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He stops tickling me and sits down on the sofa, pulling me into his lap. “Now, I for one, feel much better.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle into his shoulder. “Good. Me, too.”
We sit in silence for a minute, holding each other. The memories of battle flash through my mind and I shudder. “Raúl, what are we going to do when they come back?”
“The rebels? What we always do, defend our home. Oh, can you thank Nava for her information for me? She gave us much more time to prepare than we otherwise would have had.”
It is our pleasure, she says.
I tell him, and he grins. I turn my head up and press my lips to his neck, right below his ear, before returning it to his shoulder. Raúl responds by kissing my forehead. We talk for a little more, and I thank him for the mirror, before he needs to return to his duties.
When he is gone, I go to my room and find my satchel. I want to get to the tomb as soon as possible.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Starlight lights my way, the silver dusting momentarily distracting me. I have grown used to the dust covering all things, but I still need to adjust to the brightness. I head to the nearest portal stone, unsure of my destination.
“All right, Nava. How do we get there?” I take a look at the castle, hoping it won’t be the last time I see it.
She gives me directions, and I step onto the portal stone, tracing its inscription while holding onto some magic. In seconds, wind whips around me, and I am enveloped in darkness. Before I can gasp, I fall onto the destination portal stone, my knees hitting the rocky ground as I lose my balance.
Brushing off my dress, I stand up and study my surroundings. The ground is rocky and barren, a gray color stretching as far as I can see. I turn around and gasp.
Mountains ascend into the sky, the tips not even visible from where I am. For a moment more, I allow myself to marvel at the rising sun lighting up the magnificent landmarks.
I shiver, the air even chillier here than at home. I pause for a second, realizing that I just called the vampire castle “home.” A grin splits my face. I have a home now, one that I am welcome in. One I am free to leave.
With a happy sigh, I continue forward, directed by Nava. My shoes are not made for trekking through stone, and I feel every poke in the bottom of my foot. Nava assures me we are not too far, and I grit my teeth. The only choice I have is to keep walking.
I yawn as the sun rises higher into the sky. I’m unused to being up during the day now, and I grin again. The vampires have made an impact on every part of my life.
Almost there, Nava says.
Relieved, I catch my breath as pain shoots through my foot. I look down and gasp. The rocks behind me are dotted with blood. My shoulders shake from pain, and I keep moving forward. I pause when I hear a grumbling behind me. I whip around, and my heart races.
Standing before me is a creature I have never seen before, not even in books. It looks like a lizard made entirely of stone, with horns protruding from its head. It’s the size of a pig, and I watch, frozen, as its head whips back and forth.
Rockscale, says Nava. Their bite is poisonous.
I have no weapons except magic, and even that is limited. The rockscale advances toward me, its beady eyes never leaving my face.
Instinctively, I grasp a sliver of magic and stretch my hand out. My magic moves the rockscale fifty feet to the side of me. It struggles on its back, waving its stone legs in the air.
Run! Before more come! demands Nava.
I pick up my skirts and ignore my bleeding feet, running straight ahead. The rockscale squawks, a grating sound like rocks rubbing against each other. My heart pounds as I fly forward. Finally, I see a large iron door in front of me, easily three times as tall as me, embedded into rock. It is intricately carved with designs of plants and crowns, but I don’t take the time to study it. I put my hand on the large wheel-shaped handle and twist it right as the rockscale rushes me.
I slam the door shut. The sound of its body crashes into the door, scaring me. I slide to the ground, sitting on the stone tiles, and put my head into my hands. Eventually, the creatures gives up, leaving me in silence. After a moment, I stop shaking as I take slow, deep breaths. Pain in my feet distracts me, and I open my eyes to examine them. The room is too dark, and I can barely see in front of me. I chant a spell to illuminate, and an orb appears in my hand, glowing like the moon.
My feet are destroyed. Carefully peeling off my shoes, I fling them to the side, the shredded fabric useless now. Blood covers the bottom of them, and I cannot even tell where it’s all coming from. Using the bottom of my dress, I clean them as best I can. Thin scars criss-cross both soles, and blood continues to flow from them.
Frustrated, I gather some of my magic and chant my healing spell, satisfied when the wounds close. When I am done, I lean back against the door, looking at my surroundings.
The room is shaped like a circle, and there are five statues embedded into the walls. I walk toward the first statue. It is a woman wearing a crown tipped with pearls, one I recognize. In her hand is a stone-carved shell. At the base of her feet is a plaque that reads Queen Allura.
I sit back on the floor, trying to remember where I heard that name before. I start when I recall it was in the five queens’ journals.
I whip my head around, realizing where I am. The tomb of the five queens. We made it.
