
“Oh, is that what that is?” Ainsley asked. “I thought it was just really strange stories about a silly girl who makes questionable life decisions.”
“Thanks, Ains,” Sophia said.
Hiker pointed. “The door. Tell me now.”
Sophia sighed. “Okay, so I wanted The Complete History of Dragonriders and knew the Castle had it, so I made a deal with it. I’d do something if it would in return give me the book.”
Hiker’s face gradually shifted to a nice shade of pink as she spoke.
“Anyway,” Sophia contin
ued, trying not to be flustered by his growing anger, “I had to fight Hydra to get this gold token, which gave me access to the reset point, where I found a portal door between the House of Fourteen and the Castle.”
“You what?” Hiker yelled.
“And there it is,” Ainsley said with a delighted giggle. “I told you he wasn’t going to like the idea well before you attempted the task.”
Sophia shot her an angry look. “You didn’t either.”
“Oh, well then, S. Beaufont, Hiker won’t like it if you open a portal between here and the House, just in case you’re wondering.”
“Thanks, Ains,” Sophia muttered.
“You reopened the portal between the Castle and House of Fourteen?” he asked, his voice simmering with frustration.
“’Reopened,’” Sophia mused. “Yeah, that makes sense. So you knew about it?”
“Of course, I know I about it,” he spat. “I closed the bloody thing ages ago.”
“Why?” Sophia questioned.
“It’s not important,” he said dismissively. “There’s no reason for the two to be connected anymore. The way I see it, there never was.”
“Well, the Castle disagrees.” Sophia pointed over her shoulder at the portal door. “And after all my efforts, the Castle now refuses to pony up and give me The Complete History.”
At this, Hiker smiled. “As much as I despise this bloody castle sometimes, I agree with it this time. For once, I’m glad the Castle is a wanker who doesn’t deliver on its promises.”
“Why is that?” Sophia asked, still holding onto the axe.
“Because the book doesn’t belong to you, and there’s zero reason you need to have it,” he fired back.
“Is it because it’s hiding secrets you want to stay buried?”
“It shouldn’t matter,” he replied. It was a standoff.
“Well, it does matter because we as the Dragon Elite can’t do our job if we don’t know what’s going on or the history,” Sophia reasoned.
“You as the Dragon Elite aren’t doing anything to help our mission because you’re off searching for things that don’t concern you,” Hiker argued.
“I wouldn’t be doing that if you would just be honest,” Sophia stated. “I know you’re hiding something. The Castle knows it.”
Hiker laughed. “You think the Castle wants you to know the history? If it did, you would. There’s a reason it isn’t giving you the book. And—”
“Sorry to interrupt your lovely chat,” Ainsley cut in. “But I think you all need to see something.”
The pair of them swung around, following the direction the housekeeper was pointing. On the opposite wall from the portal door appeared another one. This door was arched like most of the rest in the Castle.
It shimmered for a moment before becoming solid.
“I’m not going through that door,” Ainsley joked. “The last time I went through a magical door that appeared out of nowhere, I found myself in this damn castle with a never-ending contract.”
“What?” Sophia asked the housekeeper.
She shrugged. “I mean, that’s how I remember it, but the details are murky at best.”
Sophia shook this off and refocused on the door. She knew she’d done it. Whatever the Castle wanted her to do, she had. It had just given her the path to The Complete History of Dragonriders.
The problem was, it had also given it to Hiker Wallace, who she knew wanted the book just as badly as she did—to keep for himself. The glint of mischief that flashed in his eyes when he looked at her told Sophia he would do just about anything to beat her to the book.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Moving faster than Sophia had ever seen him, Hiker darted forward as he held his arm out to block her path. He pushed her back, not hard, but enough to slow her progress as he took the lead to the newly illuminated door.
In one stride he was at the door and pulling on the handle, which appeared to be locked. Sophia tried to get around him, but he kept shoving her back.
“Use the axe!” Ainsley suggested.
Sophia hadn’t realized she was still carrying Grim the Destroyer and dropped the axe. She jumped to the side and watched as Hiker pulled the door handle, trying to get it to turn.
“Come on, you blasted Castle,” he growled, shaking his head. “Don’t you play with me now.”
“I don’t think it wants you in there,” Ainsley sang, utterly entertained by the whole thing.
Finally, Hiker took a step back and released the door handle. “That’s fine. As long as no one else can get in there, where I suppose it’s keeping The Complete History of Dragonriders.”
“It is indeed,” Ainsley affirmed, crossing her legs and leaning back.
Hiker flashed her a murderous expression. “What else do you know, woman?”
Ainsley covered her mouth and giggled like a little girl. “Oh, now, you know I can’t tell you anything that would remotely be of help to you.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I do know that about you.”
With Hiker’s attention still on Ainsley, Sophia stole her chance and darted forward to grab the door handle before he could push her back again. He reached for her when her fingers wrapped around the handle.
He gave her a threatening expression but then shook his head. “It’s locked, Sophia. Get over it and move on. This isn’t worth your time or attention.”
She pretended to consider his words for a moment. Feigned resignation. Took a step away from the door, taking her hands off the handle.
“Good, I’m glad you’re listening to rea—”
Sophia interrupted Hiker as she leapt forward again and grabbed the handle with a defiant expression her face. She held the handle in her fingers and Hiker’s determined gaze with her eyes.
Worry crossed his face before he shrugged it off and took a step away, apparently tired of this game.
With her gaze still on the leader of the Dragon Elite, Sophia turned her fingers, and the door handle rotated in her grasp.
“Oh, talk about a twist I didn’t see coming,” Ainsley commented, leaning forward. “The door opened for Sophia!”
Hiker’s eyes widened. “Don’t do it, Sophia!”
She froze, realizing she was seconds away from being tossed to the side by the Viking-sized man only a few feet away. Lowering her chin, Sophia kept her hand on the handle.
She drew a breath and wordlessly put a shield between her and Hiker, then prayed silently.
As the large man dove for her, Sophia yanked the door open.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Hiker hit an invisible wall as she darted into the darkened room.
She knew the shield wouldn’t stand up to Hiker long, and he got through it just as she yanked the door closed.
Sophia stepped back, less concerned about what was lurking in the darkness of the cramped room than if the leader for the Dragon Elite could get through the door and murder her.
The door handle jerked but didn’t rotate.
Letting out the breath she’d been holding, Sophia relaxed. Hiker couldn’t get through the door.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Banging erupted immediately.
“Get back out here, Sophia Beaufont!” Hiker yelled, his voice making the door shake. “That’s an order!”
Sophia turned to take in the small space. The ceilings were low and covered in cobwebs. The paint was peeling on the walls, and there were no windows to illuminate the room. The only light came from a single lantern sitting in the middle of the floor, and beside it was a large leather-bound book covered in a thick layer of dust.
“Can you hear me?” Hiker exclaimed, continuing to beat on the door.
“I think the dead can hear you,” Ainsley joked. She was probably doubled over laughing from witnessing all the antics.
“Open up this door right now and give me that book!” Hiker bellowed.
Sophia glanced around the room, looking for options. She guessed she’d have to sit down right there
and read the book, which might take her a fortnight based on the size. Hopefully, the Castle would feed her and maybe renovate the space with a bathroom.
“DON’T YOU READ THAT BOOK!” Hiker yelled.
Sighing, Sophia shook her head. It was going to be really difficult to concentrate with Hiker going on.
“I’m warning you, Sophia,” he continued. “If you don’t get out here, you’re done with Dragon Elite. I’ve never been so serious. You’ll be out for good!”
Sophia didn’t always take Hiker seriously, but right then, she did. Whatever was in this book, he didn’t want her to find out, and although she wanted to know the information, she didn’t want it more than her position with the Dragon Elite. She knew Hiker was hiding something. He had already hidden the fact that Thad Reinhart had been a dragonrider. That secret wasn’t the worst, so she reasoned whatever else he was hiding wasn’t either. She didn’t need to know at the expense of losing her home.
Surrendering, Sophia knelt and reached for The Complete History of Dragonriders.
“Okay, I’m coming out,” she called. Her hands hesitated right before she closed her grasp around the book.
“Good,” Hiker said with a relieved sigh. “And I want the book.”
“What?” Ainsley asked in mock surprise. “You want that book? I had no idea.”
“You shush it, woman,” he grumbled. “Come on, then, get back out here.”
“I’m coming,” Sophia called. “I just have to get the book.”
When her hands wrapped around The Complete History of Dragonriders, three things happened simultaneously.
An electric shock pulsed through her hands, nearly making her drop the book.
The lantern extinguished.
Another door appeared on the opposite side of the room, illuminating the space as it glowed brightly.
Chapter Sixty-Five
“SOPHIA!” Hiker yelled. “What are you doing?”
Waking from her daze, Sophia shook her head and focused on the new door that had appeared. She glanced over her shoulder at the one she’d come through, where an angry Viking was waiting to take her book and probably still punish her for her insubordination.
