by Olivia Ash
Sophia tried not to flinch away or recoil from the headmistress’s touch. But she certainly wanted to. She didn’t like the look in the older woman’s icy blue eyes. Her gaze seemed greedy. Like she wanted to take something Sophia was not willing to give.
“Since Grindel is not succeeding with helping you, do you not think it would be wise to try something else?”
Sophia swallowed, worried about offending Grindel, but the headmistress concerned her more, so she nodded. “Yes, Headmistress.”
“Good.” She dropped Sophia’s hand and moved across the room to the door she’d come in from.
Grindel watched her leave, his body held upright and stiff. Obviously, something wasn’t right with the headmistress’s offer, and Grindel knew it. And that made Sophia very nervous. Her teacher wasn’t always the kindest man, but she knew he cared for her in his own way.
She grabbed his arm. “What’s going on? I know something’s not right.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” he said without looking at her.
“I don’t believe you.”
He pulled his arm away. “Just do as you’re told for once. Shut your mouth and don’t ask questions.” He turned and walked toward the tunnel to leave the hall and return to the woods.
Sophia watched him go, then looked around the room. “What about the weapons and training apparatus?”
“Leave them. We’ll be back for training again.”
She followed him out of the hall, but didn’t rush to catch up with him. Something was wrong. She could feel it all the way to her bones. Grindel wasn’t telling her everything, or anything for that matter. He was usually guarded, but this was different. He was afraid.
It was more important than ever that Sophia heal her shattered soul, and fast. She feared she was quickly running out of time, with the oracles prophecy and with the headmistress’s leniency. Something was going to give, and soon.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sophia
The next day was her second date with Ezekiel. Sophia was quiet, lost in thought, wondering what the next, best move for her should be as they walked along a quiet trail into the woods. She was surprised that Ezekiel wanted to take her out to the forest again, especially after the recent minotaur attacks.
“You’re not worried about the minotaur attacks? I heard they were very close to the gate,” she said, careful not to reveal information that would indicate she was in fact there during the attack.
“There’s a lot of fear mongering going inside the city,” he said, with a shake of his head.
She agreed, but wasn’t sure if it was wise to voice that opinion.
“The method is used to keep people controlled and obedient, dependent on the queen—sorry, duchess—and her armies.”
She heard the distaste for the duchess and the current situation in his voice. She was surprised, having thought of him as a loyal servant of Nighthelm.
He glanced at her, and then shook his head. “I’m sorry to go on like that. Sorry, if my opinion offends you.”
She touched his arm. “It’s all right. I feel the same.”
“You do?” His eyes widened at that. “I’ve heard Lord Oxford is a staunch supporter of the duchess.”
Sophia shrugged. “Just because he’s family doesn’t mean I agree with his views.”
“I like that you have a mind of your own,” he said.
“I like that about you as well.” She grinned.
He gave her a sly look that sent a pleasant rush over her body, and then he reached for her hand. His skin was soft against hers, and she liked how touching him filled her with a warm glow. They continued down the path through the trees hand in hand.
“Does your family share your views?” she asked.
Ezekiel turned his head and looked at the water sprites playing in the pond. “I lost my family when I was very young.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She squeezed his hand. “I didn’t mean to bring up—“
He shook his head. “Don’t be sorry, you didn’t know.” He gave her a small smile to ease the guilt of having asked. He led her to the stones on the edge of the pond just inside the woods and sat, pulling her down with him. The rocks made a great sitting spot as they were flat, and Sophia had sat here a time or two to think or to pass an hour in leisure by watching the water sprites hop on top of the water during the rare chance she had to get away from her training.
As they sat watching the sprites, Ezekiel used his magic to make tiny spouts of water that danced across the surface of the pond. Sophia laughed as two of the spouts seemed to waltz on the surface of the water. It reminded her of the night at the ball when he had swept her around the dance floor with delightful abandon.
“I’ve never seen anyone use magic like you do,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
He ducked his head a little as his cheeks flushed. “I got my magic from my father. He was the greatest sorcerer in Nighthelm.” He did some more fancy hand movements then the water spouts spun in a figure eight. “He did some work for the royal family.”
“Did you know the royals?” Maybe Ezekiel had the information she needed right there in his brilliant mind. Or, at least, he would know where to find it.
He shook his head. “No, but my family were loyalists to the crown. I guess that’s why I’m still a little bitter that the heirs are still missing, and no one seems to be doing anything about it. Least of all the duchess. My family died serving the crown.” His voice was hard.
His pain wafted off him in waves. She’d never experienced something so raw before, especially from another person. Sophia caressed his face. He leaned into her touch. Soon, she leaned into him, and lightly brushed her lips over his. He sighed, and it was as if the weight of the world had lifted from his shoulders.
She wrapped her hands around his arm, settling her head on his shoulder. Sitting with Ezekiel, passing the time, filled her heart with joy. A lightness she hadn’t felt before enveloped her. Surely, this was what it felt like to be whole. Was Ezekiel the one who the oracles promised? Did he have a piece of her soul inside him?
She couldn’t be sure. She needed more information about the oracles and about being an anima contritum. Since she couldn’t get into the castle, which was evident the other night, she hoped Ezekiel would help her. Although she couldn’t tell him outright why she needed the books.
“I was reading a couple of interesting books the other day. On the oracles. Fascinating stuff.” She picked up a small rock and tossed it into the pond. The ripples made the water spouts list sideways. “One of the books mentioned something called anima contritum.”
He nodded. “Yes, those with broken souls.”
“I found it interesting, and was wondering since you study at the academy, if you had access to the castle archives.”
“I do.”
She squeezed his arm and looked up at him. “I would love it if you could bring me some books on that, and the oracles. I find it all so fascinating and would love to learn more.”
His eyes narrowed. “Doesn’t seem like a topic you’d be interested in.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know, not a lot of young women are interested in studying the old ways.”
“Well, I’m sure, by now, you know I’m not like other young women.” She batted her eyelashes.
He grinned. “I’m fully aware of that fact.”
“Good.”
“I’ll see what I can find for you.”
“Thank you, Ezekiel.” She leaned over and kissed him again. This time he cupped her face with his hand and deepened it. Her entire body flushed and her toes curled. Great oracle, the man could kiss.
“What the hell are you doing?”
They broke apart and turned to see Edric marching toward them, in full commander uniform, his eyebrows knitted in anger, his fists clenched.
Sophia jumped to her feet, as did Ezekiel. Her heart sped up and her belly clenched a little at the sight of Edric. An ima
ge of his powerful body hovering over her filled her mind. But that didn’t deter her from the anger that bubbled up from his interruption of her date with Ezekiel. A date she was very much enjoying.
“What the hell are you doing?” she threw back at him.
He ignored her and got into Ezekiel’s face. “How dare you put Sophia’s life in danger for your cheap thrills.”
“She’s not in any danger,” Ezekiel said.
“Did you forget about the minotaur attack?” Edric demanded.
“I didn’t,” Ezekiel said, “But there is a lot of fear mongering in the city. The woods are no more dangerous than before.”
“My last patrol encountered grimms. I heard that a wraith party, Andreas’s squad in fact, was attacked by canids. You’re delusional if you think that isn’t more dangerous.” Edric’s face was getting redder by the second.
“Don’t involve me in your squabble,” Andreas said as he silently appeared and slid in beside Sophia.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him.
“I saw you and Zeke heading into the woods, and then I saw Edric follow you. I didn’t want to miss out if there was some secret meeting no one told me about.”
“There isn’t a secret meeting. Just Edric being rude and interrupting our date,” she said, loudly enough that Edric could plainly hear, but he was too busy arguing with Ezekiel to notice anything but the sorcerer, with flashing green eyes, in front of him.
“These woods aren’t safe for anyone, you have deliberately put Sophia in danger.” Edric poked his finger into Ezekiel’s chest.
“You sound like the fake queen with her propaganda to keep the citizens of Nighthelm in control.” Green and blue sparks sizzled at the tips of Ezekiel’s fingers.
Sophia couldn’t let these two kill each other. She moved in between them, making them both back up. “You are both being ridiculous.”
“Me?” Ezekiel put his hand up to this chest. “I’m not the one making stupid statements about the woods like a political puppet for the duchess.”
“You are making things worse,” she said to him.
Edric made a noise in his throat. She whirled on him. “And you ruined my date.”
“I just wanted to make sure—,”
She cut him off with a look. There was something not right nearby. An ominous hush fell over the woods. Even the chattering sparrows and chirping leafhoppers had gone silent. She scanned the surrounding trees, then turned and locked gazes with Andreas. He sensed it too, his hand already going for the hilt of his sword.
“Back to the city! Now!” she shouted, as she broke into a run.
The men followed her, but just as they reached the worn path, a grimm floated out of the shadows and into the sun, blocking their way. It growled at them even as smoke curled up from its burning, black skin. It was even more grotesque in the glaring daylight. Sophia saw the pock marks in its face, as if acid had burned its flesh away. She wondered if that was from previous forays into the sun. Grimms were creatures of darkness, not light.
The grimm glared at Sophia, its purple eyes glowing with hate. She knew it wasn’t alone. Grimms always traveled in packs. It was here for her. She felt it all the way to her bones. The grimms she’d encounter before had promised to avenge the creatures she’d murdered. She knew that they would carry a grudge against her for life. Either she killed them, or they killed her. There was no third option. There would be no truce. That was the way a grimm’s grudge worked. Although she didn’t want her men to be caught up in the crossfire, it was too late. This battle was going to happen whether she wanted it to or not.
Without a word, Edric tossed her his second sword and took up a defensive stance with his blade raised. She took a position beside him. Both Andreas and Ezekiel frowned at Edric and looked like they were about to say something, but they both knew it was too late for questions. Andreas positioned himself next to her with his sword out, and Ezekiel on his other side, his hands sparking with magic. She barely took in a breath to steady herself as the rest of the grimm pack rushed out of the woods and attacked.
Both Edric and Andreas rushed forward, swinging their swords. Edric found his mark, wounding the grimm that attacked him but Andreas swung wide as his grimm moved like the wind and bore down on him. Ezekiel blasted the grimm with a bolt of magic that knocked it to the ground, enabling Andreas to slide his sword into the back of its head, killing it instantly.
Sophia lashed at the wounded grimm before it could swing around and attack Edric again. Her blade sunk deep into its gut, and it fell to the ground. It bled out in seconds. She rushed over to Ezekiel and Andreas as two more grimms charged at them. She slashed one grimm across the back as it swiped at Ezekiel’s face with distended, hooked claws. He ducked just in time, then came up with his hands pulsing with magic, and blasted the creature backward with a powerful bolt. The smell of burnt skin filled her nose.
She turned toward Andreas and Edric fighting a grimm together, coordinating their blows for the best effect. Her heart swelled at the sight of her three men working together to battle the grimms. She lowered her sword for a moment to take in the scene, when her body turned to ice. Another grimm loomed over her, inches from her head, its long razor teeth dripping with saliva and other, more caustic, fluids.
“Your bodyguards can’t help you,” it said, its voice a rasping hiss of spite.
She was thankful the creature couldn’t sense her affection for the men. It thought them only to be her guards, not her companions, her friends… maybe even more.
It lifted its head then inhaled the air. “You smell like dinner. The master won’t know if I take a bite.” The grimm reached out with its talons intending to skewer Sophia through the chest, but she was quicker, and she lunged up with her sword, nearly slicing the creature in half. It dropped to the ground, ink like blood seeping into the dirt.
Master? The grimms were being controlled, that much was obvious now. The question was, by who, how and to what extent? And what did they want with her?
Sophia looked up, finding only one grimm left. Ezekiel blasted it back before it could advance on Edric, then she and her men ran out of the woods toward the castle guards’ secret gate in the wall. When they reached it, Edric opened it for them, and they entered the city. Edric slammed it shut then leaned against it, breathing heavily from the fight. They all were.
Andreas wiped the black blood of a grimm off his cheek while looking at Sophia with a furrowed brow. “How do you know how to fight? I’ve never seen a woman move like you did.”
Ezekiel nodded. “I was just going to ask the same thing.”
With a slight blush and a quick look at Edric, she told them the same lies she’d told Edric about her uncle getting her training as a child. She wasn’t sure either of them bought it completely, but they didn’t press the issue.
“Impressive,” Andreas said, then bowed to her. “You fight like a wraith.”
She smiled, the compliment filling her with elation. To be compared to a wraith warrior was some endorsement. “Thank you. That is high praise, indeed.”
“She did fight well,” Edric added, “As did you, Andreas. I thought that grimm was going to gut me.”
Andreas laughed. “It would have if Zeke, here, hadn’t blasted the one aiming for my head.” Andreas slapped the sorcerer on his back which sent him stumbling forward.
Sophia watched the men laugh and begrudgingly thank each other for saving one another’s lives. They had certainly saved hers.
“Maybe you were right after all, Edric,” Ezekiel said begrudgingly, “The woods are getting dangerous.”
Edric nodded. “Something is stirring up the creatures. I don’t know what it is, but we need to find out.”
Sophia didn’t respond as she knew he was right. Evil was growing in Witch Woods. She felt it more every day that she walked through her home. Something stirred the creatures that lived in the darkness, and she feared the truth was worse than they could ever imagine.
; Chapter Twenty-Five
Sophia
In the late morning, Sophia trudged through the secret tunnel that led to the training room beneath the castle. Grindel had left before her and she planned on asking him why, but when stepping into the great room she saw, with surprise, he wasn’t there. Nervousness rippled through her. She’d never been alone with the headmistress before for her training.
Headmistress Mittle stood in the middle of the room beside a six-foot tall glass cube. Inside the structure was a chair and next to it was a wooden box with two metal rods sticking out of it, wires connecting it all, and a bunch of other weird moving gears and parts. Sophia had never seen anything like it. Out in the woods, there was never need for any machinery. The only two machines she’d ever seen in Nighthelm was one that helped a person stitch clothing, and the other was a printing press. Neither of these looked like the contraption sitting inside the glass structure.
“Please, step inside, Sophia,” the headmistress said as she gestured to the glass box.
“What is it?”
“It’s something that can heal you.”
Wary, Sophia curiously eyed the strange cube. She didn’t like the look of the machine on the floor next to the chair, but if the headmistress said it could heal her, she had to try it out. She stepped inside then sat in the wooden chair. The headmistress knelt before her and took Sophia’s hand in hers.
“I understand your pain, my dear. I wish I could simply wave my hand and mend your soul.” She sighed and squeezed Sophia’s hand tighter. “I’ve tried to distance myself over the years as I hate to see you in so much pain, but I can’t. I care too much about you, Sophia. I want to see you master your magic and heal yourself.”
Sophia glanced at the odd machine beside her, unsure of how it could help her. It looked like something that made lightning in a bottle. She’d read about such machines in a book that she’d stolen from Grindel’s personal library. They were popular in other parts of the world.
